The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-01
OUR OBLIGATION TO CUBA.

When all the forces in Henry Wat
terson's great mind are active and in
perfect equilibrium, he is one of the
most charming and forceful writer's in
all the country. In the Courier-JOur-
nal of Monday last he has a double
column two column article on the Gu
ban situation. He says the serious diff
Guilty, the real problem, which has all
along disturbed the minds of thoughtful
men as to Cuba, has been, what shall
be done with it after we have driven
the Spaniards out? He would make of
it republic. He declares it is human
sympathy with the Cubans which now
isolates Spain and bids US free Cuba,
ITO make Cuba free-to expel the
Spaniard-that alone would be a noble
aim, enough to nerve us for a dozen
conflicts" says Colonel Watterson. But
to set up in the queen of the Antilles,
little sister republic-to see this lit
tie sister grow-to guide with gentle
hand her early footsteps-to pin her
bib and tucker round her neck-to keep
the dogs away-and, when she is able
to go alone, to say: God bless you,
in the cold heart of this commercialized,
materialized generation of Americans,
which will elevate and strengthen the
national character, and, mayhap. be
means of eXtricating us from bossism
and ring rule, from mere office-seeking
and money-getting. the bane of the
present, the danger of the future. 1t
no TQTrt n
the night becomes the reality of the
morrow, and, when PrCspero said We
are of such stuff as dreams are made
Of he referred only to good men and
good women. who lead pure lives and
nurse high ideas. the constructors OF
civilization and the creators in Chris
tendon.
1T is not a dream. For time the
task might be exceeding hard. The
practical distractions would be many
and are obvious. But there are plenty
OF highly-educated and patriotic Gu
bans. who have not only the love of
liberty and their country, but who have
lived in the United States and who
perfectly understand the workings of
our system. These would be speedily
Joined by many Americans, not neces-
sarily Adventures. Even as rapidly
as Texas was Americanized would Cuba
be Americanized. Perhaps they might
take Fitz Lee for their first president.
Is it not worth the effort? Is it not
worthy trial? Does it not appeal to
our minds as republicans as the affiic-
tions of the Cubans appeal to our
hearts as Christians?
I'VE know not what course the pres
ident will take and we care not what
may be the contents of the report in the
matter of the Maine which will go to
congress today, but we do know that
the blood of the nation is up and it
will never subside until the Spaniard
is driven home and Cuba is free. One
priceless thing the conflict has already
done 1t has wiped out the sectional
line forever. But there are thousands
of old confederates who would die hap
pier if, before they are called to the
final bivouac of the dead. they could
see the north and the south once more
in battle array beneath the stars and
stripes.
"The president is an honest and a
brave man, and we believe he will show
himself equal to this supreme emer-
gency, and, in that faith, we await the
coming of events with composure and
confidence"
Noble words those. expressing noble
sentiments.