Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-02-20
FAIR TOWARDS CUBA.
A Stable Government Promised Be-
fore United States Authority
Is Withdrawn.

One of the difficulties in the Cuban
situa ton is that the words stable gov
eminent" is not the language Of the
resolution of congress in 1898, declar-
ing the purpose of the United States
toward Cuba. 1t is, however, a fair in
ference that the United States. having
interfered to put an end to Spanish
misrule in Cuba, is in duty bound to ex-
ercise authority over the island until
it shall have esta blished government
which will make it safe abiding place
and give security to all property in
terests. No ma utter what the language
of a hastily -written resolution may be,
the United States promised the world
that it's interposition in Cuban affairs
was to make the island better place in
which to live than it had been under
Spain. Those who claim to understand
the views of the president report that
he proposes to see that Cuba has a
stable government before the author
ity of the United States shall be with
drawn from the island. The people of
the United States, it is fair to assume,
DellGFc CudU Lille tuUdIlS owe tHS OulU-
ed States all that their liberation from
the power of Spain is worth to them.
They cannot pay the debt in cash. but
they can show their appreciation by Of
fering to this country advanta ges and
authority which are natural. The con-
stitutional convention now in session
in Havana seems to be controlled by
Io,- 81 do or
friendly feeling fer this government.
1t is said upon good authority that Gen.
Wood has been directed unofficially to
inform members of the constitutional
convention that the troops of the Unit
ed States will not be withdrawn until
a constitution shall be adopted which
gives the United States the right to in
tervene whenever it deems interven-
ton necessary to insure the following
named essentials to stable govern
ment:
First. To preserve the peace and main
tain a stable government.
Second. To prevent foreign entangle-
ments and protect the foreign population.
Third. To protect the credit of the is
Land and prevent unnecessary and unjust
debts.
Fourth. To protect the commercial in
terests of the United States against unrea
sonable tariff duties and discrimina tons.
Fifth. To permit the maintenance of at
least two coaling depots and naval supply
and repair stations in convenient harbors.
Sixth. To protect the people Of Cuba
from the experience of Hayti and Santo
Domingo, which have made no progress
since their independence, but have rather
gone backward in civilization and have be-
come impoverished and bankrupt because
of the tyranny, dishonesty and extrava-
gance Of their governments"
1t is said the president is convinced
that it is the duty of the United States
to see that the foregoing propositions
are sanctioned by the Cuban conven-
ton. In the event they are not, those
in accord with the president propose to
embody the propositions stated in reso-
lutions and pass them before the end of
the session. just now the prospects
are not bright for independent control
in Gu ba unless the destinies of the island
shall be turned over to men who would
not make it the home of misrule.-In-
dianapolis Journal.