The Leon reporter., 1901-03-07
ELASTIC LOGIC.

The republicans have given so many
evidences Of elasticity of logic and
conscience that it is difficult to select
prize specimen, but perhaps no one
has shown less regard for common
sense and common honesty in dealing
with the Cuban question than Mr..
Whitelaw Reid Here is a sample of
his argument:
"Is the flag to be withdrawn from
Cuba? 1t is not one of our new pos
sessions but our responsibility for it
is imbedded in successive and solemn
declarations by almost every admin
istration since Madison.
There is no eagerness to annex the
island. Rather there is dread of such
| connection, lest it lead to statehood
and so prove the entering wedge for a
transformation of our continental re-
public, which would inevitably work
it's ruin. But the duty of protection
remains. Under that protectorate the
island could have as much freedom as
any state in the union, but it would
not be likely to have more. 1t could
not treat with Spain about the Cuban
debt, or with France about the Pana-
ma canal. Its foreign relations would.
and its custom houses might, remain
under the guidance of the protecting
power. Does that break the congress
sional promise to leave the govern
ment and control of the island to its
people?
Have not the government and con-
troll OF Vermont been left to its people?
Must Cuba, though thoroughly depen-
dent upon us for protection and de-
fense, and absolutely essential to our
safety, nevertheless have more free
dom thrust upon it than Vermont or
Massachusetts, or New York? Our
congress is capable sometimes Of ex
traordinary things, but it is hardly
capable of that"
The United States declared the peo-
pie of Cuba to be, of right, free and
Independent. Can any person read the
pledge made to Cuba and then read
Mr.. Reid's construction of that pledge
without recognizing the hypocrisy of
the republican position? Mr.. Reid
once came near being vice president
of the United States and he is now the
owner of a great metropolitan news
paper. He stands high in the councils
Of his party and may be presumed to
speak for certain element of the
party. He thinks that Cuba ought to
be satisfied if she has "self-government
like Vermont" Does he intend that
Cuba shall have two senators and rep
resentation in congress like Vermont? :?
Certainly not. Does he propose that
we shall tax Cuba without represen-
tation and govern her without her con-
sent? That must be his plan.
If Mr.. Reid had lived century and
quarter ago and had applied the
same logic to the revolutionary situa-
ton, he would have seen no necessity
for independence. If he had lived in
South Africa, he would have seen no
reason for opposing English sover-
eighty in the Transvaal. If he had
lived in Cuba he would have supported
Weylerism and Spanish rule.s
The Paris treaty signed by the Unit
ed States and Spain, recognizes the in
dependence of Cuba and we have no
more right to deprive her Of that in
dependence than we have to march to
Mexico and assert sovereignty there.
To assume that we must govern Cuba
in order to protect her is to entirely
abandon the Monroe doctrine under
which we have protected republics
without interfering in their govern
ment.