The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-25
OUR DEALINGS WITH CUBA.
Sharp Rebuke to the Papers
to Stir Up Strife.
The Outlook.

Inc OUTLOOK.
The New York Evening Post is authority
for the statement that of the entire re-
hgious press of the country, so far as it has
been heard from, the New York Independ-
ent is the only one which does not indi-
cate its approval, by it's speech or by its
silence, OF the congressional action i'm the
matter of Cuba. But for this paragraph
we should never lave guessed that the
New York Evening Post read the religious
press; but We are glad to accept its state
ment as evidence that the Christian people
of the country, as represented by their
newspapers. are intellectually and morally
sane. We mean no disrespect to those who
take a different view in saying that 10
withdraw from Cuba without demanding
guarantees that what we fought for shall
not recklessly be thrown away would be
neither wise policy nor good morals. We
owe it alike to the heroic dead and TO the
otherwise defenseless living TO demand such
guarantees.
The object of the war with Spain was
threefOld-to secure Cuba's independence,
TO secure Cuba's freedom, and TO safeguard
our own rights and interests. imperiled by
SPANS despotlc policy. We have made
Cuba independent of Spain. but this does
nor make Cuba free. AS The Outlook has
frequently reminded its readers, freedom
and independence are not synonymous.
Canada is free and is not independent:
Russia is independent and is not free. Our
demand that Cuba shall. by treaty. agree
with us that she will not directly ALLEVIATE
her territory TO a foreign power, nor indi-
rectly ALLEVIATE ii by mourning debts
which she cannot pay, or object to
our Intervention if it becomes necessary
in 0rder to protect both her independence
and her freedom If either is threatened
by a foreign foe or q. domestic revolution,
Is not a violation of good faith. These
guarantees Congress believed to be neces-
sary TO secure and preserve the independ-
ence and liberty of Cuba for which we
have given. without hope Of reward, both
necessary or not is a perfectly proper sub
ject for debate, but IL is not DrODer 10
characterize the demand as a breach OF
national pledges. They are an attempt
TO complete the fulfllment Of national
pledges. The accompanying demand that
lawful rights acquired during our military
government shall be respected and plans
of sanitation which are as necessary 10
protect American as Cuban health shall
not be abandoned without the substitution
of something as good Is necessary as a
protection of our rights and interests, for
which in part we went to war with Spain,
and for which, If need be, we should be
justified in going to war with Cuba. II
is to the credit of the religious press Of
the United States, and of the American
intelligence and conscience which that
press represents, that IL accepts and acts
upon this view of the case with such prac-
teal unanimity.
And it is TO the credit of the Cuban
people that thus far they have indicated
rational and deliberate consideration. In
their exemption from hysteria they have
set an example which might well be emu
lated by that portion Of the American
press which opposed the war for the lib
Grafton of Cuba in the outset. and there
fore naturally opposes the policy which
proposes TO secure both for Cuba and for
America the results of that war.