BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-03-18
President Ne kin|ey Forecasts
decision Of Cuban Question

President Nc Kinley, in his Inaugural,
has outlined the policy which will be pursued
by the United States in respect to Cuba.
That the pledges given in the Teller
resolution of 1898 will be carried out to the
letter has really never been a matter of
doubt, but if any lingering doubts should
have remained they have been put at rest
by the Presidents incisive utterances. In
unmlstakeabe language be says, speaking
OF the obligations, sel-assumed, of the
Government of the United States towards
Cuba:-
"Ihe declaration of the purposes of this
government in the resolution of April 20,
1898. must be nade good Ever since the
evacuation of the island by the srmy of
Spain the executive, with all practicable
speed, has been assisting its people in the
successive steps necessary to the establish
ment OF free and Independent government,
prepared to assume and perform the
obligations of international law which now
rest upon the United States under the
treaty of Paris. The convention elected by
the people to frame constitution is
approaching the completion of its labors.
The transfer OF American control to the
involving an obligation resulting from our
intervention and the treaty of peace, that
l am glad to be advised by the recent act
of congress of the policy which the legislative
branch OF the government deems essential
to the best interests of Cuba and the United
States. The principles which led to our
intervention require that the fundamental
law upon which the new government rests
should be adapted to secure a government
capable of performing the duties and
dlscharglng the functions of a separate
nation, of observing its International obig
atlons of protecting life and property,
;nsuring order, safety and liberty and
conforming to the established and historical
policy of the United States in its relation
to Cuba.
The peace which we are pledged to leave
to the Cuban people must carry with it the
guarantees of permanence. We became
sponsors for the pacifcation of the island,
and we remain accountable to the Cubans,
no less than to our own country and
people, for the reconstruction of Cuba as a
free commonwealth on abiding foundations
of right, justice, liberty and assured order.
Our enfranchisement of the people will not
be completed until free Cuba shall be a
reality, not a name; perfect entity, not q
hasty experiment. bearing within itself the
elements of failure.n
That an extra session of Congress will be
called by the President to consider the
Constitution proposed by the Cuban Conyen.
ton seems to be taken for grauted. 1t is
also conceded that the Constitution adopted
by the Cubans themselves will be ratified
by the United States Government with such
amendments as may seem necessary to
secure the guarantees of permanence OF
free and responsible self government.
In the language of President Nc Kinley,
the United States, having become respons.
ible for the pacifcation of the Island,
remains accountable for the reconstruction
of Cuba as q free Commonwealth, and its
enfranchisement will not be complete until
FREE CUBA" shall be reality, "or
abiding foundations of right, Justice, liberty
and assured order.v
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