The Irish standard., 1900-06-02
THE FUTURE DESTINY OF CUBA.

THE FUTURE DESTINY OF CUBA.
1t was sad day for Cuba when the
Inflated Maine was blown to pieces in
Havana harbor Were it not for that
awful disaster the United States would
have never gone to war with Spain in
the name of liberty and humanity.
Though it is two years ago since con-
gress solemnly declared that Cuba is,
and of right ought to be, free and in
dependent" the Mckinley administra-
ton does not think the people fit to
govern themselves for a long time to
come. The brave little islanders who
fought against Spain for independence
are now governed by military satraps
of the United States and robbed by
American officials and carpet-baggers.
A Cuban editor recently said that the
people are more badly governed under
the Mckinley regime than they ever
were under the tyranny OF Spain. Dur
ing the American occupation of the
island the people have been governed
according to Yankee ideas with the
view of ultimately making them either
citizens or subjects of the United
States.
While Senator Spooner was deliver
ing an imperialistic speech in the upper
house of congress the other day he was
interrupted by Senator Hale who said
that "the time will never come when
the last soldier Of the United States
will be withdrawn from Cuban SOIL"
Such statement from distinguished
Republican senator produced quite
sensation. He explained his prophesy
by saying that "there are powerful in
Auences, largely located in New York
City, largely speculative and connected
with money-making enterprises, that
are determined we shall never give up
Cuba Spooner made reply that if he
were to doubt for moment the inten-
ton of the government to withdraw
from Cuba he would be ashamed of the
government. But the Badger states
man is incapable of being ashamed Of
anything. He was not ashamed of vot-
ing against Porto Rican independence,
though it was promised by Gen. Miles
on his entry to the island. He is not
ashamed of speaking against independ-
ence for the Filipinos nor of seeing
them slaughtered benevolentfy in the
interests of the plunderers he repre-
sents.
In burst of virtuous indignation the
corporation attorney from Wisconsin
exclaimed in lofty tones: "Not since
the morning stars sang together in the
heavens has any people done for an
other people what we have done for
Cuba. We have given the best govern
mcnt to the people of Cuba thus far
that they have ever had. Every mans
life is safe in Cuba; every woman's
honor is safe. Tyranny and starvation
have gone forever out of Cuba" In
this he is at variance with the Cuban
editor referred to. The Cubans them
selves ought to be the best judges in
the matter. Surely, the populations Of
Medley g. Co. will not impress the Gu
bans favorably toward this country.
What we ought to do for Cuba is to
get away from there as quickly as posi-
bic and deliver them from further de-
prcdations by the corrupt appointees Of
William the benevolent.
The Minneapolis Tribune, one OF the
most candid and outspoken organs OF
imperial sway in the whole country, is
quite anxious for the annexation Of
Cuba. In recent, editorial it says:
ut is not surprising that enterprising
Americans look forward to the time
when the establishment OF permanently
stable government there, under the
American flag, shall give the people OF
this country an opportunity to develop
the magnificent resources OF the island
and make out OF it one or more OF the
most prosperous states in the union:
This is possible because Cuba is sparse
ly settled and may be filled up with a
population that is essentially Amer
ican"
There you are. This mouthpiece OF
monopolies would have Americans
govern the island as the English wanted
to govern the Transvaal before the war.
The spirit OF greed is strongly developed
in the American character. II the
Americans once outnumbered the Gu
bans they would vote for annexation
But would they become citizens of Cuba
and renounce their allegiance to this
country, or follow the example OF the
British in South Africa by demanding
the franchise without abandoning their
fealty to the queen?
We desire to say that the honest
American people will never permit Cuba
to be despoiled OF the right Of Self
government. This republic cannot az