The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-04-23


nit what IS obviously true, though the
administration Republicans foolishiy
try to make Cubans and Americans be
llieve Il IS not true, that the Platt
rider to the army bill practically es-
,ablishes protectorate over the
island and leaves the Cpbans no Inde-
pendence, but only limited control
over their internal affairs. subject TO
the right of the Washington govern
ment to take away even that at any
time.
There Is no use In denying that the
Plat rider IS a complete population
OF the joint resolution Of congress de
claring that the people OF Cuba we're
and Of right ought to be independent,
and that the United States intended
to recognize their independence and
not to exercise any cotntrol over them
after the paclfying of the island
Senator Morgan does not believe In
denying that the rider repudiates that
resolution. which the president has
repeatedly declared we are bound to
respect and carry out in good faith.
The A,ssama senator is opposed to
false pretenses and hypocrisy-to the
dark and treacherous policy which in
volved us In war with the civilized
and Christian people OF the Philip
pines and won the friendship of none
but the polygamous slave-holding and
seml-savage Mohammedans OF the
southern group Of the archipelago. Mr..
Morgan proposes to be honest and
straightforward and so avoid trouble.
And he proposes 10 go further. He
will advise the committee from the
Cuban convention which is about to
visit Washington to advise the body
they represent 10 apply directly to
congress Cor admission to the union
as a state. lie will tell them that con-
gress has repented of the pledge it
gave to them and the world in 1898.
and is not going to grant them indie
pendence. He will show them that
they will come far nearer to independ-
ence as state of the union than they
can ever come in any other way
He will show them that as a state
they will have two seats in the United
States senate, seven or more seats in
the house Of representatives and con
troll Of their own affairs except in their
relations with foreign countries and
in some less important matters while
they will be protected by the consti-
tuition against all unauthorized med
ding OF the general government in
their affairs. And when IL dawns on
them that as a state OF the union they
can go in debt to any extent and be
protected by the United staes in re-
pudiation. If they choose to repudiate'
they may take Mr.. Morgan's advice.
But nothing of this sort will suit the
administration Republicans. If Cuba
should become a state Of the union
all Cuban products would have to be
admitted free into all the other states
OF the union. The claim that the con-
stitutonal provision respecting uni
formity OF duties, etc. applies only to
states and not to territories would no
longer be Of avail with respect to
Cuba.
Free trade with Cuba is not what
the administration Republicans want
Il is not what is wanted by the inter
ests which have already demonstrat-
Yea their power to control the admins
tration. waen the Porto Rico bill was
pending IN the senate Senator For
aker said in effect. "If we cannot
lay protection duties on the products
of these islands we have taken from
Spain we cannot get out Of them too
quickly"
That defines the position of the ad-
mlnistration Republicans. That is
why they contrlyed the Platt protee-
torate scheme for Cuba instead Of
treating It as a territory Of the Upited
States without keeping up the false
pretense Of independence to come. The
suprme court might hold that the con
stitutional provision as to duties ap-
pl ed to territories as well as states.
In that case would never do to have
Cuba a territory OF the United States.
That would break the backs of the
sugar and tobacco proteetees.
And it would he even worse with
Cuba as a state, for there would be no
possible way out. Congress can get
rid Of a territory; Il can never get rid
Of state. The Morgan plan win
never be approved by the Mckinley
party
o...,. --,,.o,