The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-20

unscientific opinions and propositions con-
toward The Island OF Cuba and lis people,
have currency, il is satisfactory TO en-
counter such a calm, sensible, and states
manlike view Of the situation as We find
contained in letter recently addressed
to the Cuban American League in New
York by the Hon. Frederick W. Seward,
whose name will at once be recognized as
that of an Assistant Secretary Of State in
the Administration Of Abraham Lincoln,
and a son of the Martyr Presidents great
minister William II. Seward. The letter
will speak for itself:
"'As the apple when severed by the tempest
from its native tree, cannot but fall TO the
ground, so Cuba when disjoined from its unnatural
connection with Spain, can gravitste only TO the
United States
seventy-seven years ago. Now the tempest has
come and passed, and the apple has fallen. All
the kings horses and all the kings men cannot
put il back on the tree again All the upliited
arms and bayoiieis and flags and documents. that
were inteIpoeed 10 break its fall, were unayaiing.
All the oratory and rhetoric proving that II would
not. could not and should not 'gravitate old
not stop it. II has gravitated and graVitated TO
itself up. No other power ventures TO touch it.
SO the question for us to decide is, what are we
going 10 do with itf
Many alarmed voices declared that We should
at once devour it. But year has passed and
We lave manifested no YoTacious appetite for it,
their number grows les.
During the year that has passed since Spain
definitely relinquished Cuba 10 US, our Executive
Administration. through its military, naval, and
civil officers has restored peace and brought order
out Of chaos Iis wise PURPOSE have been SO ad-
mirably carried out by its military commanders.
that agriculture is reyiving in its fields. health
and safety in its cities while schools, churches,
courts OF justice and custom houses are resiming
their functions 1T is not too much 10 say that
the CubanE have today better government, more
OF peace law, order, and even-handed Justice
than they have had in two hundred years.
80 far, all is well. Now, as the next step in
their progress toward prosperity and eelfgoyern-
mcn., they are looking toward the United States
for help in the shape Of American capital and
credit trained skill in the arts and sciences bust
ness intelligence and energy. These will all come
in time. as opportunities for them develop. Con-
gres some time ago, prohibited the granting Of
any business concession or franchise It was
thought needed precaution against spectators,
Isnd-grabbers, and rnonopolists. and probably was
60 ls Congress enacted it, no one else can
modify or remove it. IL will be question for
Congress to consider whether it should now be
modified and il so, how
THE Culzns say they DO not want the monop-
olists or specuRtors or lsnd-grsbbers, but that
they would like TO have banks and railways, and
manufacturing and mining companies, surrounded
by such legal safeguards those in our Stats.
50 discussion has arisen, as to how the dangers
may be avoided and the good results attained.
at seems TO be agreed now, both in the United
States and In Cuba, that it Is yet too soon TO
forecast the ultimate siEtus Of the island Ger
tainly she cannot ht herself for self-government
save by remaining under the flag OF the United
Statee. And possibly, the more fit she becomes,
the lees inclination she will have TO exercise her
IL "a t,fr Tf
in IT, However, all that belongs to the future.
For the present. the chief and immediate need
Of Cuba as President Mckinley says, is the
restoration Of her agricultural and industrial
prosperity, which will give employment to idle
men and re-estsblish the pursuits Of peace
A better epitome of the Cuban question
than that presented in the language Of Mt.
Seward would be hard to conceive. Neither
he nor any other honest American is dis
posed to ignore our national promise TO
first establish a stable government In the
island. and then leave II to local independ-
epee and self-government. But Cuba 10
be safely conditioned and prosperous must
be able 10 equip herself with the agencies
and facilities OF modern ciyilization-must
have the use OF capital-must find means TO
construct roads, docks, bridges, railways,
water and lighting plants, and to establish
and provide maintenance for popular sys-
tenn of education. For the money neces-
sary TO these needs and purposes Cuba
must largely look 10 the capitalists OF the
limited States and England. The future
stability of the Cuban national or semi
national structure will have to be well as
sured before capital will risk itself In the
premIses. The mere legislation requisite
TO authorize the granting OF franchises for
the construction of public works and works
of general utility is a small matter. In
view of the impending land and franchise
footing which at one time seemed Inevitable
under the corrupt regime OF Algerism. Con-
gress wisely withheld from our insulsf
authorities the right to make concessions
Of the character under discussion; but that
condition need not continue in force. The
Cuban business community certainly should
be allowed to form associations for banking
and other purposes, connected with the
prosecution OF agricultural. industrial, and
commercial activities:
But when the point is reached at which