Willmar tribune., 1899-07-19
WILLMAR-:-T TRIBUNE.
July 18th, isss...Eight Pages and suppIem't
AFFAIRS IN CUBA,

events and the policy of our present
administration in regard to that island,
and perhaps our readers will be able
to draw conclusions as to the real MO:
tives for the terrible sacrifices mass j
for upholding this policy in the Phil
ippanes.
The Minneapolis Tribune, which we
consider about as fair an expansionist
organ as is published in the North
west, contained an editorial on July
18th, under the caption of 1.-The Status
of Cuba.' 1t comments upon the
avowed intention of the president to
order an election in Cuba to determine
whether it shall be free or become an
nexed as a dependency of the United
States. In this editorial the Tribune
says:
"The uncertainty that prevails is interfer-
ing with the revival of business and industry
there and is keeping out people of energy
and capital who would do much for the de-
velopment of the island.'
In other words, the great syndicates
and "business interests" do not want
to begin the work of absorption and
greedy speculation before being as
sured that no independent government
is to be established which might seri-
ously interfere in their game. But
hear this:
"Cuba ought to belong to the United
States. The expenditure of blood and treas
ure which we have made in behalf of the
island, fairly entities us to it's possession. "
So it wasn't for glory and in the in
terest of humanity that our army and
navy Fought Oh, no! the struggle
really was to obtain possession of the
island for com mercial purposes.
but the sentimental declaration of con-
gress stands in the way of its seizure.'
That's the Minneapolis Tribune's
view of it. 1t may seem like mere
sentiment to the expansionist, but we
have faith that the American people
will stand manfully behind that declar-
alton of congress. But don you see
the application to the Philippine situa-
tion? There was no sentimental
declaration by congress regarding
those islands, and hence they were
seized. Our contemporary continues
in this strain:
lit is said that Gen. Brooke's advices are
to the effect that on vote ma jority would
be in favor of an independent government;
but it appears that the president has been
making some Investigations through his own
agents, and he is convinced to the contr ary.''
That is to say, the president would
not have ordered an election unless he
was "convinced that it would result
favorably to the designs of his crowd.
The Tribune then continues:
"But whatever the outcome, the vote ought
to be taken. If decisive majority declare
in favor of independence, then let them call
a constitutional convention, organize a gov
ernment and relieve the United States of the
burden of keeping the peace and protecting
life and property"
All of which is as much as to say:
"Of course, if we can't have the island
we want to get rid Of the RESPONSE
bility at once You don't expect US
to fool away the time of our troops
there'if we are not to have something
in return? No, thank you; there is
too much hot work TO be done in other
places for that
Then the Tribune wakes into enthu-
siastic optimism and exploits the rosy
prospects of American annexation in
the following dizzy manner:
"We believe that under such territorial
nificent growth in the next few years, and
that the influx of population from the United
States would be so rapid that in the course
of the next ten years Cuba would be practi-
cally Americanized.'
It makes ones head whirl to read it.!
Meanwhile, to inform yourself as to
what the Cuban patriots are doing and
saying, read the following extract from
recent press dispatch published in
the same paper and on the same day
as was the editorial upon which we
have commented:
HAVANA, July by CaDle -At a
meeting held Tuesday in the Payret theater,
after the street demonstration and parade in
his honor, Juan Gualberto Gomez was him.
self the principal speaker.
In the course of long address dealing
with thereasons for beginning the war against
Spain, he said:
II am now, as always have been, a sep
aratist; and l still demand the separation
that I asked before the war-not only the
separation from Spain. but from any and
all other nations.
"The revolution will inevitably return.
Nations, like stars, have their seasons of
eclipse, but, following their orbits, they
emerge and accomplish their final destiny.
The destiny of Cuba is only independence.
"Such disasters we. can avoid by perfect
unison, by raising our voices to declare that
this country is ours, and that we want it for
ourselves.
"We should give. due thanks to the Amer