The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-27
The Futnre of Cuha.

Readers of The Times cannot have for
gotten the interest which this and other
Journals took Ia the Cuban debt question
in the summer and autumn OF 1898. That
was the time Of the truce between the
United States and Spain, and during it
the public became aware that syndicate
composed Of fnanciers In New York, Bes-
ton, and Philadelphia had secured control
of a large part Of the Spanish-Cuban debt.
with q view to its assumption by the Is
land Of Cuba under a United States guar
antee The scheme did not meet with
immediate success. Our Peace Commits
sIoners at Paris we're estopped from d.
reetly helping it along by the Congress
sionaI declaration of Cuban freedom. It
would not have done to put anything in
the treaty that wonId even seem 10 mar
the disinterested beauty Of that seRti-
menta' resolve; but hope was only de-
ferSed, not abandoned
The project. IS very much alive today
The syndicate still clings TO its shares
and options In full confidence that before
the end of Mr. McKinley's second term
Cuba viii be organized either as a part
of the United States or under q constitu-
Of the debt represented by the pious
john J. McGook for account Of his
business and political associates and
friends. Whichever way the Antillean
eat may jump the syndicate considers
itself safe. If We have annexation, then
the United States can plaster the debt
OF the new Territory and guarantee it
If there is to be independence, it must
be CT a kind satisfactory to Washington,
and that of course would involve most
liberal provision for the combination
The subject is revived by reason of Ger
tain enquiries, on behalf Of the Govern
ments Of Germany, France, and Great Brit
ain. which have been made here. as to
where and haw claims OF German, French.
and British subjects or citizens, growing
cut CT the Cuban war Of independence and
the Spanish-American war, can be prose-
cuted- To these enquiries Mr Mckinley
has promptly replied that the United
States declines all responsibility for the
debts of Cuba. and viii continue so to do.
unless the island should become q de
tendency of this country.
- II IS worth remarking that the Admin
itself to speak Of any new American ter
ritory, either IN esse or IN posse, as part or
possibly to be part of the United States.
It nay be different after tie Supreme
Court announces its decision in the Porto
Rico and Philippine cases row before IT.
But, in the hope that the court may ig-
more the Constitution as freely as The Ad-
ministration does. the dependency idea
is kept up. Dependencies, according
to the well Magooned theory OF Mr.. Nc
KinIey, may be treated as American in
respects which do not interfere with the
interests or profits OF the protected mo-
nopolies, but otherwise must be consid-
cred foreign. Il annexed territory is COM
pulsoriiy at once and altogether Ameri-
can, and is protected by the Constitution
from Dinsley robbery as well as lesser
evils, then we shall hear nothing mere
about Cuban annexation. The sugar. to-
baeco, and fruit possibilities Of that spIen-
did island would array every trust in the
country against its admission under the
flag and free trade.
That consideration, however, does not
materially affect the prospects OF the Gu
ban debt syndicate. There VIII be no
more territory taken over while Mr. Han
IA rules the roost in Washington, If it
must be accorded the rights and inmuni-
ties enjoyed by the mainland territories.
Still, as we have before remarked. this
would not prevent insistence upon kind
Of Cuban independence the sacred basis
of which would be an agreement to set
tie with the Cuban debt gang We are
glad TO see the subject revived. It is a
fruity one