The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-23
THE FUTURE OF CUBA.

The near future of Cuba is not hard to
forecast. Under the pledge of Congress
and the manifestly honest intentions of the
United States at every stage of proceed
ings since the beginning of the war with
Spain the Cubans are destined to have an
Independent government of their own. The
United States has done all in it's power to
start the Cubans in the right direction and
to insure the success of their attempt at
self-government. We could have hindered
their efforts in this direction at every step
if we had so desired. Instead of that we
have advised. assisted and promoted them.
banquet in havana before the opening of
the constitutional conventions:
You want liberty for all, and for no par
that you shall have II. This is possible,
and easily possible. We have said it to the
world. 1t lies with you to help us make
our word good. Your enemies predict fail
ure. The people of the United States and
their representatives hope to see you de-
feat these predictions. If we were not your
friends we would not seek the best men
you have. but would seek the disturber and
the malcontent TO represent you In the CON
v%ention. We seek and demand the best
convention who will make your political
system workable and permanent.
That fairly expresses the motive of the
United States in all its dealings with Cuba,
and it is not exssgeration to say that no
government has ever shown a higher one.
If the Cubans succeed i'm establishing "a
workable and permanent political system"
1t will be wholly due to the wise super
vision and assistance of the United States.
But then what? After Cuba has ac-
quired its independence, as by the grace of
God and the aid of the United States 1t
undoubtedly will, the question still re-
mains, what will be done with 1t? VIII it
be used in a spirit of friendliness or of
hostility to the United States? When the
time arrives that a Cuban legislature can
enact laws entirely independent of Ameri-
can suggestion. will they be friendly to
this country or not? Unfortunately, there
is nothing in the Spanish-American char
acter to allay a fear that they may be
marked by ingratitude and unfriendliness
to the nation to which Cuba will owe its
independence. This spirit can be shown In
many ways. For instance, il is already
suggested that the future immigration
laws of Cuba shall be made decidedly
friendly to emigration from Spain and
other countries of southern Europe, and
unfriendly to emigration from the United
States. Without going into details, IL Is
evident this could be done. IL the DISPOSE
ton existed. 1t must be remembered that
in spite of political differences and revolu-
lions there is a natural bond between Cuba
and Spain-the bond hat exists between a
mother country and a colony. 1t is still
felt between the American colonies and
England. 1t is a singular fact that since
the liberation of Cuba there has been a
steady emigration to the island from Spain
not large but steady. During the month
of July last. out of 22S immigrants arriving
at Havana, 1O were Spanish, IS were Chi
nese and not one was American. If after
independence is established the Cuban
legislature chooses to work this idea and
encourage Spanish immigration TO the ex-
clusion Of American il can do much 10 pre-
vent the Americanizing of the island and
to build up a new Latin American state at
our very doors. Then the question will
arise for the United States TO decide
whether 1t will permit that sort of an
abuse of Cuban independence.