The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-10

opening the campaign Senator Bereridge,
after telling what splendid things we
have done for Cuba, used the following
language:
draw our restraint, revolution will sue
coed revolution, as in the Central and
South American countries; Havana aga n
tester with the yellow death; systematic
education again degenerate into sporadic
instances; and Cuba, which, under our
control, would have been source of
profit, power and glory to the republic
and herself, will be a source of ixrita-
ton and of loss, of danger and disease
to both. The United States need Cuba
for our protectioni but Cuba needs the
United States for Cuba's salvation"
There are a few things assumed as
true by these gentlemen and others
which neither the facts nor the logic of
the situation seems to warrant in so ac-
cepting. The first of these is that it was
a great mistake to have committed this
country to giving Cuba free government
and complete political independence of
its own. Another is that we are bound
to exercise a guardianship over the po-
litfcal conduct of our Latin neighbors,
and are in some wise responsible if they
do not do just as others would like them
to do, or, perhaps, as it would be best
for them to do, in running their own af-
fairs. Neither of these assumptions, nor
any one of others which might be point
ed out, is warranted
1t would be an act of unparalleled base
than we did in declaring that we had no
purpose with reference to Cuba save to
aid the Cuban people in establishing free
government according to their own ideals
and understanding. Our good faith is
questioned all over the world in connec-
ton with our making war on Spain by
reason Of our position with reference to
the Philippines. Right or wrong in what
we did. both of the senators named un-
derstand perfectly we'll that there was
no other recourse open to us, and that
there is not now, consistently with the
national honor. On the other hand we
are in nowise responsible for what Cuba
may do with her own affairs after they
have established a government of their
own through the agency Of their consti-
tutional convention, which will convene
next month Revolution may follow revo-
luton, as Senator Beveridge predicts, and
the consequences will have to be borne,
not by us, but by the Cuban people
themselves. Our relationship toward the
Central and South American republics is
well defined. We have as little right to
interfere with their political concerns
as they have to interfere with ours. The
fact that Cuba lies up against our own
Southern coast line does not impose any
duty on us, save such as self-protection.
either by recourse to the Monroe doctrine
or otherwise, may impose on US. When
we have embarked the republic of Cuba
on its voyage of self-government our du-
ties do not lead us to fulfill any function
OF national pilot to the craft
II. may be best for Cuba that she should
De annexed to these states. That is
matter which must be determined, not
by US, but by the Cubans themselves.
They%wiu have the fullest opportunity to
do so, both through their constitutional
convention and afterwards. There can
be no doubt whatever that should the
Cuban people declare in favor of such a
political future for their country the
American. people would readily concur in
the decision, and that the new state
would find the full measure of satisfac-
ton IN the relationship. But let us not
blame the Cubans, if. with the fate of
Porto Rico before them, they show
neither now nor hereafter anything like
enthusiasm in their response to the in
vltation to unite their political destinies
with ours