The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-16
II THE CUBANs WE'RE sHREwD.

I0ASI81, APR1lf 1t, IS51.
IL THE CUBANS WE'RE sHREWD.
"Once to every man and nation comes
the moment to decide" That moment
has come to Cuba as a nat on. On this
decision Will rest her prosperity or her
undoins. If the Cubans were shrewd
they No4lI take advantage of the situa-
ton to forever secure the future pros
perity CT the island They would accept
the terms of the Platt am ndment with
tie condition that they were to have
free access to the markets Ct the United
States. Suzeranty with complete reel
procity would co more fer Cuta than ten
centuries of Cuta ii5re. Should Cuba
demand the open door as a consideration
for limited sovereignty, the United States
could rot refuse the terms Of course
the sugar and tobacco interests would
howl; there would be protests and peti-
tious from the same infu nee that is
now wrecking Porto Rico, but it would
be of no avail under the present public
pressure for the settlement of the Cuban
question.
Annexation would bring the greatest
blessings to Cuba, but her people do not
realize it. They fail to comprehend the
conditions that would prevail; they
don't realize that thsy would enjoy alb
solute free trade with vast country
which would use all of the island prod
yet, that the question Of government
would be simplifed and brought down to
the management of local affairs, reduc-
ing the burden of public tax to a mini
mum. All this they can not see be-
cause they are blinded by a sentiment.
For years they have fought for indie
pendence and they want to be able to
look up to the Cuban flag and feel it is
the emblem of a sovereign nation This
sentiment is commemorate, but it is moth
ing but a dream that will be rudeIy dis
turbed-a toy that will he soon broken
If the Cuban convention had been COM
posed of men who were large enough to
look few years into the future, they
with a smile of joy, for it gave them
just the opportunity which a diplomat
would have desired to secure the one
thing that Cuba must have to be pros
porous and happy-the unobstructed en-
trance to the markets of the United
States. That is not too late now; the
ultimatum has not been defied-the mat
ter is still open to negotiation.
Before congress meets, if the Cubans
are wise they will have framed an ac-
ceptance Of the demands Of this gov
eminent with one condition and that ex-
pressed in two words, free trade"
Then it will be up to congress to accept
the condition or show it's hand. If the
spoliation of Cuba is the ultimate de-
sideratum Of the Republican party the
fact viii be forced to the light then and
there. Should Cuba apply for admission
to the Union as state, there would be
found ON the floor of the house ana Of
the senate scores of men representing the
sugar and tobacco interests protesting
against such an act. It is that influence
and it's allied neighbors that has impoy
erished Porto Rico, and that is urging
upon the government a colonial policy in
the Philippines.
IT the supreme court should find that
the administration and congress can es-
tablish colonies outside of the constitu
ton, then will Porto Rico and the Phil
tppines become the legitimate prev of the
political CRATER. The machinery of gov
eminent will be run, not for the benefit
of the Filipino people, but for the ben
eft of the home trusts and the imported
corporations composed of congressman
and their friends
Cuba can escape all this by renouncing
a little sentiment on-the score of abso,
lutte independence. Sentiment is all right
in its place, but in dealing with one of
the most selfish bodies on the face Of
the earth, the American congress, sent1-
ment gay well be exchanged for a ma
terial advantage.