The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-24
FREE CUBA.

The virtual acceptance Dy the OnlIeQ
States authorities of the electoral laws
t. be adopted by Cuba removes the last
obstacle in the way of the establish
ment of the Cuban republic. Within
seven or eight months the great respon-
sib.lities and burdens of representative
self-government will be made to rest on
the Cuban people The test will then fol-
low of the Cubans' fitness for civil free
dem.
The task which is before the founders
of the Cuban republic is severe one.
Ii viii strain their resources of patriot
ism and craftsmanship to the limit, and
the manner of their discharge of it in
the earlier days of its assumption will
largely determine the political future of
the Cuban people.
Gen. Wood stands out in the political
foreground of Cuba as the one American
administrator who, under all circum-
stances. maintained his faith in Cuban
honor and in Cuban fitness for the re-
sooEsibilities of national self-govern-
ment. He must be accepted as the in
cacnation of the American influence in
all that has ensued since the evacua-
ton of the island by the Spanish. Dur
ius his incumbency of the Office of gov
error OF Santiago. he brought to the peo-
pie under his jurisdiction the blessings
Of efficient public sanitation, which were
as utterly unknown to them as any of
the other blessings which must neces-
sarily ensue to any people whose af-
Fairs are properly conducted In his later
Office as governor of the island, he has
maintained the most resolute adherence
TO the demands of honor and justice to-
ward the Cuban people. When he hands
over control of Cuban executive concerns
TO the new president of the republic he
VIII have established a place for him
self in history as honorable as that which
viii be occupied by any American of his
generation
II annexation comes to Cuba as the
contamination of her political fate it
viii now come as the inevitable outcome
Of conditions which this nation has
borne no Immediate part in calling into
existence. The Cuban people will have
hoen left to their own free will; and the
decision, if it is ever arrived at, will
be the legitimate outcome of the convic-
ton of the people and their leaders alike,
that Cuban destiny can be best fulfilled
a state of the American Union.
There is nothing in history which pre-
sents q parallel of the grand part
which the United States has borne in
securing the liberation of Cuba and in
enabling the Cuban people in peace and
security to lay the foundations of their
future government. There is no page in
American history which reflects more
honor on the race. States and peoples
have been pilIaged of their liberties by
But there is no instance in history of a
great and powerful nation embarking in
war for the liberation of an adjacent
people. weak and helpless in the grasp
VI NHc oPpI eSSor, ana thereafter eXpenQ-
Ing without stint the national treasure
for the establishment of free Institutions
for the people thus freed, save alone
that presented by the United States IN
its relation toward Cuba and it's people.
There is no American who does not
hope that the Cubans will show their
capacity to deal successfully with the
trying problems which will be presented
to them for solution in the immediate
future.