The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-25
The Cuban object Lesson.


Cubaus the lesson that has been taught
them in the last few months What les
SOM" asked Senator Spooner, who IVES
speaking upon the bill to make Mr.. Nc
Kinley the irresponsible Autocrat of the
Philippines. "The lesson of fraud, pecula-
.tion, appropriation of revenues. cheating.
stealing, and the carnival of fraud in every
direction replied Mr.. Hale.
Thus two senatorial lights Of the Re-
publican party-the one severely crit al
the other passionately apologize for the
sins OF the Administration, banded words
and INDUCED angry emotions over Fhe-
ncmenon which simply emphasizes the
weIl-known maxim in physics, that the
fountain cannot rise higher than its
source. The saturnalia of footing and
crime which has been in progress in Cuba
is but the incidental effect of q cause
which has been at work. rot only there.
but in all our new possessions. ever sine
the Treaty of Paris was ratified and the
American flag was hoisted at Honolulu.
The necessary results are by no means con-
fined to the Pearl of the Antilles. as the
Hannas and Spooners would like the coun-
try to believe. They have begun to show
in Porto Rico. When the truth OF the
actual conditions Of bribery. corruption.
e,,rrrI;,o ,rooeopobla nrvpnerro With thu
common enemy. and Wholesale robbery in
the Philippines. now but vaguely fore
Swallowed, is fully known, it will appear
to the shame of those individuals. COM
binations. and influences responsible. that
the Mckinley Administration cannot lie
trusted to govern our new empire as sub
ject colonies. as it is doing. or in any other
way. 1t is rotten. Whatever it touches
becomes rotten by mere force of contact.
Because an Administration. dominated by
influences destructive of sound policy, of
public morals. and menacing to American
institutions and liberty. has shown itself
unworthy of control over the rich regions
which have come to us as fruits of the
should have rejected them. The Times
still believes as it always has believed.
leave, the Philippines as a prey to rival
commercial and naval powers. or to refuse
tba opuoyafiop of Hawaii md fbat ra did
right in taking Guam and Porto Rico, and
In occupying Cuba. There meyer was. nor
Is there. any reason why the territories
named should not be governed and de-.
veloped like other American Territories.
for the mutual good of their inhabitants
and of the nation. There is not sane
argument which can be advanced today
why these islands should not be a blessing
TO the American people. and our Govern
ment equally SO to their populations. un-
der a system which should respect the
Constitution, and provide an honest and
comprehensive administration.
While all this is true, there is visible
danger that the country may become so
sickened and Disguised with the results of
Hannaism. as now exemplified in Cuba. and
about to be in Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. that it may shortly evolve a strong
movement in favor of throwing overheard
everything We have gained in insular area,
rather than preserve 1t as the happy hunt
ing grounds for the favored carpetbag
rascals Of the Administration, and for its
1ooting syndicates. Such sentiment will
certainly grow and come to an ugly head.
II the danger should become great that
the patrons Of the Rathbones. Neelys. and
Heckers of the present, and the Ayers,
Eagans. and otises of the past. might be
returned to Office and power next Novem-
Der.
What they would do II given a new lease |
of demoniac political life is plainly demon |
strated in what they have done and are \
doing. Cuba speaks fer itself. So does |
Porto Rico-impudently denied the common |
rights guaranteed by the Constitution and |
turned over to the trust monopolies to i'm |
poverish by Illegal taxation OF domestic |
trade; and TO the Administration combina- |
ton, 10 loot, By means of prearranged |
franchises and concessions to be granted |
by a rump carpetbag executive council. |
Does anyone believe that the methods OF |
exploitation and thierery. proven TO be |
part and parcel Of the existing Crown Co. |
lonial system in two islands, are not COM
mon TO all?
As we have said. such a condition OF |
things is sadly liable TO create public |
opinion overwhelmingly in favor of sur |
rendering the Philippines and Guam TO |
Germany. Hawaii and Tutuila to England. |
Porto Rico to any power willing to take 1t |
of our hands. and leaving Cuba to become |
a second Haiti for while. and finally the |
prize Of the first European power that can
End an excuse for seizing It. All these |
things would be wrong and dcpiorable. but
Mr. Hanna, Mr. Mckinley, and their trust |
and exploiting associates and favorite
spoilsmen who. like Rathbone. must be