The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-14
Conn1ofler Comment.
;. Extracts From W. J. Bryan's Paper.
Inviting Trouble.
sUzERAINTY FOR CUBA.

Inviting Trouble.
STZERAINTY FOR CUBA.
There are indications that admins
sration politicians are paving the way
For trouble in our affairs with Cuba.
The Washington correspondent OF
the Chicago Tribune says that there is
AR increasing sentiment in favor of a
declaration in regard to the interna-
tional relations of Cuba" This CORE
spondent explains:
There could be a declaration by
congress, assented to by the Cubans IN
States the exclusive right to conduct
the international negotiations of Gu
ba, or clause might be inserted in
the Cuban constitution giving this gov
eminent the rights of protectorate
over the island in this respect.
There should also be pledge,
many congressman assert, or the part
Of the Cubans to abide by any decision
this government might make in re-
gard to any international contentious.
For instances, if subject of Great
Britain or Germany should be injured
in his person or property rights in
Cuba and claim presented, the state
department at Washington should
have the exclusive right to investigate
and determine what ought to be done
in the matter of reparation. When
this question is determined the Cubans
should be required to comply with it
instantly and without any discussion"
This looks very much like DISPOSE
ton to stir up fresh trouble for this
nation. There is not the slightest dan
ger that, in it's international relations,
Cuba would do anything distateful to
the United States. If the people of that
island would not be restrained on this
line from motives of gratitude, they
would, be governed by consideration
of the mutual interests that must exist
between the people of Cuba and the
people of this country. 1t is not neces-
sary that the United States formally
establish protectorate over any re-
public on American soil. For all es-
sential purposes the Monroe Doctrine
provides adequate protection.
LIKE THE BRITISH PLAN.
The plan outlined by the Tribune
correspondent is very much like the
plan insisted upon by the British min
istry in it's relations with the South
African republic, and the world knows
the result. 1t is not likely that the Gu
bans would agree to any such plan
when they have so recently observed
the license which Great Britain took
under similar provision.
AS matter Of fact the United States
has no more right to insist upon a
clause in the Cuban constitution for
mally giving suzerainty to this gov
eminent or comforting upon it any
power as to the foreign relations Of
the Cuban government than it has to
deliberately annex Cuba to the United
States.
The war resolutions declared that
the United States, thereby disclaims
any disposition or intention to excr-
else sovereignty, jurisdiction or con-
troll over said island, except for the
pacification thereof, and asserts it's de-
termination, when that is complete,
to leave the government and control
Of the island to it's people," That dec.
laration is plain and simple and re-
luires no Interpretation. There is but
one way to carry out that pledge
that is to carry it out in perfe
dor.
FREE AND INDEPENDENT.
If, as the war resolution declared,
"the people of the island Of Cuba are
and of right ought to be free and in.
dependent" then the application of
that right operates as much against
the United States as against any other
power that might seek sovereignty,
| Jurisdiction or control" over that ISL
and.
The Cuban republic will never work
out it's destiny if it is hampered as tile
| South African republic was hampered.
In order to inspire the Cuban people
to struggle for the best in the details
Of government they must be left as the
war resolution declared them to be,
free and independent"
| The American people have had as
sumed for them sufficient obligations.
| They have already on hand more troll-
| Bile than they can conveniently dis
pose of. The people expect that, so
far as Cuba is concerned, the admins
tration will fulfill the pledge made in
the war resolutions ana reiterated in
the last republican national platform.
There is no necessity for piling on
fresh obligations or adding new con-
ditions. AS soon as the Cuban consti-
tuition is adopted and a stable govern
ment organized, we should withdraw
our forces from that island and per-
nit the new republic to work out its
own destiny. Let the people of that
republic understand that the response
bility for good government rests upon
them, and responsibility in such cases
is usually productive of wisdom.
The Cuban government will not he
perfect in the beginning. The cor
structive period will be full of diff
culties for the statesmen of that ISL
and. exactly as our own constructive
period was full of embarrassments for
the statesmen of the American col
onies. But the people of Cuba must
tread this path exactly as the people
of new governments have been COM
PEELED to do in all the history of the
world. They must learn and improve
by experience.
GIVE THEM A GOOD EXAMPLE.
If we would give the people of Cuba
the best possible start on the road to
good government we could begin no
better than by dropping all excuses
and all pretenses, and fulfilling the
Press disnatches announce that a