The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-26

Mr.. Beveridge Says the Island Should
Not Have Separate Government.

Mr. Beveridge Says the Island Should
Not Have Separate Government.
If the opposition declare that we ought
to set up separate government over the
Philippines because we are setting up a
separate government over Cuba, answer
that such an error in Cuba does not justify
the same error in the Philippines. I am
speaking for myself alone, but speaking
thus, say that for the good of Cuba more
than for the good of the United States, a
separate government over Cuba. uncon-
trolled by the American Republic. never
should have been promised. Cuba is a mere
extension of our Atlantic coast line. 1t
commands the ocean entrances to the
Mississippi and the Isthmian canal. JEFF
fersons dearest dream was that Cuba
should belong TO the United States. To
possess this extension of American soil
has been the wish of every far-seeing
statesman from Jefferson to Blaine. An
nexation to the greatest nation the world
has ever seen would have been prouder
Cuban destiny than separate nationality.
AS an American possession. Cuba might
possibly have been fitted for statehood in
a period not much longer than that in
which Louisiana was prepared for state
hood. Even now the work of regeneration
OF cleansing cities. building roads, estab-
fishing posts. erecting a system of univer-
sal education and the action of all the
forces that make up our civilzation-is
speeding forward faster than at any time
or place in human history-American ed
min1stration, But yesterday there were
less than 10000 Cuban children in school;
to-day there are nearly $780, 900 Cuban chill
dren In school-American administration!
But yesterday Havana was the source of
our yellow-fever plaques; to-day II is near
ly healthy as New Orleans-American
administration! When We stop this work
and withdraw our restraint, revolution
will succeed revolution, as in the Central
and South American countries; Havana
again tester with the yellow death; sys-
tematic education again degenerate into
sporadic instances; and Cuba. which un-
der our control would have been source of
profit, power and glory to the Republic and
herself, Will be a source of irritation and
of loss, Of danger and disease to both. The
United States needs Cuba for our protec-
ton; but Cuba needs the United States for
Cuba's salvation.
The resolution, hastily passed by all par
ties in Congress, at an excited hour. was
an error which years of time, propinquity
OF location, common commerce, mutual in
terests and similar dangers surely will cor
rect. Our great President. jealous of Amer
lean honor, rightly anxious for the good
name OF the Republic above every other
consideration, justly counting the fulfill
ment of national engagements the most ex-
allied national achievement, considers that
resolution promise. And American prom
Use means performance. And so the un-
natural experiment is TO be tried What
war and nature-aye, what God hath joined
together is TO be put asunder. / speak for
myself alone, but speaking thus, / say that
X will be an evil day for Cuba when the
stars and stripes comes down from MORO
Castle. speak for myself alone. but
believe that in this my voice is the voice
of the American millions as IL is the voice
of the ultimate future. when ! say that
Porto Rico is ours, and ours forever. the
Philippines are ours forever and Cuba
ought TO have been ours, and by the free
choice OF her people some day Will be ours,
and ours forever.
We have a foreign nation our north:
another on our southwest; and now TO per-
nit another foreign nation within cannon
shot of our southeast coast, will indeed
create conditions which viii require that
militarism which the opposition TO the
government pretend TO fear. Think
of Cuba I'm alliance with England
or Germany France, Think OF
Cuba naval station and ally of
one of the great foreign powers every one
of whom Is a rival OF America And so my
answer to Mr.. Bryan's comparison is that
IL have made a mistake In Cuba. We
ought not TO make the same mistake IN the
Philippines. And | predict that within
twenty-five years We shall again be forced
to assume the government of Cuba. but
only after our commerce has again been
paralyZed by revolution, after internal dis
sension has again spilled rivers of Cuban
blood. after the yellow fever has again and
again crossed over 10 our southern coast
from its hot-bed I'm Havana harbor, and
after We have assumed hundreds OF mil