Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-12-02

- Ever since the close OF the Span
ish war, there has been great deal
of speculation as to what this country
is going to do with Cuba, and there is
as much doubt on the subject now as
there was when the war was in prog
ress. 1t is quite likely that Cuba will
continue under American control for
some time, and maybe, indefinitely.
Indeed it is doubtful as to whether the
island will ever become independent.
There will be much party politics over
the question, and, no doubt, good deal
of demagogy; but after all, the final
settlement must be on a basis of JUS
tice and humanity, and these consider
ations will operate against the indie.
pendence of the island. In the first
place, the original trouble in Cuba was
due to Spanish injustice and incapacity
to govern in accordance with the spirit
of modern civilization. Spanish off,
cials generally held themselves above
the law. The principle of "equal
rights to all, ll,Ispecial privileges to none,"
found no place in their political or So
cial creed, and it was this fact which
led to insurrection. The motive of the
insurrection was born of the highest
aspirations, no doubt, and it is fact
that there were engaged in it many
hundreds of patriots as noble as any
who ever drew sword but it is also a
fact that the great mass of insurgent
forces was made up of the rag tag and
bobtail of1scourings of some of the
rottenest cities to be found in the
world. There were cutthroats and
thieves, fugitive criminals, social end
political outcasts, and restless advent
urers of every description, in whom
there was absolutely nothing good. 1t
was in the knowledge of this fact that
congress refused to recognize the in
dependence of the "Cuban republic )"
but confined itself to declaration that
the "people of Cuba" were, and of
right ought to be free. There was
reason to fear that recognition of the
Cuban republic would, among other
things, mean the turning over of the
liberties, the persons, the homes and
the wealth of peaceful Spanish inhabi-
tants of Cuba to the uncomfortable
vicious elements referred to, and the
prolongation of a condition of bru-
tality and savagery even more hor-
rible, if possible, than that which was
then in existence, Although the situ-
alton has been reasonably quiet for
several months past, the signs of un-
rest in Cuba have not yet entirely dis
The best element among
the leaders of the former insurrection
is growing impatient to undertake the
job of giving out laws and governing
the island. 1t believes that it is fully
equal to the task, and is anxious to
assume authority, not only on account
of the sweets of power; but in or
der to show the world what it can
do. The more vicious element is no
less impatient. 1t feels that it has al
ready been too long deprived of its
promised spoils, the luxurious homes
of the wealthy spaniards, whose ele-
gance and refinement continues to
arouse as much covetousness and envy
as ever. The report of a few days
ago to the effect that "a thousand in
surgents had already taken the woods
again, and others are ready to follow"
is, if true, abundant evidence that
Cuba is not yet ready for independ-
ence, and it is quite likely that
Congress will not yet be willing to
the American troops. Our
responsibility in Cuba now seems to
be greater even than it was previous
to the outbreak of the Spanish war,
and the outlook is that it will be quite
awhile before our task has been
brought to close.