The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-11
The Programme in Congress.


contingencies are not likely
to arise. Should the present congress
adjourn without passing the routine
appropriation bills, or should IL shirk
it's share of the responsibilities grow
ing out of the situation in Cuba and
the Philippines. an extra session may
be considered inevitable. But should
the present congress prove amenable
to the counsel of its recognized lead
ers, whose programme Is already for
mulated, there will be no need of an
extra session.
With regard to the Philippines the
programme is to attach to the army
appropriation bill the following amend
ment. drafted by Senator Spooner:
That all military, civil and judicial
powers necessary to govern the Phil
ippine islands shall. until otherwise
provided by congress. be vested in
such person and persons, and shall be
exercised in such manner as the presi-
dent of the United States shall direct,
for the establishment of civil govern
ment and for maintaining and protect
ing the inhabitants of said islands in
the free enjoyment of their liberty,
| property and religion: provided. that
all franchises granted under the au-
| thority hereof shall contain a reser-
walton of the right to alter. amend or
repeal the same" With regard to
| Cuba an amendment also by Mr..
| Spooner, is proposed. in substance as
| follows: That the army of the United
states shall not be withdrawn from
| Cuba till the Cuban constitutional con-
rention shall have satisfactorily met
that part of the call for the conven-
| ton which stipulated that the future
| relations to exist between Cuba and
| the United States should he formu-
| lated"
The first of these amendments Is
| self-eXplanatory. The time for insti-
tutins civil government in portions Of
the Philippines under direct warrant
from congress is at hand. Congress
cannot at this session formulate a de-
| tailed plan of government: it has
| neither the special knowledge nor the
time required. The president has both.
Hence the task is committed provis-
ionally to him. Later on, congress.
after due study. will assume and conf
| plete it.
| The proposition i'm relation to Cuba
| requires some explanation. As is we'll
known, the convention Of Cubans
| called to draft a constitution and de-
I hn ;gIa
| United States has practically refused
to perform the latter half of its duties.
The radicals who control it propose to
! set up a government first, which they
insist that the United States shall
| forthwith recognize as independent in
every particular: and they are willing
| that the question of American rela-
tions shall then come up. But they
provide no security that the govern
, ment which they seek to set up may
not, when in full swing. turn d cold
| shoulder upon the United States and
leave us in the position of having
stood godfather to an migrate The
idea which prevails at Washington is
that the time to come to a final under
standing is before, not after, Cuban
independence. AS a member of the
cabinet says to a correspondent of the
Chicago Times-Herald;
'1nasmuch as it is our duty to guar
antee Cuban independence and to pro-
tect 1t against the world, we want "a
stipulation that Cuba is to enter into
no foreign treaty without the consent
of the United states. If we give the
new republic absolute, unrestraned
| control of its foreign relations how
do we know what entangling alliances
may be contracted? 1t would be pos
sible for the Spanish element to gain
control of the politics of the republic
and cede the island back to spain
again. or to establish a Spanish, a
German, a French or British protac-
toracy. Inasmuch as II is our duty
to protect Cuba we want a stipulation
that she shall not contract debt be-
yond a certain limit without the con-
sent of the United States. In plain
English, we do not intend Cuba shall
mortgage herself to Great Britain tc
France, to Germany or to any other
power, with danger that the mortgage
will be foreclosed by grabbing the
custom house or the whole or a part
of the island itself. Considering the
nature of our duties, we want to keeI
naval stations in Cuba, not TO de-
prive the Cuban people OF their indc,
pendence, but for their protection, ant
for our protection.
I'm all this there is nothing unrea'
sonable, nothing inconsistent with
Cuban independence or with oul
pledge given by congress. The United
it could. We do not want it, w,
want the people of Cuba to have in
dependence. We are ready to give 4
to them. But we want the means o.
perpetuating that independence. Th'
United States has made great sacri
; fees for Cuba. We ask no compensa
tion therefor. The United States ha'
vastly greater stake In the futur,
of Cuba than any other nation has
All we ask Is a stipulated right I,
protect our interests and TO protec
the people of Cuba at the same time
We seek no control of their domesti
; affairs, no check upon their tariffs
, Nor should we seek to scrutinize To,
, closely their constitution and thei
! method of government. As to the de
, tails of that constitution we care moth
ing-that is their AFFAIR. All we car