The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-04-06
GOVERNMENT OF CUBA.
feopIe There Hope to Preside Over
Their Own Destinies.

Washington, April 1.-The sub-com.
mlttee OF the senate committee, consist
ing OF Senators Platt (Connecticut)
aidrlch and Teller, which went to Puerto
Itlco to personally investigate condi-
tlOns on the island to warrant intelli-
gent action by congress with respect to
CuOa, has returned to WASHINGTON
senator Platt tonight authorized a
statement concerning the sub-commit-
tee observations:
We inquired as carefully and com
pletely as we could into the condition OF
the people, their needs, and the pros
poets OF establishment of an independent.
satisfactory and stable government by
and Tor the people Of Cuba" he said.
we saw and cOnversed with a great
many prominent and leading men from
all portions of the island, men who
represented different ideas and interests.
from intense conservatism to decided
radicalism.
1t may be said of all classes that
they are looking to the establishment OF
an independent government, a Cuban
government. A few are impatient, and
wish for immediate and complete indie
pendence. Others are less impatient,
believing sufficient time should be taken
TO AVOID mistakes and to set up the new
government upon snch a firm basis as
70 insure its success and permanence,
All are looking forward to the municipal
elections that are to take place in the
latter part OF May, regarding such cleo
tlons as the first step toward the es-
tabllshment OF the new government. If
they take place without disorder, and
good officials are elected, that will 90
tar to prove the capacity of the people
for self-gOvernment, and steps can be
taken without great delay for further
progress in that direction.
The problem is complicated by the
tact that self-gOvernment is an untried
experiment, by a people who have had
little opportunity to study it's details,
It's necessities or its responsibilities.
We were much impressed by the evi-
dences OF good administration of the
affairs OF the island under Governor
General Wood. He has a very difficult
and complicated problem to deal with.
but we are convinced that he is the right
man in the right place and that his ad-
mlnlstratiOn, though firm, is as gentle
as possible, and calculated to lead the
people wisely to the establishment Of an
independent government which shall
have close relations with our own, and
IN which the interests both of the people
OF Cuba and the United States shall be
surely subserved.
1t is not too much to say that the
people OF Cuba, in respect to the forma-
tlon OF stable and benefcent govern
ment are very much like children who
have to be taught and led. They regard
the United States as their friend and
teacher, and as whole are quite willing
to be guided. There are great posi-
bilities in the island. 1t is fertile, has
great natural resources, and is capable
OF supporting population four or five
times as large as it numbers at present.
On the whole, there has been marvellous
recuperation since the declaration of
peace, but it needs American capital
and American enterprise, which hesitates
as yet to go there. English and Ger
man capital seems more confident, and
is being invested. Surely our own peO-
pie ought to have as much confidence in
the future of Cuba as foreigners have in
US. On the whole, we were much pleased
and encouraged. The people of the
United States and Cuba should alike ex-
ercise patience, being assured that there
by progress will be most certain"