The San Francisco call., 1899-05-19
THE CUBAN SITUATION.
THE opinion of many army officers that trouble
is ahead in Cuba seems to be backed by events
in the island.

is ahead in Cuba seems to be backed by events
in the island
The recognition by Congress of the freedom and
independence OF Cuba, in the declaration OF war
against Spain, accepted in good faith by the Gu
ban leaders, and they doubt expect us to abide by
it So far there is indication that Government
intends. to do any such thing The whole island is
under rigid military government, and the American
Captain General is appointing all the civil officers,
even to the members OF the judiciary. The habits OF
the people, to their costume are dictated from
military headquarters and the stores and business
places are opened and closed by order OF the COM
mander. 1t was contended by Foraker, Money, Nor
gan Mason Lewis, Dolliver and other members Of
the House and Senate, only year ago. that there was
an organized Cuban government in operation and
capable OF dischargng international obligations. If
such government existed, it has been superseded by
military establishment exported to the island from
this country That establishment has ordered the dis
arming of the Cuban people, and they to be de-
prived of the means of resistance, OF defense and
offense.
Nothing is given out by the administration to the
termination OF this autocracy in Cuba. No steps are
being taken to permit the people there to meet and
discuss the preminaries OF self-government. Indeed
every attempt their part to do is already treated
as "sedtous" and it is probable that general move
ment to realize the expectation OF independence which
we encouraged year ago would be treated as rebel
lion against the United States, and the hopes OF the
Cubans for liberty would join those of the Filipnos
in the limbo OF lures and lights held out to attract
confidence and betray it
The prospect is that military occupation will
continue indefinitely The longer it exists the less
fit will the people be found for elf-government Mill
tary rule is the offensive form OF government
and the most disastrous to the manhood OF people
who are its victims. Disarmng the Cubans reduces
them to abject helplessness. They must submit to
military dictation take the consequences While
such rule is bad for them, 1t is worse tor the people
in whose name it is put upon them. II any man had
charged year ago, that day this republic would
be exercising military autocracy over nearly twenty
millions of men in the Philippines, Ladrones and
West Indies, and that protest of the victims would
be made powerless by disarming them he would have
been hoty denounced slanderer of his country.
But doing it, and the fashion grows to call the
victims our Subjects and yell treason" at all
Americans who finch at the spectacle.
The imperiaist plan is undoubtedly to organize a
pretended government in Cuba, by and by in which
the patriots and the people have representation,
and use it only to go through the forms of annexa-
ton The success OF like scheme in Hawaii has in
spred the enemies of the rights OF everywhere.
and it pitifu that they strong enough to bring
in sight such miserable outcome OF all altruistic
professions toward Cuba.
But it is regarded of more importance that the
sugar mills shall grind than that the aspirations
OF people for liberty shall be promoted. The to-
bacco crop is greater than this country's of
honor, which should impel every to keep faith
with Cuba and the world.
We have to go back nearly eight centuries to find
a case in history that equals this
When revolutionary minority in Ireland accepted
the assistance of Henry of England they soon found
themselves and their enemies the slaves of the COM
mon oppressor, who had come to them as an unself-
ish friend and became at once an unfeeling tyrant
That the beginning of centuries of msrule in Ire
land under which the people groan to this day Men
who believe that the weak have rights which the
strong should respect will have reason to hope that
the examples of Ireland and Cuba will have future
imtators