New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-27
THE SIGNS OF INCAPACITY.


It might be Of service to the Cuban people
themselves, and still more to Americans and
Europeans who contemplate investment of cap
ital in the development of that island, If there
could be conveyed to all parties concerned
something approxlmating an official statement
of American opinion and wishes regarding an
nexaton. Strictly speaking the Government OF
the United States is not permitted to form or
express wish while acting in good faith as
trustee for the Cubans who are seeking to be
fully prepared for independence. There would
be a measure of unkindness and even of In
furious hindrance of such hopes in any express
sion of American belief that Cuban indepen-
dence would be found impossible. In all official
or quas-official utterances the Government is
compelled to assume that the Cubans may be
found able to embrace in good faith and with
full success the opportunity given by this coun-
try
Unfortunately this renders impossible any
frank discussion of the other alternative toward
which the minds of many Cubans turn. 1t is
not within their power to realize how extremely
Objectionable annexation, in any of the forms
commonly understood, would appear to the
great majority of voters whose action will settle
the question. For the Eighty sentmentalism or
Florida or Arkansas, Texas Nebraska will
hardly decide question on which may largely
depend the prosperity of all great manufact-
u1ng and agricultural States. 1t is plain
matter of business that the party which has
not nearly enough votes to make laws for the
Northern and Western States will not in any
hurry be enabled to claim new electoral votes
as the result of any negotiations between 1t ana
a faction for the time being dominant in Cuba.
Beyond and above that is the fixed belief held.
we think, by a controlling number of our people
that the Union of independent American States
should never seek or accept full partners OF this
continent.
Some of the things which it is impossible for
the Government or any official representing 1t
to say in respect to the probable attitude or
Americans toward the question Of annexation
may nevertheless be uttered with entire free
dom and perfect propriety by those who are
known to be in close accord with the Admins
ira ton and the party in power. The queer
compound which makes most Of the Southern
States what they are, and therefore incapable Of
ruling this country, would be extremely likely
to have the upper hand among the Cubans
who object to sanitation not needed for the
protection of Cuban people, who gloat over the
failure Of few American officials but do not
think it worth while to mention how frequent
are removals not of Americans for corruption
and incompetence and who continue more dis
posed to preserve Spanish institutions and laws
and methods, with all their fatal defects, than
to effect the radical reconstruction without
which capital cannot be found to call forth the
full productiveness of the islands.
Without the least prejudice it may be frankly
stated that there does not yet seem to be IN
Cuba the necessary material for genuine self
government so directed as to promote the high
est wellbeng of the people. Nobody can blame
men for a measure OF ignorance much less than
was displayed IN the second election Of Mr..
Cleveland by American voters who threw away
the highest prosperity they had ever known,
and they had enjoyed with their ancestors
century Of training In the choice between good
parties and bad, while the Cuban people have
not The Cuban people have not yet the Least
idea what their industries and resources require
| for the highest development. Instead of trying
| to ascertain, they have shown a really powerful
desire to compete with each other in fighting
| for the offices and emoluments to which the
| forms Of self government give access 1t would
not take many weeks Of such independence
| as they are capable of reckoning the highest
| boon within their reach to satisfy true friends
| Of Cuba respecting their f1tness for self-govern
ment But until that has been freely tested
| cew will frankly admit the incompetence which
| is after all the one thing respecting Cuba which
| is more certain than all others at present.