The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-02
Unfair Criticism.

<hAltIES OF pcrIlON ana ny
pocrisy" are now being direct
- ed i'm some quarters against
tho administration for its re-
fusal to give to Cuba unconditional
freedom forthwith. The Chicago
Times Herald, for example, after re-
citing the language of the Teller reso-
luton, asserts:
II is impossible for any juggling Of construc.
tion TO make anything out Of that declaration
consistent with the cNaction by the United States
OF single condition upon the absolute and
unfcttcrcd independence of the pcopl" OF the
Island Of Cuba. Before the stigma of
broken faith and national perfdy the moral sense
Of the people stands aghast and inundated.
Let us review the facts and see If
these harsh conclusions are warranted.
The Teller resolution. passed April 20,
1898, after denouncing in its preamb BILE
as intolerable the abhorrent conditions
then prevalent in Cuba and asserting
that "the people of the island of Cuba
arc, and of right ought to be, free and
Independent" declared
That the United States hereby disclaims any
"
jurisdiction or control over said island, except
for the pacifcation thereof, and asserts its lc.
termination when that is completed TO leave
the government and control of the island to
its people.
The Times Herald admits and says 1t
has always "deplored the unlimited
terms and unmitigated folly" of the
Teller resolution, but it asserts that
the conditions now to be imposed on
Cuban independence constitute a vio-
lation of that pledge. Those conditions
include:
% 4 stipulation that tho government oi cuba
shall "neNcr enter into any treaty other
| compact with any foreign power powers which
will impair or tend to impair the independence
oi Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit
any foreign power or powers to obtain by coloni.
zaton or for military naval purposes or 9th.
erwse, lodgment in or control over any portion
OF said island"
(2) A stipulation that II shall not bankrupt
itself by excessive Indebtedness
go 4 stipulation that "the United States may
exercise the right to intervene for the prcser'
walton Of Cuban Independence, the maintenance
OF a government adequate for the protection Of
life, property and individual liberty, and for
discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba
imposed by the Treaty Of Paris on the United
States, now TO be assumed and undertaken by
tho government OF Cuba"
90 A stipulation that the lawful acts OF the
intervening power shall he ratified and validated
by the Cuban government
90 A stipulation that the government of Crha
shall cooperate with the government of the Uni.
ted States TO wipe out yellow fever dangers.
90 4 stipulation that the ownership ot the
isle Of Pines shall bc left to negotiation by
tICitV
a. 4 stipulation that Cuba will sell or lease
Ia the United States coaing or naval stations
a, may be decided by future negotiation.
The first three of these stipulations,
instead Of challenging Cuba's inde-
pendence, safeguard and secure it: the
fourth is a natural and necessary sup
plement TO the treaty of Paris: the
NTH is requirement tending to mu-
tual and worldwide benefit: the sixth
is an incident and the seventh is log
| ical Outgrowth Of the Monroe doctrine,
under which the responsibility is on the
| United States for Cuba's protection
as against European power. Move
over, it is worthy of note. as the New
Olk lTlDune points out, tnal TINS plan
Of settlement Is in exact accord with
the long established and universally
recognized policy of the United States
toward Cuba. Says the Tribune:
| As org ago as the Monroe administration, in
| lS23, the then secretary OF state, John Quincy
Adams, cnunCiated the doctrine that the interrsts
OF the United States in Cuba were paramount TO
| those of any other power, and that United states
| control of that island was 10 hc maintained at
| all hazards, Mr. Adams so iar committed the
| United States at that time 10 the control of
CuLa's foreign relations that he declared that
any attempt, on the part of Spain TO transfer it
TO another power or of any other power to
acquire il should be prevented by this country,
| "i necessary, by fcrce''-that is to say, he was
ready TO go TO war with England or France for
the maintenance of the very principle set forth
| in the present plan The same policy was EN-.
| phatically proclaimed by jefferson, by Clay, by
jackson, by Van Buren, by Webster-who explc.
| lilly threat sncd war with Great Britain rathcr
! than let Cuba pass under British ccntrol--ly
Gallatn, by Marcy, by Edward Everett, by Bu,
line of presidents and secretaries from Monroe .
time to the present.
This basis of settling the Cuban
problem fulfls the language OF Presi-
dent McKinley's request in 1898 to con-
gress for power ito secure In the