The times., 1901-06-17
Conditions in Cuba.


The news from Cuba indicates that
the conservative elements of the popu-
lation are full of misgivings as to the
stability of any government that may
be set up under the new constitution
Already it appears that the color hhe
has been drawn in places. and there are
i,tirnations that the radicals are IN
clined to oppress those who sympa-
thized with Spain during that country
control of Cuban affairs. When we con
slider the substantial division of the peo-
ple between whites and blacks, ana
further that the element that was either
openly or tacitly in sympathy vita
Snain is a very considerable one. 1t Is
easy to see that any such methods
would. in their nature, be provocative
of endless trouble.
Moreover. the Cubans are wholly in
experienced in government, and
have vet to learn the great lessons of
conservatism. seIf-restraint, and i'm
plicit obedience To law. Under such cir
cumstances it is obvious that the Sue
ress of their experiment is more than
doubtful. As an illustration of the dlt-
fculties attending the establishment OF
the Government we may refer to the
matter of suffrage. The constitution
makes the voting franchise universal
with the males. There is a great deal
of uuteracy among the people, the ne
eroes being especially ignorant IL Is
now urged that the constitution should
be amended so as To impose limitations
This is objected to. and some Of those
desirous of eliminating the negro vote
are employing the rather unique argu-
ment that il is better TO allow the ne
eroes the nominal right to the ballot
and then suppress their votes in some
other way. Saying nothing Of the NOR
ais Of such a proposal, scheme OF tnat
kind promises complications and dlsor-
ders that would strike at the very foun-
dations Of the Government
All Of these considerations tend 10
prove the wisdom OF the American Gov
ernment in taking advance measures,
not only for the protection Of our in
terests in the island, but for the pre-
vention Of internal disorder among the
Cubaus themselves. 1t has been urged
that whether the Cuban Government
prove a success or not is none OF our
concern. and attempts have been made
10 draw parallels between the case OF
Cuba and those Of the Republics Of Cen
trail and South America. This attempt.
though. is far-fetched- The cases are
essentially different The older Repub-
lies TO the south Of US achieved their
-e.n- Of faTFr
help. and it was their privilege to set
up such governments as they chose re-
gardless Of our wishes or interests
But cuba virtually did nothing toward
gaining her own freedom.
when the American forces landed al
Santiago. the Cubans were no nearer Il
independence than the Filipinos Of Lu-
zon are today. The forces Of Gomez
and Garcia were insignificant in num-
Der. and of no practical value as aux
iIiaries. The simple fact is that cuba
was taken from Spain by the army and
navy OF the United states. This gives
to Us a moral right, ana entails an OBJ
Hgation which found no place in our
relations with any OF the existing Re
1uhlics south Of the Rio Grande. We
fntervened to put an end TO disorder il
the island. and We were morally bound
70 sec To II that our action did not resul
9n a mere substitution Of anarchy foi
desp0tisn.
Much has been said and written abou
the obligation imposed by the TeIie
resolution. That official declaration
like any other. should be construed rea
sonably. and not entirely to our owl
disadvantage. The sole purpose Of tn
resolution was 70 rebut the idea that ~
were embarking in a war Of conquest
II was hastily and crudely drawn, al
provisions for the safeguarding Of on
own interests being omitted But self
protection IS a higher law than an,
such resolution can be. and substan
tial compliance was al that or ma
tionai honor demanded. This there ha
been no disposition 10 avoid
The Platt amendment deprives Cub
Of full sovereignty. it is tue. but in tn
broader personal sense, it leaves tn
people in the enjoyment of as much lib
erty as is possessed by the Inhabitant
OF any country on the face Of the earth
And what IS more ConIjltd Win me r
s,rictions Of the amendment which IN
Cuban convention has embodied int
the constitution. runs the oontinuin
moral obligation Of the United State
10 protect. which gives to Cuba a Sc
curity possessed by none Of the Lati
American Republics This is 10 the ad
vantage Of both the Cubans and our
selves.
Even those who are disposed 70 cav
ct a departure from the literal term
Of the Teller resolution recognize ih
fact that we would never under an
contingency, permit a foreign countr
10 eucroach upon Cuban territory. 81
in the absence OF some such restriC
tlons as those we have imposed. the q
ban Government might very easily 5
involve itself ulat some European Gov
ernment would have right under Il
law of nations % invade the island an
seize the whole or a part of the terr
tory. Then, if we interfered. we woui
clearly be in the wrong both legally an
morally. By every rule Of sound state.
maaship we were bound 10 guard in az