The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-26
SIDES NTH CGBANS.
interview with Ex.Secretary OF
State Sherman.
WE HAVE NO CLAIM UPON CUBA,

wherein the United States Would Be
justified I'm Taking the Island--Advises
Retaining Porto RIco-says Our Navy
Should BE Enlarged and Our Land
Forces Augmented.
Washington, July 26.-Ex-Secretary
John Sherman. In an interview, said:
II regret to hear of the reported differ
ences between Generals Shafter and
Garcia in Cuba. II the Cubans deserved
enough respect to be recognized by the
United States, IL seems to me they
should be respected on the field of bat
tie. They have battled for liberty and
freedom from Spanish tyranny for half
century or more. and now that the
object which they have 80 long fought
for is in sight, they should share in the
fruits of victory. General Garcia
should have been invited to the surren-
der of Santiago, and IL he was not
blunder was made. Congress passed
resolution to expel Spain from Cuba.
| In that resolution 1t was clearly stipu-
| lated that we would leave the island to
| the control Of the people thereof after
| a firm and stable government had been
| established. Therefore, we cannot with
| any show of consistency lay claim to
| the island after ii has been taken from
| Spain.
| Cuba for Cubans.
"It is yet to be determined whether
the Cubans are capable of self-govern-
ment. If they are, well and good We
should turn the island over to them,
but IL the Cubans become dissatisfied
with their form of government after we
set it up and rebel against II, we would
doubtless be called upon to step in and
take the island. This, to my mind, is
the only contingency which could arise
wherein the United States would be JUS
titled in taking Cuba. At this time 1t
is not possible to form an approximate
estimate of the amount of indemnity we
should demand from Spain. Much de
pends on future events. 1t seems to me,
however, that the Maine incident should
not be lost sight of when the United
States begins to figure on indemnity.
| I have always believed that the Maine
was blown up by the Spaniards 1t may
be, however, that the act was done sur
| reptitiously and without the knowledge
of the Spanish government. But the
Maine went into a friendly harbor on q
friendly mission, and should have been
protected while in that harbor. This
| is a fact which the American people
I cannot lose sight Of.
Retention of Porto Rico.
"Of the Spanish territory which may
accrue to us because Of the war there
is only one island which would be IL
favor of retaining, and that is Porte
e Rico. There are reasons why Porte
Rico would be desirable acquisition
| But, as ] believe, there is no excuse fo
taking the Philippines or Cuba. Annex
| alton of the Philippine islands woult
I mean endless trouble for our govern
ment Already we are confronted witt
I the insurgent leader Aguinaldo, wh'
has bedecked himself with Jewels
, whistles and other trinkets to distin
| gush himself from other mortals.
we attempt to lay CLAIM to the Philip
pine group we may have serious trouble
| with the insurgents. Porto Rico Il
! needed as a coaling station for our war
ships in time OF war and for our mer
] chantment in time of peace The da!
: | has come when we should have coal
| ing stations in all parts of the world
| The present war has forcibly demon
! strated that coal is as valuable as gun
| powder and we should make every pro
| vision for fuel in the future.
should Enlarge Our Forces.
I'VE have navy of fair proportions
but the future will require an enlarge
ment Of our present sea force. l an
emphatieally I'm favor of an increase II
our naval strength. but 1t Is just a
| we'll that this increase should com
gradually. Our land forces also shoul'
be augmented. A standing army of so.
: 900 would not be too large for our popu
; lation. An inter-oceanic canal, whicl
/ ! hope to see constructed In the nea
7 | future. would be of great advantag
to us in defending our western sea
: coast. 1t would do away with the ne
I cessity OF maintaining large navy u
! the Pacific. A canal connecting tn
! Atlantic and Pacific oceans should b
| built by the government"