The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-25
OUR RIGHTS IN CUBA.

OUR RIGHTS IN CUBA.
The attitude which the president has
taken with reference to the ACCESSIBILITY
of calling congress together in extra
session in connection with the forthcom-
ing constitution of Cuba is entitled TO
the highest measure of national approval.
His action in converting the senate in ex-
ira session after the 4th of March is
evidently Influenced by considerations af-
fecting the future relations of this coun-
try and Cuba and is designed to save
himself, as executive, from assuming
the entire responsibility for the outcome
of the Cuban constitutional convention.
There are vast interests possessed by
the United States in Cuba which must
not be ignored by that convention. These
interests must be fully conserved and
protected before the existing virtual pro-
tectorate is brought to a close and our
troops are withdrawn
The ! o b z has never believed that it
was necessary that the organic law of
Cuba Should be required to emboiy
any obligation or dependence in any form
toward the United States. 1t still thinks
so. The new government ought to stand
ready in every way short of permanently
placing restriction on its national pre-
negatives to secure the United States in
every direction in which it might, through
the calling of free Cuba into existence,
be compromised in its national interests.
From what we can CLEAN through the
press dispatches concerning the work of
the convention there is little disposition
either toward gratitude or justice toward
the United States on the part of the
dominant politicians in that body.
If it is the deliberate conviction of the
people of the coming Cuban republic that
the United States should be granted no
further privileges or concessions than
any other nation; that no provision
should be made for coaHng stations for
the ships of this country in Cuba, and
no opportunities given to US to protect
ourselves against the plans or purposes
OF European nations with reference to
the finances of Cuba, its future form of
government or the integrity of it's ter
ritory; if the conviction has settled it
self in the minds of the Cuban politicians
that this nation will submit to it's ma
tional welfare being endangered by the
governmental creation which by the free
expenditure Of blood and treasure 1t has
caused to be erected at it's very doors,
the sooner the idea is dispelled from the
Cuban mind as an Illusion the better
President Mckinley has been right
throughout. Whatever has been done
to emasculate the Monroe doctrine
through our taking over the Philippines,
that doctrine, so far as it's insistence
upon is essential to the protection of
American interests, will continue to be
maintained. 1t may not have become
embodied in international law: It may
never be so embodied. But it will be In
ternational law by force of American
arms, as long as it is found necessary,
for the national defense and protection,
to promulgate it.
We must have all the guarantees that
those charged with the conduct Of our
national affairs deem necessary for our
own protection before American troops
are withdrawn from Cuba We want no
permanent lien on the national resources
or the national structure of Cuba; but
We do need and must have assurances
as capable of enforcement as any that
any nation can extend to another, to
guard ourselves against any evil conse-
quences from our devotion to the cause
of humanity and liberty which has en-
abled the Cubans to shake off the Span
ish yoke. There must be no Pandora s
Dox to be opened on the Caribbean sea
TO the possible future undoing of this
republic.