The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-13
crnA ANn rnE UNITED sTATEs.

Notwithstanding all that has been said
in the public prints within the last few
weeks to the effect that it was the de-
termination Of the Cuban Constitutional
Convention not to put anything into the
constitution which it is framing that
would indicate that Cuba's relations with
the United States were different from her
relations with other Powers, II seems that
there is to he something of that sort in
the instrument. In our dispatches yester-
day from Havana it was stated that "the
question,of the relations to be sustained
between Cuba and the United States will
be left to a special committee. which will
draw up proposal to be submitted to the
convention"
Either there has been a great deal of
newspaper talk about nothing or else the
convention has come TO the conclusion
that il would be the wiser plan to comply
strictly with the provisions of the Presi-
dents proclamation calling the conyen-
ton. One of the provisions Of that proc
lamation expressly stated that the conven-
ton was to fix the relations that were to
be sustained between Cuba and the United
States. Because the convention had done
nothing towards complying with this pro
vision it was concluded that 1t was it's
intention to ignore it.
It may be that there was a suspicion in
the minds of the convention delegates
that it was not the intention of the United
States to carry out their pledge that Gu
ba should be Independent, aud hence there
was disposition not to give them any
foothold on the island. Now, however
the Cubans must be satisfied that the
pledge will be kept. They certainly have
reason to be satisfied The newspapers
are insisting that it shall be kept, the
United States Supreme Court has render
ed a decision ia which it is assumed that
it viii be kept and the expressions Of
members of Congress are very generally
OF a kind that indicates that there is no
doubt about its being kept,
It would be great folly for Cuba to cut
entirely loose from the United States. If
she did not owe them great debt OF
gratitude-a debt that she can never hope
to repay-she needs their assistance in
many ways. 1t is to be presumed that the
Cubans are anxious that their government
shall be stable, and respected by other
governments. The chances are that it
will not be stable unless steadled by the
powerful influence of the United States
until IT gets well fixed in the affections
of the people. Then there are the $780,
100000 of bonds which Spain saddled upon
Cuban revenues and which are now held
by citizens of Spain and France. The
owners Of those bonds are going to make
an effort to collect them. 1t is not reas-
enable to suppose that they will regard
them as being entirely lost. If the United
States should be shut out of Cuban affairs
warships of Spain and France might APP
pear in Havana harbor and seize Cuban
revenues as security for the bonds. They
certainly would do something of that kind
If they were not restrained by a stronger
power. There are other reasons-very good
reasons-why Cuba should be in po-
sition to look to the United States in time
of trouble, and 1t is not at all improb-
able that the constitutional convention
will put clause in the constitution rela.
tive to this matter that will be approved
by the President and Congress.