The record-union., 1899-11-29
THE CUBAN SITUATION.

bad feeling among the Cuban people
against the Government of the United
States. These agitators are actuated
by base motives They have an Itch
ing for power and a thirst for the
wealth that is made through the mis-
fortunes of others. Consequently they
are endeavoring to incite the people to
rise and demand the immediate turning
over to the Cubans Of all the functions
of government, and the withdrawal OF
all authority on our part
1t is ridiculous. First. the treaty
binds us solennly to restore order N
Cuba completely; to see to it that a
stable form of free government is es-
tablished as soon as the people are
capable of setting it up and maintain
ing it. The requisites for such a state
of affairs are: First, complete pacifica-
ton, return Of all the people to indus
trial pursuits and the arts Of peace;
the complete rehabilitation Of business
and Industrial conditions, so that in
certain Of reward for it's labor.
There must be taken q complete and
exhaustive census of the island. The
education of the people, for centuries
accustomed to monarchical institutions
only, must be undertaken and so far
proceed that when the time comes for
voting upon government establishment
the franchise will be exercised with
reasonable intelligence of its purpose
and Importance These things have all
been entered upon under military rule,
but there must be passed laws equal
to the task Of putting them eventually
upon a civil basis. and this will be
done.
We will keep perfect faith with
United States has never yet failed to
keep its promises made to a foreign
people, and it will not begin with re-
pudiation of obligations now. If Cuba
comes to us by the vote of the people
overwhelmingly expressed, asking for
such permanent relation with the
United States as will put the island
under American control and protection.
the difficulty Of our task will be very
much increased. But it is proftless to
consider that crossing until we reach it.
In the meantime, we are to pursue
steadily the broad, well-defined road
laid down by the treaty. The indie
pendence of Cuba is the ultimate; it is
the goal at the end of that road and
the United States should not, and we
believe will not, do anything to place
obstacles in the way to its attainment.
There is question whether we have
a moral or legal right to set up a tenn
porary form of civil government in
Cuba We have held that we have
the right; that it is purely discretion
ary with the United States. but we con-
cede that there is an honest division
of opinion concerning the matter We
are willing to concede also that firm
but generous and high-minded mill
tary rule will be far better for us and
the Cubans until the latter are pre-
pared to assume wholly the reins OF
civil government. This they are not
nearly ready for now: of that there
can be no doubt. The racial and other
issues between the classes Of the Cuban
population still exist. and are suffi-
GENTLY intense to lead any one familiar
with the situation to the conclusion
that We're Cuba to-day freed from the
restraint the United States exercises,
internecine trouble would ripen into
domestic war speedily.
What we are to do and are now
doing, and doing we'll, is to maintain
such control as will insure life and
property and human rights full pro-
lection; fortify the civil tribunals in
the administration of Justice and
guarantee collection of needed reve-
nues and their honest disbursement for
the highest best interest of all the
communities of the island. These
tasks will involve the suppression OF
the noisy patriots who are now en-
deavoring to stir up trouble This to
certain extent will necessitate some
limitation of free speech, abhorrent as
that limitation may seem. We cannot
in the interest of the trust we have
assumed and it's faithful discharge
permit the ends in view to be DELAYED
or thwarted by trouble brewers and
dangerous agitators.
How long our task will continue nc
one may now say. 1t is possible by
a wise and firm administration of a
mixed military and civil order to ac-
complish the work in hand in very
few years. But the idea that it is tc
be done in a few months or weeks is
absurd. The agitating patriots as
they delight to call themselves, demand
that Immediately, within the next few
months. the Government of the islano
shall be turned over to them; that ths
entire cost to which we have been pu
thus far shall be wiped out by our for
giving the debt; that our small mill
tary force shall be withdrawn and al
election be called Immediately for thu
selection Of men to formulate the ordel
of the new Government, and that what