The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-03
UNCLE sAM,s nav ROLE.

Root y exceedingly tntsrestiug. because
II affords the FIRST view of the policy
toward Cuba that the administration
win suggest to congress.
OF comparative unimportance.\ hut not
without It's pleasant proportions. is the
manifest purpose of President Mckinley
to advise congress to do for Cuba Just
what the opposition has tainted him
with not intending to 40. 1t completely
knocks from under the Democratic plat
form the props upon which It has been
restina, President Mckinley has been
blamed ana even maligned for having
failed to withdraw United States au-
thority from cuba. He advises that
this course shall be taken-for secre-
tary Root would not formulate q plan
on SO important . subject without his
approval-but he waits the action Of
the legislative body. upon whom respcn-
sbility for such acts devolves..
u may be said. In psssins, that the
very element which Is now condemning
Mckinley FOR not taking such action.
would. had be ventured upon such q
course. have ~ virulentiy denounced
him for assuming an authority which
the constfttion did not give MIN.
Secretary Root deah with the prob
lem confronting Cuba, and confronting
us also because of our greater respon-
sibility, with remarkable clearnees and
force He has presented in a few words
the secret Of the vast difference be-
tween American character and the
character OF the population forming the
Southern republics and the island Of
Cuba. In this country, when an cleo
ton Is over, the minority Immediately
stops action and. aoceptins the sitna--
ton, confines its operations to persua-
sion IN anticipation of the next election.
That is because this people Is adapted
to self government. In the Spanish re-
publics the defeated minority refuses to
participate further IN government. bat
seeks to enforce its will by rising In
rebellion. We have already had indi-
ications Of this in Cuba. but there, as
would probably be the case in South
America II the mass Of the people en-
joyed that security which American pro-
lection Affords the Cubans, the asita-
a. A,1o % 60 un.I,t tr,1o
ticians ana to their thriftless floating
scum which would rather loot than
work.
It seems assured that with the benea-
cent stability American control has
given the island, the people will calm
~ avail themselves Of the opportunity
to express their will through q consti-
tutional convention. 1t win be the first
time perhaps in the history of that peo-
pie that an election will be held in
which their votes may be cast without
fear and under no compulsion. When
the foundation is thus laid for a sys-
tenn Of self government American con-
troll will be relinquished.
One great trouble in the administra-
ton of affairs by a people which has
been so neglected is that public hon
esty is rare. We have too many cases
in this country, but they are absurdly
insignificant % compared with the I'm
blushing effrontery of the official
brigands created by Spanish m.srule.
We cannot prevent this in Cuba. bat
what blessing woald be conferred upon
every country in South America If It
can be shown by the example Of Porto
Rico that peace and prosperity will fol-
low honest government. 1t need not be
wise, the system may be very crude, but
If honesty be the rule and the ruler.
progress is Inevitable.
The American people have mag
nificent opportunity to win the conf-
dence and the admiration Of the whole
of South America by using the little
island of Porto Rico as an object lesson.
We shall not fail; it is preposterous
that a people of our advanced intelh-
gence cannot, devise a system of gov
eminent Tor petty island. We should
be ashamed TO admit that we ere IN
ferior to the English in capacity for
governing a colony.
Inc ctear outline made by Secretary
Root affords sufficient assurance that
congress wifi have intelligent guidance.
and that IN our new role we shall be
as successful as in all we have hitherto
undertaken.