The times., 1901-06-09
Mr.. Roots Mcssnge TO Cuba.

Mr.. Eoot's Message to Cuba.
The epistIe of Secretary Root to the
! Cubans appears TO have been arrested
| in it's passage, but it will get to them
I in the course Of time. and, when it
does, we sincerely hope that it Will
! put an end to the illusions under which
the Constitutional Convention at Ha-
vana appears to have been laboring.
| 1t is to be feared that Mr.. Root in the
| past has not been as particular about
| Illusions as he might have been. From
all we can gather on the subject Cen
eral Wood either has misunderstood the
policy of the ton, or has
omitted to exenplify it frankly TO the
Cubans; which would not be straight
! forward AmeriCanism.
In April. 1898. on the initiative Of
Senator Teller, who is a good Amer
lean and an admirable man in spite of
the fact that we feel compelled to
criticise him occasionally, Congress
passed a resolution of a glutinous and
hysteTiC nature declaring that the Gu
ban people were and oFright ought to
be free and independent, and that the
United States would intervene, drive
Spain out, and then promptly deliver
the island to its inhabitants, to do with
what they pleased.
That resolution was mere express
sion of sentiment-of a sentiment which
had become intense on account of the
fiendish cruelties of the miscreant
Weyler. II did not take into account
the interests of the United States in
Cuba. 1t ignored our necessary con-
Germ in the character and conduct Of
the native Government To be set up in
the island. In fact. il was an academic
declaration, which, afterward, could
not be held binding in conscience or
morals. When calm reflection came, it
was at once recognized that under the
social conditions prevailing in Cuba it
it would be wrong to permit the Cubans
to establish such a sovereignty and
such an administration as they would
be sure 10 if unrestrained One Haiti
is enough in the West Indies or else
where, and Haiti is an international
sore that we are greatly blamable for
toIerating. because it is to US and no
one else that the duty attaches of re-
moving it. Cuba would be another
Haiti in six months if the American
strong hand were relaxed. All men who
have studied the question know this,
and the manufacturers, merchants. and
planters Of the island more than any
body else.
The Platt terms were the result of a
feeling in Congress that in generosity
To the people We had saved from Span
ish oppression we ought TO go as near
10 the letter and spirit of the Teller
resolution as the public safety would
permit Our overture has not been well
received. Leaders of the Cuban fac
tions want absolute sovereignty that
they may have a chance to promote
their individual ambitions and fortunes. !
But absolute independence is something
which we cannot and will not grant. !
The geographical position of Cuba, /
which makes it scientifically an inte- |
graI part of the United States, and
defence or a danger point accordingly |
as IT may be utilized for or against /
this country, forbids the idea that it (
should ever be free from American /
The menace to our hem |
ispheric policy which would be In |
yolved in the existence off our coast of /
a State liable to be made the military |
base Of operations against US is not to |
be ignored, and that is Q consideration |
not 10 he destroyed by Teller resolution /
nysteria or ANYTHING else.
The case has been complicated by
lack Of frankness on the part of the
Administration. The PIatt letter to
Secretary Root. published in a Ha-
yana paper, is to be regretted. 1t
shows. if it shows anything, that an
which in the plainest terms
imposes American suzerainty upon
cuba was not intended to mean any
such thing. Tomorrow the Consutu-
ional Convention in Havana win be in
session 10 hear the last word from
On the whole, ii is 10 be
loped that it Will hear and reject. Then
{ VIII be open to Congress to treat the
natter alb initio, and we are mistaken
f by next winter there is not a strong
public opinion in favor Of annexation.
There is no international or logical rea-
on why Cuba should not in the future
,elong TO the United States, and it viii.
Why not now?