The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-02

Territory-says Uncle Sam Will
Merely Set Up Cuba for 1t
self-The Purpose of His Visit
West.
Ex-Secretary Of State John Sherman
quietly together at the Ryan, and at
s o'clock started for drive around
the city, returning about 6. Mr.. Sher-
man, at that hour, received repre-
sentative of The G l b e, who last saw
the ex-secretary in Washington just
four years ago, while he still occupied
his seat in the senate. There is no
noticeable change in the personal ap-
pearance Of Mr.. Sherman. His tall,
spare figure, always inclining slightly
forward, preserves it's otherwise nat
ural erectness, and his eyes are as
bright, his voice is as steady and his
mind apparently as clear as at any
time within the past twenty-five years.
When asked concerning the condition
of his health, Mr.. Sherman replied
pleasantly:
'fMy health is very good. 1 am IN
nothing like the bad way that some
of our friends, the newspaper men, en-
deavored to make me out. But then,
L w,
and that is about all there is to it,
1.-THE belief seemed to get abroad that
the duties of the secretaryship of state,
in view of the condition Of affairs with
Spain. were overtaXing your strength
a little too much,'' was suggested
ooh. no." replied MIR. Sherman, the
duties Of the office do not involve any
extraordinary labor. Everything goes
along smoothly. Questions Of foreign
relations are constantly arising, look
ing to the interests Of our people and
to their protection from injustice IN
different parts Of the world; but all
this is easily done, because the United
States occupies so conspicuous and at
the same time so peculiar a position
among the nations that no power would
care to do it or any Of it's citizens in
justice"
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
what are your views, Mr.. Secretary,
in regard to the precipitation Of this
war with Spain?" was asked.
II think" replied Mr.. Sherman, chat
the war might possibly have been
avoided; but the destruction of the
Maine created such a feeling of resent
ment in the United States that the peo-
pie themselves simply took hold of the
matter. The barbarouS seventies prac-
ticed by the SpaniardS towards the Gu
bans and their harsh methods of con-
Quoting civil war naturally created
among our people a strong feeling of
sympathy with the people of Cuba
"A feeling developed in this section,'
was suggested, that your retirement
from the state department was, in some
measure. due TO the fact that you were
not in accord with the administration
with respect to the policy of war. Is
that true?"
ooh, no, that is not truew replied
Mr. Sherman, emphatically "While, as
1 have just said, 1 think the war might
have been avoided, my view is that
inasmuch as war was declared by con-
gress, it ought to be carried forward
and continued until Spain is driven
from the island Of Cuba. However,
we certainly do not want the island;
but possibly it might be governed by
the inhabitants themselves under some
guarantee of protection hv the United
States. In my judgment, tneiv is a
very decided objection to it's being en-
grated upon this nation as one of the
states Of the Union. Cuba should be
permitted to remain as a separate gov
eminent in the relation to this country
of friendly colony; and L think it
probable that the people there will get
along very well when once relieved of
Spanish rule"
'"Then you Go not anticipate eventual
annexation following the termination
of the ar and as a sequence to the
Encouragement of affairs and the adj
justment Of new conditioner" was
asked.
MUST OBSERVE THE PROMISE.
mo, do not replied Mr.. Sherman
''The United States will undoubtedly
ho 1n6 in oh 70
sense of honor, as well as in considera-
ton of public interests generally, 10
observe the promise already made that
Cuba should not be annexed to the
United States but that the people of
the island should be protected in the
free and full enjoyment of government
by the chosen representatives of it's
own citizens"
But do you not regard it as impor-
tant that the United States should be
possessed of some one of the islands
in the West Indies group?" was asked
eff any acquisition to our territory
is to be made in that locality" replied
Mr. Sherman, sit should be Porto Rico
That is an island of no great size and
no considerable population; but, at the
same time, it is one occupying a strong
position to the eastward in the West
Indies group"
"DO you not look for early and dect-
SiVe action regarding the annexation Of
Hawaii as a result of the accomplish
ments Of our navy in the Philippines ?"
There has long been, in both houses
Of congress- said Mr.. Sherman in re-
ply, "a strong opinion that the Ha-
waiian islands should be annexed to
the United States. The public institu-
tons in that distant country were real
ly founded, for the most part, by the
missionaries, who, during the last half
of the present century, have been go
ing out and settling and remaining with
those people. The population is known
to comprise at the present time a COM
munity of quiet, inoffensive people, who
will readily acquiesce in the form of
government offered to them by this
country and Europeans in those ISL
ands. We have, now, an opportunity to
secure there, ON q permanent basis, a
coaling station and a harbor for our
ships. Further than that do not think
the United States ought to go in the
way of acquiring new territory. How
ever this is a matter that must be
settled by congress"
WOULDN'T ANNEX PHILIPPINES.
'Then 1t is to be- assumed you would
not favor permanent occupancy of
the Philippines by the United States
was suggested.
NO." was the reply, 81 should be
very sorry to see the United States
adopt the policy of acquiring territory
at so remote a distance from our shores.
and inhabited largely by people who
are entire strangers to our institutions,
our public policy and even to our re-
ligion. To become permanently possess