The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-19
CUBAN

Whatever may be the final outcome or
settlement of the Cuban question. the pres
ent attitude of the Cubans towards the
United States is one of base ingratitude.
Perhaps this statement should be confined
TO those who are shaping the course of the
late insurgents. No doubt there are many
intelligent Cubans who deprecate this course
and who would rejoice to see the army dis
banded and stable government established,
but they seem TO be powerless. The Cuban
army officers are in the saddle and their
policy seems to be one Of treachery and OBJ
struction towards the United States in it's
efforts TO carry out its policy Of temporary
guardianship and friendly assistance in es-
tablishing law and order. Considering what
the United States has already done for Cuba
and Its avowed purpose Of Withdrawing from
the island as soon as circumstances will per-
NIT, the course Of the Cubans is unspeak-
ably base. Nations and peoples as well as
individuals are expected to show gratitude
to their friends in time of need. We have
done far more for Cuba than France did for
US in our war for independence. yet while
the United States has never ceased to rec
ognize its debt or gratitude TO France, Cuba
displays no such feeling towards the United
States. The services rendered by Lafayette
to the cause Of American independence were
not as great as those rendered by some
American officers towards the liberation Of
Cuba Yet Congress voted Lafayette a giant
of 500. 900 in cash and an immense tract of
land, President Jefferson offered him the
governorship Of the Territory of Louisiana.
and on his two visits to the United States
after the war his progress through the coun-
try resembled a continuous triumphal pro-
cession. Even now, a handsome monument
is about to be erected to his memory in Paris
with funds contributed by American chill
dren. That is the gratitude of an Anglo
Saxon people towards the representative Of
a Latin race who befriended them in a time
way. But for the United States the Cuban
generals who are now fomenting opposition
and trying to defeat our efforts to restore
peace and prosperity to the island would
still be skulking in the Businesses of the in
terror. starving. marauding, winning alleged
victories on paper and terrorizing their
friends far more than their enemies. Recent
revelations have shown that the Cuban in
surrection never could have succeeded. But
for American Intervention it would probably
have been suppressed before this and the
leaders would nave been shot or exiled. Gu
ban emancipation from Spanish rule is a
free gift from the United States, as Cuban
independence will be if the leaders do not
succeed in thwarting the purposes of this
government. There is nothing in history to
equal the ingratitude Of their present course.
1t is so utterly base that but for the pledges
made and the responsibilities assumed by
the United States before the world it would
almost be justified in washing its hands of
the whole business. Withdrawing from the
island and leaving the Cubans to light it out
among themselves. They could have no
worse punishment than this, and they scarce
ly deserve anything better.