Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-14
A New Cuban Problem.

The present outlook is that at the close
how the Island of Cuba is to be governed
will I've almost as far from n satisfactory
solution as when the struggle began. The
burden will merely have been shifted from
Spanish shoulders to those of Uncle Sam.
WhoH the Cubars sought our good Of
fees, their attitude was such as to war
rant the supposition that they would not
In bringing about the liberation Of their
island from Spanish domination but
would also hail any plan of government
that We might propose for them. As the
present struggle las progressed however,
it has become evident that the American
public has been mislcd as to the strength
and character of the Cubans as a people.
Various newspaper correspondents had
insisted that the Cubans were not all that
had been pictured to this country, but the
first conclusive knowledge of the charac-
ter OF the assistance to be expected from
them was obtained when the revolution
list troops. who had been fed at the hands
of our invading army not only refused to
help to prevent the Spanish reinforce
ments from reaching Santiago but also
declined to aid in the construction OF
roads or 10 perform any other service
which might naturally DO expected from
allies. The attitude of the revolutionists
encountered by Gen, Skaters troops may
not be typical of the Cubans as a whole,
but it served to convince our forces that
1t would not be safe to rely upon the in
aurgents for assistance, either in battle or
along the line of communications.
Up to the time of the destruction of
Ccrvera's fleet the Cuban character had
impressed itself upon the American forces
in negative manner simply, but since
that victory rendered the early expulsion
of the Spanish forces from the island a
certainty, the revolutionists have assum-
ed an attitude which raises new questions
and discloses the possibility that they may
take Il positive position at the close OF the
war involving no end of trouble for our
! government.
| The announce nent that the Cubans
hanging upon the outskirts of the Ameri,
can army at Santiago have undertaken
TO designate n governor for that city af-
ter its capture by our forces, has attract
ed comparatively little notice, but it car
readily be seen that a similar attitude or
the part of the entire population OF tho
island might place our government in 6
very embarrassing position. These Cuban,
have coolly assumed that they are to be-
fed and clothed and armed by the United
States that they are to DO allowed tC
decline to render our army any subs tan
tial services in overcoming the Spanish
strongholds, and that at the close of tn,
war they are to step in and enjoy all tn,
official spois of victory
If our invading army had served as al
auxiliary force and the Cubans had born,
the brunt OF the battle against the Span
iards, there might have been some colo
for their supposition, especially as GU
Congress gave a distinct pledge to tn,
world that we were not engaging in wa
with Spain for the purpose of securing
control of Cuba. But when the Cuban
kindly stand back and allow us to figh
their battles for them alone and unaided
they must recognize the fact that Su
moral obligation which alone led us Z,