Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-02
Islanders Expected to Furnish the
Occasion for America to Acton.
ANNEXATION is REGARDED as SURE
As the Matter is Viewed in Washington
the Cubans viii Have Chance to
Rule Themselves, But Failure is
Counted Upon.

tdiH uCSlSG lLe pOliSy VI LiC
tration in it's dealings with Cuba is
one of opportunism. The president is
waiting for things to happen. The
Cubans themselves are expected TO
furnish the occasion for drawing clos
er the ties between the island and this
country. Eventually it is not doubted
that annexation will take place; but
the how and the when are dependent
upon contingencies.
Almost everything lies with the Gu
bans. They might even prevent an
nexation by demonstrating their abil-
ity to rule themselves. But this is the
only way it could be prevented. When
annexation comes it will be the result
of some movement which will con-
vince the world at large, or some con-
siderable portion of it, that it is the
only policy consistent with peace and
the protection of life and property in
Cuba.
A member of the cabinet is authority
for the statement that the United
States intends to live up to a strict
and literal Interpretation of the reso-
lutions which promised Cuban indie
pendence. Providing always that the
Cubans do not indulge in some overt
act-some outbreak insurrectionary in
its character-the administration will
permit the natives of the island to set
up their independent form of govern
ment and take the management of af-
fairs into their own hands.
The American troops will be with
drawn; the military regime be
brought to an end. The last tie
which binds that country to ours will
be severed. and it will be turned
adrift. All this, supposing the Cuban
people, as represented in their con-
vention, see fit to conform to the re-
quirements of the Platt resolutions,
and to shape their government so that
it will meet the approval of the admin
istration.
Believe Cubans Will Fail.
The annexation movement is expect
ed to date from the establishment of
Cuban independence. Those who are
familiar with the Cuban situation are
confident that the Independent gov
eminent will prove a failure. They
have no confidence in the ability of
the Cuban people to govern them
selves They anticipate an outbreak
of trouble just about as soon as the
last soldier sails from Havana.
They think they know enough of
Cuban character and of the local feel
Z ing to be able to predict with great
certainty a reign of lawlessness. The
property holding class will find them
selves arrayed against the radicals
who will, for the time being, be in
power, and there will be a beginning
of reprisals and revenge upon those
who have failed to sympathize with
the revolutionary movement.
The United States will then inter
yene. This country has already ere
: ated a precedent on the point of inter
vention. AS we were justified in com
ing between the Spanish and insur
gents in order to put an end to dis
turbance which was close to our doors
and which was menace and annoy
ance to us, SO we would be justified in
coming between the conservative prop
erty-holding class and the irresponsi
bles, who might take advantage of g
temporary power to violate theil
rights to property and personal secur
ity.
The manner of procedure, the de
tails of the annexation movement, arc
depedent upon events. Here is where
the opportunism of the policy comes
in. There might be an outrage agains1
an American citizen, some sugar plant
er whose property would be destroyed
or his life menaced. Or it might take
the form ola new instruction breaking
out in the eastern end of the island
having for its object the overthrow o
the newly established and comparative
ly weak government.
There are a hundred rocks in tn,
,,ofl, ofr ,afi iIcfl 10, oh n
on it's career, and it is confidently an
ticipated that the Cuban republic will
not long escape them.
Annexation Regarded Certain.
The men who are putting out this
ss line of Cuban calamity talk find JUST
Vacation for the means in the end. The,
Say the administration has in view the
4 ultimate welfare of Cuba and the Unit
ed States.
THEY believe Cuba is, and Away.
,gas, destined to be part of the Unit
ed STATES They admit with perfec
frankness that the Teller resolutions
pledging independence to the Cubans
were a great mistake.
They say they were passed during
a period of great public excitement
when we were on the verge of wal
and they were never carefully consid
cred. OF course, having given GU
word, we are obliged to keep it; other
wise the island would have been an
nexed long ago.
From the administration standpoin
there is nothing in the Platt resolr
tions inconsistent with the Teller resc
buttons. The latter represent our il
tentions at the time they were passed
The Plat resolutions represent the oil
legations assumed by the Unite
States in signing the treaty of Pari.
by which the Spanish war was brough
to a close.
The war brought about new sit,
alton. In ending the war, and for til
purpose of ending the war, the Unite
States undertook certain obligations
: some We're to Spain and some were |