The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-27
NATIONAL sELF-pRoTEcrIoN.


The proposed amendment to the army
bill will on examination meet the ap-
prevail of the entire country. Every re-
quirement which is laid down there as
condition to the handing over of the gov
eminent of Cuba to the Cuban people is
a reasonable one, and will be subscribed
to by every thoughtful American citizen.
The fact that the Cuban convention is
understood to have demurred to so rea-
sonable condition as the establishment
Of coaling stations for American vessels
on the two principal shores of the island
has had the effect of arousng the Amer
lean people to the vast possibilities Of
danger to our supremacy on this hemi-
sphere which is involved in the creation at
our own doors of a weak and struggling
young nation which is not unlikely before
many years to be the prey of native fac
tionists or foreign politicians and money
lenders. or both.
There is a very general sentiment
among those who have lived among the
Cubans that that people have very little
less dislike for us than they entertain
toward the Spanish. The insulting dec
larauon made by one of the delegates
concerning the coaling proposal, that
Americans always hold on to everything
they get their hands on, implying a clear
charge OF dishonesty and bad faith
against this nation may or may not ex-
in Say event. The situation is such that
We have the power to protect ourselves
and we should exercise it with the ut
MIST care.
1t is not conceivable that all the re-
aIsirements suggested for adoption by
congress will be capable of enforcement.
But at least their infringement by the
Cuban republic Will carry with it such
consequences as must be regarded by all
interests, foreign and domestic which are
concerned.
1t is the best test of the justice of those
demands, that not one of them but tends
in its enforcement to the enduring gain
of the Cuban people, and to the per-
manence of any government which they
establish It is to the national welfare
of the Cubans that some adequate system
of municipal sanitation should be en-
forced. The legacy of disease and death
which the Cubans derived from the -hab-
its of the Spanish and from their own
ignorance of the first principles of a san
itary state ought not to be wholly lost
on them. Nor should they forget of
what vast Importance it is that their
national finances and their administra-
ton shall be attended by such linz
itations and restrictions as will prevent
the undermining of the national credit.
1t seems needless to add that this people
would be Invested of their senses were
they to tolerate the possibility of any
foreign power coming in ana taking con-
troll Of Cuban territory, or that they
should under any circumstances neglect
the precautions necessary to prevent such
a contingency.
The one provisioas<aof the proposed
agreement which is likely to stir up strife
and create dissatisfaction is the third,
which declares as follows:
THAT the government of Cuba consents
that the United States may exercise the
right TO intervene for the preservation of
Cuban independence the maintenance Of
government adequate for the protec-
ton of life, property and individual lib
crty, aad 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
the government of Cuba
careful reading of this provision. at
tended by some thought on the circum-
stances attending our assumption of con-
troll in Cuba will, the o b believes.
be adequate to satisfy every reasonable
person that, for the present at least, and
until there is some substantial assurance
forthcoming that the new government
will be able and willing to discharge the
International obligations with which this
people charged themselves at Paris and
which are now about to be assumed by
the Cubans, the requirement should be
insisted on.
Unless something unforeseen arises it is
not likely that there will be any Demo-
cratic opposition to the enforcement of
the requirements set forth in the propos-
ed amendment.