Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-02-13
RELATIONS Win CUBA
Svbmission Of the New Constitution to Con-
qress Must Settle the Question.
Pioneer Press.l

Pioneer Press.l
The problem of the future relations
of this country to Cuba is likely to
become an absorbing topic In the
very near future. Already a variety
of opinions r being expressed In
Washington, dictated largely. it
would seem, rather by the inclina-
tions of those who hold them than
by q profound study Of the situation.
As soon rs the Cuban convention
succeeds in settling it's internal differ
ences and submits the draft of itscon-
stitution, some of these questions,
now largely speculative, will become
practical. And there Is ample room
for sincere difference Of opinion In the
fact that certain words In the ''self.
denying ordinance" are susceptible of
as many interpretations AS there are
individuals To pass upon their mean
ing, aud in the fact that the situation
is entirely without precedent. Adj
hitting that congress Is to- etermine
when a''stable" government has been
established, by what means IL 1t to
determine II? The mere fact that the
draft OF a constitution had been sub
mitted would not revealthe capacity
or the intention of the CuUans to put
its provisions in motion and con
struct an efficient machine according
to that plan. Yet there are those
who maintain that congress In ac-
cepting the constitution must pro-
vide for the imm .diate withdrawal
OF all American authority from the
island. And there are Others who
maintain that not until the constitu-
ton has been embodied In an efficient
government showing reasonable
promise of stability ought the United
States to withdraw.
There are still Others ohopet that
annexation will lie effected in some
manner. No one in congress, as far
as we know, has openly and serious
ly advocated such II step, but n num-
Der of hare-bralned persons outside
of congress have urged IL. Paren-
thetically ii may he said that mostoi
these have been men who professed
adherence to the Democratic plat
form and who supported Bryan aud
anti.impcrialism. But as the Pioneer
Press has frequently pointed out, an
n~exation, II it is to come at all, will
not vr jginate in the United States.
This country will adhere to It's pledge
to withdraw from Cuba when stable
government is formed, be that time
sooner or later. The Cubans them
selves will have To express the desire
for annexation. For mt great body
Of persons ia this country "a eyerhe
found to urge forclble annexation un-
less the Cuban government should
persistently make itself n menace to
our welfare. That 1t will do 50 isnut
at all likely.
Others who recognize the general
hiE'LiNlihuAIoi WI u Ht'Dif vi AaihN
country to support forcible annexa-
tlon still do not expect that anncXa-
tion will be long delayed. They argue
that the Cubans will soon come to
realize, as many Of the more intclll-
gent Cubans and "paniards living In
Cuba do today, they cannotcon-
.1,,nt th.f. 4, a. "A. affairs ~. L. ntiufa,ta Al.
lily to themselves as they have been
conducted under American tutelage,
and that the annexation sentiment
will ultimately sweep the island.
e They argue that 1t Is merely the
demagogery ofself-seeklng politicians
that has blinded the Cubans, and
that when these politicians by their
misgovernment have brought them
selves into discredit, the Cubans will
clamor for a return to the conditions
prevailing under American control.
Whether this Representation will be
fulfilled Is n matter of doubt, since IL
is largely o east Of the wish father
ing the thought.
Another knotty problem In this
connection arises out of the future
relations Of this country and Cuba.
The hint given to the Cubans that
they should give to the United States
at least a supervisory the
foreign relations Of the island repub-
lie seems to have been ignored. The
convention seems bound to go 1t
alone and face the consequences In
spite Of the claims OF foreign govern
ments that are likely to bemade upon
the island forproperty destroyed and
lives lost In the struggle with Spain.
Whether they look to the United
States for help IN case of trouble with
these claims Is not known. But II
they do they are reckoning without
their host, i'm all probability, since
the United States has never under
taken under cover Of the Monroe doe
trine or any other policy to proven
the enforcement of claims made by
European states upon those of this
continent. Permanent occupationo