The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-20


into Santiago. and is there yet. But our
constitution not only is not there, bus
we are busy encouraging Cuba to pre-
pare a constitution OF her own. When
any portion of our territory becomes a
sovereign state, then IS our constitution
its cornerstone. In the territory OF the
United States not included within state
boundaries congress alone determines the
extent TO which the provisions OF the con-
stitution extend
Occupation of Cuba.
The circumstances associated with our
possession Of cuba are new and unpar-
alleled in the history of conqGcsts The
cruelties praCtiCCd upon its people In
duced war Before we commenced hostile
proceedings, however, and that the world
might know that our hands were clean
ana that we were not animated by lust
for territory. we solemnly diselaimed any
disposition or intention to exercise soFef-
eighty, Jurisdiction or control over the
island except for It's pacihcation, and as
serted our determination, when that was
accomplished TO leave the government
and control of the island to ITS people.
To this declaration we still vigorously
adhere When we took possession at the
close OF the war we found the conditions
existing in Cuba to be deporable. Under
the conservative and wise management
OF Gems. Brooke and Wood vast improve
ments have been effected, and We have
given the people the first good govern
ment they have ever known. We found
its cities beds OF pestience., We have
stamped out yellow fever and made Ha-
vana as healthy city as exists AT that
latitude We took its starving reconcen-
tradoes who had survived the war. and
It's other poverty-stricken people. and Ted
and clothed them. We organized public
school system. and have everywhere es-
to be done. Then followed compliance
OF the terms OF the treaty which gave
the Spanish Inhabitants until April IL 10
determine whether or not they would reg
lister as citizens or preserve their allegi-
snce to Spain. Meanwhile a careful GEN.
sus OF the island was made. Then came
the liking Of the apaiiiications t9r IN, me
slowed. The island was divided into nu,,
inequalities and the registration provided
for ana on ay. bs,d ~ 81 tbroe
the island. a. the frst and preliminary
step toward the establishment OF ma.
tional government and the adoption of
a constitution.
Frauds in Cuba.
And in this connection 1t is fitting to
say that the populations and frauds com
mitted in Cuba by subordinate officials
have made every American blush with
shame. and until the last OF the guilty
men is arrested and convicted and SEN
fenced that shame will know no abate-
the party than would theft by a trusted
employe be charged against the character
of the merchant who employed him. the
party that shields and protects dishonest
officials forfeits public confidence, not the
party that exposes and punishes them.
The Republican party has been rarely the
victim of misplaced commence IN It's ON
ciais. In this instance the appointments
were made with the greatest care, many
of them from the classified service.
Whenever fraud has been discovered the
guilty have been pursued unsparingly and
with the greatest publicity. So has II been
with these thieving postoffice officials. so
has II been always. In the vast aggre-
gate OF business transacted by the gov
eminent the dishonest man Is rare. and
his detection certain. The great humili-
alton is that the thefts were from the
Df a towards
sustain hduciary relation. ana whose
confidence we ask. That this govern
ment makes good the loss Is not enough,
and perhaps the lesson has not 'eea IN
vain IL 1t shall serve to stimulate us to
even greater care In dealing with these
people for whom we have poured out our
blood and treasure and whom We rope
some day to welcome on terms OF closest
friendship as citizens of a sister republic
We are dealing with Cuba in spirit
not only OF fairness but or generosity
and of absolute unselfishness, and when
ever the inha bitants OF that island evince
and declare their ability TO take over It's
government and control that day they
shall receive II: and until then we shall
continue TO administer its affairs under
good citizens in Cuba. and ereditable 10
the administration at Washington I'M
der whose orders the government Is con-
Quoted
Had there been no war with Spain this
republic. inclined by principle and In
stinct and tradition TO peaceful ways
Of our national resources and character
within it's existing borders, content in
the future. as throughout the century
Just ending. with that path OF national
duty We are not a warlike or "A guar
reIsome people, We have never coveted
the possessions of other principalitles,
and land lust IL unknown among us. We
would fight to the death to protect that
which IL rightfully ours; TO avenge a
wrong sought To be perpetrated upon us.
and to guard this hemisphere from any
~ foreign
tend their rule over its soil. This has
been our creed and we have looked for
ward with hope and with confidence to
the time when these United states. lying
between the two oceans, should lead
among the nations of the earth, not by
right 81 the sword. hut because the char
arter and high intelligence of our people.
and the marvellous resources OF our cuun-
try, would enable us. in the peaceful RI
yalrv Of commerce. to dominate eventu-
ally the markets Of the world. To that
end we had. for more than hundred
wears held ourselves alOot from foreign
complications. and sought to make our
solves strong from within. with no
thought of colonial conquest.
Retention of the Philippines
The future of nations, however, Ike the
future Of mon. Is hid from mortal Vusion.
and, no more than man may na.rn ,.
choose It's own duties When this war
ended and We faced our victory In all
it's completeness, We found hNHpH af
people living upon uncounted ISLANDS aes
iivered into our hands Abandonment OF
them would be confession that while the
oppression by Spain 81 million and
half Of Cuhnns demanded our armed IN
reference. greater 1aTlarity ana cruelty
o. millions ~ fNbpinos less aaic 20 pro-
tect themselves. WAS a subject Of NO con-
Germ to as No Civilized nation in. the
world no Christian nation. could have
turned these people back to Spain our
commissioners, when they insisted upon
our retention of The PhliIpingss, voiced
ram pao,ir. and this nation has assumed