Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-31

The suggestion That when the Cuban con-
situation is presented to Congress that
body should accent ii without discussion or
delay. taking tn. attitude that whatever
suits the people Of Cuba suits US, will hard
ly he adopted. 1t Is unworthy of the occa-
sion. The actisn IN Cuba has been taken
at our instance The convention at Iia-
vana has done its work. not only with
American revision in vic W but seeking and
desiring 1t. The fact has been recognized
from the outset ny the best representatives
nj Cuban opinion that there is much for
the Cubans to learn at this capital. and
they will be applying for aid when they
submit the result Of the conventions labors:
How does this strike you?" will virtually
NJ their address 10 Congress. Look over
ii, please, and point out anything We may
nave done that we ought not to have done
ana anything We ought rot to have done
that we may have done In that way we
shall be able to set ourselves right in your
eyes. and realize the ends sou have full
authority to expect Of rs"
II is to be assumed that the people of
Cuba want the best constitution that can
possibly Toe provided. and chat they also
want To remain OIL terms OF the sinccrrst
friendship and helpful cooperation with
tte people of the United States. II i no
reflection on them TO assert that never he
fore have they needed our assistance as
much as they now do. We considered for
long before we drsvc Spain off; but from
that day our obligations to them began,
and ON no account can we afford to Shirk
those obligations. We are in control in
the island. in circumstances not irritating
to the people when they reflect that our
purpose is to withdraw the earliest prac-
ticable moment, and We should for their
benefit as well as for our own. make sure
of the new order before we bring the pres
ent one to n close
There are a few people in this country
who would be very happy 10 see both cuba
and thu United states blundeT al this time.
Their cherished hope j. of Cuban revolt
against the power which lowered the Span
iSh flag in the island. Holding to the opin-
ion that the Cubaps mad no case against
Spain and that our intervention was with
out sense or excuse. they long for re-
uewal of the turmoil. with the United
States forced to defend itself with arms,
and th, cuban brought by force under the
dominion of the stars and stripes But the
great majority of the people. now as when
Intervention occurred, hope for peace and
prosperity in Cuba, and expect Congress in
the matter of this constitution to lend its
best aid toward making the instrument one
af workable strength for those who are to
live under II.
As between the executive and legislative
branches " the United States government
the responsibility of determining the fitting
moment to withdraw from Cuba and the
conditions IL any. of American withdrawal
clearly falls upon Congress. A resolutiAa
of that body promised that the United
States would leave the island to its people
when its pacifcation had been accom-
jlished. In matter OF so great national
Importance as the relations Of the United
States and Cuba the President would natur-
ally desire that Congress should construe
IT'S own resolution. and, rejecting the opin-
ion of the American people, make a clear
and positive declaration upon the subject