Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-26

bans who were loyal to Spain there is lit
tie love. With no army to repress disor-
der, 1t is certainly within the limit of rea
sonable probability that the revolutionary
and turbulent party may attempt the de-
struction or confiscation of Spanish and
Cuban property, which the new govern
ment would be utterly powerless to pre-
vent We most certainly owe a duty to
our own citizens in Cuba that they shall
be protected in the enjoyment Of their
property and kept free from the dangers
deed. any one who knows public sentiment
in Cuba is aware that it Is expected by
Cuban people that If difficulty, either for
elgn or domestic, shall arise the United
states will be called upon to meet it. Even
those who insist that nothing should be
put into the constitution recognizing our
right to do so, say that the United States
VIII do 1t as matter of course. Their
strange attitude Is that they will have
right to call the United States to their de-
tense, but will not agree in advance that
we may assert that right
The Need of the United States.
The United States needs this mutual ar
rangement because for it's own defense 1t
cannot permit any foreign power to domi-
nate, control or obtain a foothold in this
hemisphere or its adjacent territory, and
cannot tolerate such revolutions or disor-
ders upon an island so near our coast, as
frequently occur in Southern American re-
puphcs; more than all, because 1t stands
pleoged IN honor to it's own citizens to the
citizens Of Cuba and to all the world to
n ana.luain quiet and peace and good gov
elninent IN Cuba. In a word, Cuba needs
selI-sovernment. peace, tranquility and
prosperity. The United States asks for
nothing more than this, but it recognizes
It's oDiigat1on and insists upon it's right to
secured
1t Is not easy to understand the reason
ing OF those who assert that We propose
70 limit or detract from the independence Of
Cuoa. nor Is 1t easy to understand the SEN
sltiFeness which seems to prevail among
some OF the members Of the constitutional
convention on this subject. The overtures
or the United States are friendly oVertures.
President Mckinley in his recent inaugural
message. with his rare faculty for express
accurately stated the situation: with our
nelghbors we must remain close friends
1t Is sad to reflect that sometimes peoples
as well as men are inclined to turn their
packs upon their best and truest friends.
We have shown our friendship for Cuba in
| most generous way. The lives of our
brave young men have been freely sacri-
hced, an Immense amount of treasure has
been expended; we have relieved the starry
ing reconcentrados; we have paid three
mlliions OF money to the Cuban soldiers:
we have assumed the payment of all dam
ages Wnich our citizens sustained during
the revolution and we ask nothing in re-
turn but that there shall be an independ-
ent government established and permanent
~ maintained in Cuba, a government which
shall insure the continued paclhcation OF
that island Surely we may ask the Cuban
people II TINS generous exhibition OF our
friendship Is not guarantee that We de-
sire to be their friends Ia the future.
What the immediate action Of the Gu
bans Will be Is at the time that this is
written uncertain, but Il n scarcely con-