The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-30

are as proud Of ii as-well. as proud of
it as our forefathers Cat least the fore
fathers of some Of us) were of that ia
nous instrument Of 1776. 1t is the one
word that smites the ear on the street,
on the quays. in the market place and
in the hotel corridors. so that he who
runs may read. and even the ''wayfar-
ing man, though a fool" and unac
quainted with the Spanish tongue (for
constitution is nearly the same in
that language as in Ours). might hear
and understand.
Everybody in the States, of course,
has been informed as to the new Cuban
constitution; that it is a very credita-
BILE document; that it represents the
concrete wisdom of Cuban statesmen,
called together by General Woods proc
lamation last September and who were
In almost continuous session until near
the 21st of last month, when it was
signed. 1T may be recalled that one of
the most prominent Cuban members of
the convention created somewhat OF
scene by refusing to sign it and by
loudly declaring to a foreigner: you
Americans are like monkeys. When
you once get hold Of thing, you new
er let goI"
This rather rabid declaration OF the
aged Cisneros, twice a president of
premature Cuban republics and looked
up to by the extremists as the incarna-
ton Of patriotism and all the virtues
may seem enigmatical to many, but
was perfectly clear to his countrymen.
1t meant that in his opinion the Amer
lean government had forced the pres
ent condition of things in Cuba rpon
the island. and that also in his opinion
ii was meddling in matters not its own
when it insisted upon a draft of the
constitution being sent to Washington
for approval.
In view Of the strong feeling. respect
ing what many Cuhans regard as the
unnecessarily protracted retention of
power in this island by the United
States government. an American citi-
zen temporarily dwelling here. like my
self. lis likely to hear some unfavora BILE
comment now and then. In fact there
are several fiery Cubanos walking
around with chips on their shoulders,
which, either tacitly or in so many
words. they dare an American to touch.
They viii fight at the drop OF the hat,
many of them. and ii may be because
there is no outlet for their belIicose dis
position that they are ebullient II
there were only somebody or some
thing to fight, the air might be cleared
fnstanter and the Cuban situation sim
mer down to matter Of amicable ar
rangement between TWO friendly DOW
ers. But since United States troops are
in possession CT all the forts and ports
of all the towns and cities and the arms
which the Cuban patriots carried were
surrendered when our government paid
down that bonus of So. COO. 600. there is
nothing for them to do but accept the
inevitable. That IS particularly Just
what they don't want to do. The poll
ticians generally are pretty much in
the condition Of another people of
whom it was said. They don't know
what they want but they're bound to
have it
According TO some Americans here.
the Cubans have been treated too Ieni-
emily by the United States, and now.
the politicians especially. are suffering
from very bad attack of "swelIed
head" 1t does seem, say these people.
that the Cubans are rather ungrateful
after au we have done for them. and