The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-29
OPINIONS ON CUBA.

lM. HE ..H.. glEH=E.
1t seems to be the opinion Of the
representatives and others who have
visited Cuba since the adjournment of
congress that it is only a question Of a
short time until the Cubans will sig
Nifty their acceptance of the Platt
amendment. A noticeable change has
taken place in the attitude of the Ha-
ANA newspapers, which have hitherto
strongly and even rabidly opposed the
terms submitted by the United States.
They no longer are opposing the
amendment with the vigor erstwhile
displayed and are assuming more Of a
conciliatory tone in treating the situa-
tion. This may be taken as meaning
that the radical element is losing
strength and that the conservatives
are in the ascendency. If the United
States will now exercise that patience
which has so often been displayed by
it in dealing with foreign nations the
end will be to our liking and the SER
ious trouble of which we have heard
SO much will have been avoided.
Some of the congressman .who have
returned from the island have made
public their opinions and it is a notice.
able fact that they are all agreed on
thing-the necessity for the ulti-
mate annexation of the island. They
say the Spanish residents of the island,
the men OF affairs and the solid, sub
nexation at the earliest possible mo-
ment. They are convinced that in In
nexation only, the future welfare and
permanency of the island can find as
Others who think the same
way ask for at least a term of indie
pendence, merely to show to the world
that the Cubans are not barbarians
and are capable Of governing them
selves. N .=
Congressman Burton Of Ohio de-
clares that he found none of the I'M
rest or probable disturbance of which
SO much has been heard in this coun-
try. He is convinced that the great
majority of the people are but little
interested in the matter Of government
and seem to care less as to who shall
govern them or what the form of the
government shall be, so long that it is
not the Spaniards who are in control
and possession OF the island. At the
bottom OF the agitation for complete
independence and rejection of the
Plat amendment he found the soldiers
enrolled in the Cuban army. This
element exerts an influence quite out
of proportion to its numerical
strength. In the opinion of Mr.. Bur-
ton a period of independence is abso-
lutely essential to the future peace and
quiet Of the island. He says: Econ
omic considerations, as we'll as poll
tical are likely to convince tine Cubans
that annexation or a very close ALI
ance is best for the future of Cuba,
but these are questions that the future
must determine"
Representative Fletcher of Mime
sofa, who also visited the island,
comes back convinced that the Cubans
today are no more fit for self-govern-
ment than they were on the day that
Weyler set sail for Spain the last time,
and expressed the opinion that the
United States must keep a firm hand
on the island. my only question:
he said, sis whether the Platt amend
ment goes far enough; We certainly
can afford to do no less. I believe we
shall have to stay. All the American
residents, the Spaniards, the property
owning classes generally, want us tc
stay. The only opposition comes
from the Cuban agitators, who are
eager for Office and power and SO 70,
independence" Others Of the con
gressional party expressed themselves
in a similar strain.
POMPOUS VANDALS.