Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-04
ROOT AND LIGHT.
That stalwart Republican newspaper,
the Philadelphia Inquirer, says:


That stalwart Republican newspaper,
the Philadelphia Inquirer. says:
Since his return from Cuba, whittier
he went for the purpose. as supposed,
of ascertaining the nature of the exist
ing conditions by personal observation.
Secretary Root has apparently seen q.
light. He is no longer so confident as
q short time ago he seemed to be, either
as TO the fitness of the masses of the
Cuban people to establish and main
tain government of their own or as
to the chances that they will soon be
afforded an opportunity of doing so.
1t may be remembered that when he
was at Santiago de Cuba he was In
clined to take an extremely optimistic
view of the situation."
Secretary Root went to Cuba to study
the situation for himself. His stated
purpose was to see whether the Cubans
are fit for government When he
had completed his tour of observation
and was at Santiago, he gave out an
interview in which he said in substance
that the Cubans were fit for self-gov-
eminent. 1t was a purely voluntary
statement and was the summing up of
his observations after his survey of the
situation.
How does it come about that. "since
his return from Cuba, Sec
rotary Root has apparently seen a
light? Is it not strange that having
gone to Cuba in search OF light and
having announced that he had found
it. he only learned OF his mistake after
he returned to Washington? We over
looked Mr.. Roots statement after he
returned to Washington and "seen a
light" but the Inquirer quotes him as
saying that Gin our dealings with Cuba
we should go slow; in short, pursue
waiting policy; that this may take
n year or two, during which period
congress, with which the final word
will rest, will have quite enough to do
without being either able or willing to
sive the Cuban question anything
more than a cursory and provisional
attention."
The VirSinian- Pilot noted Mr.. Roots
Santiago interview with some amaze
ment. because it knew that interview
was utterly at variance with the
studied policy of the influences con-
trolling the administration. 1t is,
therefore. not surprised that he has
seen light" nor is it implied as to
what that light is. The Republican
program does not include keeping the
promise of congress that Cuba shall be
free. By hook or crook, it is proposed
to keep the island. Just at present q
'.wniftnr nn1fn1-p &c In plx 10 n
In the first place. the supreme court
of the United States has not yet said
that the dependencies can be governed
outside the constitution, and free trade
with Cuba would be awkward for the
sugar and tobacco trusts. Again, we
have the Philippine war on our hands
at present; whenever the Cubans learn
that they are not to be free-certainly
if they were told so nowhere will be
trouble; that is to be avoided until we
have the situation in the Philippines
better in hand. When the supreme
court has settled the legal status of the
dependencies and the army has settled
the Filipinos, congress will be in a bet
ter position to deliver the final word"
to Cuba. In the meantime American
capitalists and franchise hunters will
have had time to find out what is
worth having in Cuba and to apply to
Cuban politics some of the tactics so
successfully used in our own beloved
country. Who knows but that in a
year or two n Cuban assembly might
'see a light and vote for the annex
alton of Cuba to these United States.
1t is a long way from settled that Cuba
Will be free.