New-York tribune., 1901-02-19
KEEPING TIE RECORD STRAIGHT.

Mr. Moncure y. Conway is a high minded VIZ
rinian. who long ago made such personal sacri-
nces for his principles. 20 entitle any eX-
preston OF his 20 the sincerest respect II
must therefore be merely through inadvertence
that Mr.. Conway complains IN letter 10 The
Evening Post" that Mr.. Whitelaw Reds
cent speech before the Republican Club quoted
Mr. Lincolns remark about breaking n bad
promise as justifying the breach OF alleged
promise by Congress 20 Cuba IL Mr.. Conway
will take the trouble 10 look again at the speech
10 which ne refers. he will find that Mr.. Reid
made no such use OF the quotation he imag-
ines. There was not even hint at its applica-
tion 10 Cuba in any form. II Mr. Reid applied IL
to any Of our recent transactions. IL was solely
to the obligations 10 Aguinaldo. expressed
implied in some Unauthorized talks with him by
"Consuls" Even as to these the only made
OF the quotation from Mr.. Lincoln was. "as at
least interesting study in comparative eth
les. showing the divergent opinions held by
great men"
While on this subject. may add that il
must have also been through pure inadvertence
that The Springfield Republican" permitted
itself 10 say fatty that "Whteaw Reid in
Lincoln Day address argued that a had prom
Else is better broken than kept"
And. finally, not our esteemed contempO-
rary The New-YOrk Times" in the course of
to the same speech betrayed into Inadver-
tence in reference to the question whether
Cuba though thoroughly dependent upon MS
''for protection and defence. and absolutely es-
''sential 20 our safety. must nevertheless have
more freedom thrust upon IL than Vermont
Massachusetts" on this point THE Times
remarked:
The suggested analogy is false. Each Of the
United States, the formation OF the Union. gave
up something or ITS sovereignty In return Tor
share in the benefits of "a more perfect Union"
such sacrifice Is made by every individual who
course, exact from Cube II she should apply for
privileges and mmunities of State. We cannot
therefore. exact OF her. HDon thgf around the
sxaci 81 n STATE our real protecfion against the
possible vagares of Cuban selt-government would
vagaries of an individual State. As Mr.. Reid him
maintained that cuba was 50 near 10 US mat We
could be indifferent 10 her fate TO tine
fact "A protectorate II would be very well that il
should be expressed and acknowledged by the Gu
law.
But there was no analogy stated between what
Massachusetts, got on getting into the Union and
what Cuba gets under the Protectorate: nor was
there the remOtest hint that her foreign rela-
| tions should remain under our guidance on the
same around as those OF Massachusetts But il
/ there be any such analogy. is not the balance
| Overwhelmingly in favor Of Cuba? Massachu-
setts was already free. independent. peaceful
/ prosperous. She gave up her sovereignty and re-
ceived in return merely alliance in Sovereignty
with her neighbors- Cuba not free had no
| power TO become free. had been impoverished
ravaged and desolated; was without order or
safety for either person or property. filed with
violence and bloodshed. and absolutely under the
/ heel OF ancient oppressOr. The United States
drove the oppressor out. stopped the pilage and