The Portland daily press., 1901-02-04

save on the eve OF the spanish war has
been IN les keeping. and 1t has bean lived
mp 90 strictly, The army Ia Ouha hes
been used for nothing but pscification.
There Is not the slightest evidence that
It has been employsd directly or indirect
ly to intlmidats the people OF the fsllnd.
They have been left perfsctly free to
form such a constitution aB they deemed
best. Up to this moment there has been
nothing done to impugn our good faith
and nothing left undons which was
csliulated 70 strengthen tho faith OF the
peopls In the sincerity OF our pledge.
IL would have been an easy thing for our
military commanders In Cuta with the
authority and influence which they pcs
sessed, to have practically determined
the future Of the island. They could
protabiy have dominated the constitu.
tion convention and themselves moulded
the constitution. But the people were
left free to form their own government,
and the constitution which they have
formed is their constitution Up 20 this
point the most carping critic can find
no sound reason for alleging that this
counuy has not lived up to Its pledge.
For some reason, not quite
clear, the executive has concluded
to make the adoption of con-
stitution by the Cuban convention the
end of its exclusive control over Cuba.
Heretofore it hes directed everything
there without consulting Congress. Here
after Congress viii be asked 20 share the
onsiblllty. Now II pacifcation he's
been accomplished ana the Cubans are
in a situation to assume control OF their
own affairs, 1t Is difficult . TO see
what there is for Congress to do
but follow out the Teller pledge
and hand the government Of the
island over to it's own people. The opin-
ion expressed by Senator Platt OF Connec-
tiout that Congress has no power to
change the Cuban const tuition seems per-
feotly sound. The supreme Court has
held that Cuba is foreign country, and
that We are merely trustees holding 1t for
its.people. When the conditions OF the
t.usteeship are fulfilled It would see m
clear that 1t was our duty to hand it
over to the real owners. The conditions
or condition OF this trusteeship-we laid
down ourselves and IL was the pacifi-
cation OF the country. We may be the
Judge of when that condition is fulfilled,
and to determine that point a oonsidera-
tion OF the new constitution may be
necessary and prouer, for this word paoifi-
cation was doubtless intended to signify
more than the establishment of peace.
1t was intended also to- cover the es.
tablishment of government that
should give promise of being abls to
keep the peace. 1t will not be a viola
tion OF our pledge or an evasion OF It
to kesp our army In Cuba until the In
hanitants have erected a government that
gives fair promises of being stable, and II
we should find In its basis-that
is the consIitution-material so
weak and illadapted as to threaten she
permanenoy of the superstructure, II
would be no violation OF our pledge to
retain our control until the defent was
cured. Thus though Congress has
| no power to alter the constitution itself
1t would be justified in retaining con-
/ troll of the island until the Cubans sl-
tered 1t. should 1t be clear that stable
!
is. But military occupation cannot be
continued, under fair construction OF
the Teller pledge, after pacitoation-using
that term In a broad sense--has been se-
. cured. 10 continue 1t tor the p1rposs
OF ooeToing ths Cubans into req
osnizing suzeIAinty on our part
over them, or according US some
special privileges. would be to violate
the Teller pledge. There is talk in some
quarters OF compelling the Cuhans in
some way to recognize our parAmountcy
on this continent in their constitution.
This would seem TO be entirely useless,
| even II it could be done without eved-
ing the Tellsr pledge. Our paramountcy
Will not be strengthened by Cuban rec
o0nition or w eakened by refusal OF
Cuban recognition. II Cuta, after 1t is
free. attempts anything preJudieial to
our right. little more pressure will