Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-03
NO FoRCIBLE ANNEXATION.


Cuban People VIII Soon Be Glad to
Come Into the United
States.
ST. LOUIS. April 2.-walter Stevens says
| in a dispatch TO the Globe-Democrat from
Washington:
Members of the cabinet. senators and rep
resentatfves. army and navy officers and
plain Americans generally bring back from
Cuba the impression that annexation Is IN
eyitable. Contrary opinion finds rare ex-
preston. Annexation is advocated without
reservation as the best thing that can oc-
cur for Cuba. Some recent visitors TO the
island who went down with preconceived
views that Cuban independence should be
| recognized as speedily possible. have
come back out-and-out anneNationists:
They are not in favor of forcible anneXa-
ton. They say there is no necessity for
| any expression of force constraint. Gu
/ ba. they are satisfied, will become 4 part
| of the United States by the full consent OF
| the Cubans. This will be so. they point
/ out. because the natural evolution of pres
| ent conditions will surely bring it to pass.
! The administration has seen the tendency
and the president is now looking forward
| to annexation. How soon or in precisely
what way the union will come about he
does not pretend to know But from those
| upon whose judgment he places much re-
| lance the president has learned that ii will
be impossible for the United States to let
| go of Cuba; that if such proposition was
| made the intelligent and best thinking peo-
| pie of the island would rise up in almost
| unanimous protest. And the military
occupation viii go on with the purpose
| of restoring peace and order. of rehabili-
| tating the material interests and of Great
ing loca! self-government in accordance
| with American ideas. This policy will be
pursued with the expectation that when
| the proper time comes Cubans through an
election will ask to be taken into the Uni
ted States, and the president will recon-
mend to congress the legislation necessary
| to that end.
The country is not likely to hear much
more speculation from administration
sources about the possibilities Of Cuban
independence. The question from this time
on will be as to how soon %,, Cuba VIII be ,
not disposed to crowd or hasten the final
result. He desires to avoid anything which
on the part of this government. There will
be nothing to Improperly influence the Gu
bans But the president knows i,na,f from many
spreading rapidly on the island. He un.
derstands that to every step in betterment
in growth, The plain truth is that Cuba
is in a fair way to become importunate
| for annexation before TINS government
sibIs. slass ''' A''i
back from Cuba, told his fellow members
of the cabinet little story, which Is
straw. He was walking in Havana ten
days ago and had his attention attracted i9 by
vestigate and found that the, attraction
was red letter box which had just been
The people PnnrS oe
| were jabbering eXcitedly. The talk was all
in Spanish and the postmaster general
,, was with him. The companion listened a
while and then translated. The letter boa
was something entirely new, ana the pe9,-
pie were expressing praise OF the AmeTl-
can ways and were saying that Spain
, never would have given them such things
Mr.. Smith has another story by which
he has illustrated to the cabinet the diff
: ference between America and Cuban ways
A stranger fell in an epileptiG ut In iron,
men went to the aid of the sufferer. They
got around him and tugged and lifted and
accomplished nothing, while the sick mar mar
1 lean soldier. towering high above the little
e Cubans, went 10 their assistance, picked
one arm and went away, with him, while
the policemen looked on admiringly.
!, The air is full of annexation sentiment
e made in New York loking to loan in
vestment in Cuba. 1t was presented
through business channels by a reputable
u
| The money for the loan was ready, but thu
: men advancing it asked 10 per cent: Th'
n Cuban expressed his surprise at the in
= | terest charged. The Americans said 1t wa
pretty high, but the risk demanded 1t.
How much would the interest be IL an
e neXation were certain?" the Cuban asked
J; with light dawning on him..
about per cent" was the reply.
. A conspicuous Democrat in the last hous
: returned from visit to Cuba last week
q He went there to get material against an
i nexation. He came back an annexation
e ist because, he says. the United State
7 | could not do the Cubans a greater injur,
II than to force independence upon them. H
. | can see no other outcome than annexation
= | independence. he believes. would mean
= | series of revolutions. The people are 7di
y vided into factions. When one faction GO
II into power all Of the others would imme
a diately combine to tear 1t down. A Cuba
y government Independent of the Unite
n States. this Democrat says. would requir
q a government upheld by the United State
" force of 10000 and such force could b
Il composed of Cubans, with some America
" officers. This seems a strong Statement
| but the man who makes it explains tha
VI, the Cubans have little confidence in eac
" other, but uEbounded confidence in tf
- United States. and in the American capac
% ty to maintain government.
p This Democrat saw Gomez. and he me
ne the Cuban leaders. The time has not com
y, y. with many of them for open advocacy
" annexation, but with few exceptions the
-, are privately against withdrawal of tn
~ American authority now or ever.