The San Francisco call., 1899-07-12
THE TRUTH ABOUT CUBA.

Y 7 L W N-~
\XI United States toward Cuba and to the opera
tions OF the Cuban-American League, with
headquarters in New York. Much light is thrown on
this subject by an article in the number OF the
North American Review. The writer withholds his
name and signs himself Zone OF the Army OF Occu-
patton in Cuba.
He is evidently an army officer of high intelligence
and one who clearly comprehends soldiers duty to
involve the upholdng Of his countrys honor in bat
tie, in pledge-keeping, and in administration
He says: There can be doubt that the paclh-
cation of the island is accomplished City tor
city the towns of Cuba more peaceful and or
derly than those of the United States There never
was more docile, quiet people All the reports OF
brigandage are zealously forwarded to the Onlteo
States, and half OF them are lies The Cubans can
and will give themselves as good government as
have the petty republics OF Central and South
America They are impatient to undertake the con-
troll of their own affairs The irritation OF the Cubans
against Americans and American military rule is daily
increasing, and will inevitably presently ind vent IN
a revolt To conclude, we are in false position IN
Cuba position which in its outcome may result in
wounding our national pride. We have the choice OF
two alternatives Shall we drift shall we decide!
To decide; to carry promise at once; to take
Our troops out of Cuba leaving the people to gov
themselves until such time as they may prefer
drift means a struggle with tremendous problem
under dsheartenng conditions trying to help this
people in the face of daily increasing opposition, in
gratitude irritation suspicion 1t the postpone
nent of the settlement of problems connected with
the material prosperity OF the island. 1t means a
failure to fulfill solemn pledge. Judging from what
we know of the ease with which revolutions are got
ten up in Spansh-Americah countries to DRIFT may
eventually mean revolt And matter how large
or how small revolt against us in Cuba might be (t
often happens that the smallest bands are the most
difficult to deal with, glory would be ours IN
quelling it, whether lost in the struggle tens, or
thousands or, like the Spaniards, tens OF thousands
of men And will be time then for the enemies Of our
republic TO laugh for the Spanish will seem to have
made good their claim that the of 1893 was one
OF pure aggression inspired by the usr of territory
1t certain that the question of Cuba overshadow in
gravity any other question confronting this
country"
Coming from an officer who feels that the least
glorious of wars is that in which for greed the strong
crush the weak, these words of warning should be
heard and quickly needed
Within month The Call has presented similar
view of the same situation. The Cuban-American
League is using a bottomless fund OF money in blunt
ing the American conscience, and this soldier
says by lies seeking to make justification for viola
One of the highest evidences of the capacity and
oesre of people for self government their revolt
against military rule. That ours in Cuba is dis
tasteful as that of Spain, to unwilling people, is
proved by every sign visible the island. This
member of our army of occupation it and feels
it, and sees that the most distasteful duty OF
publican soldier is the holding of protesting people
,in subsection until their friendship turned to
nifty.
1t is evidently the plan of the American pledge
breakers, who seek to tarrish their countrys honor
in order fill their pockets with spos to drift until
revolt shall give excuse for establishing pseudo
majority of the people pinned down by American
bayonets and denied voice in the disposition of their
country their persons and their property
1t is time that those who have the power only to
carry out the orders of Congress and disobey
them should make plain declaration to own peo-
pie and to the Cubans. We already openly volat
ing the spirit OF the Congressional declaration in
Porto Rico and the Philippines. Are to add to
this the immeasurabe dishonor of violating its letter
and spirit in Cuba?'
Eighteen months ago great meetings being
held in our Cities from Boston to San Francisco in
favor of free and self-governing Cuba. Money
contributed to free people whom we are now hold
ing in the slavery of military rule Would it be
we'll to read again the speeches that we're then being
made and the fervid resolutions then being passed,
and reassemble those patriotic gatherings to
the pledge we took for the independence and self
government of Cuba?