The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-22
our ISLAND PRoTEGE.


It may not be generally known but it
is nevertheless the fact, that the senti-
ment favoring Cuban independence is
of recent origin and grew out of the
complications involving our Intervention
in behalf of the people of that misgov-
erned island
Our declaration demanding Cuban in
dependence was purely diplomatic and
against the policy outlined and main
tanned by this government for nearly
century. The idea of being TIE liberator
of a people-the instrument in the hand
of God to arrest the progress OF tyran-
ny-appealed to the Imagination of the
American people to such an extent that
they forgot the obstacles in the way of
such a contamination
The policy of the United States has
always been to maintain the status of
Cuba as a colony of Spain or to secure
annexation So early as 1908, soon after
the acquisition of Louisiana, there were
negotiations on foot to secure Cuba be-
cause its strategic position rendered it a
menace to the peace of the republic.
Fifteen years later. John Quincy
Adams then secretary of state in re-
ferring to Cuba, said: "There are laws
of political as well as physical gravita-
ton. Cuba when forcibly disjoined from
its unnatural connection with Spain, and
incapable of self-support, can gravitate
| only toward the North American Union,
which by the same law of nature cannot
| cast her off from it's BOSOM
A few years later Henry Clay inter-
vened automatically to prevent expedi-
| lions from Colombia and Mexico, from
attacking the islands Of Cuba and Porto
Rico, on the ground that the best inter-
ests of the United States were served by
the islands remaining in the possession
of Spain
In 1880 Martin Van Buren, declared that
motives of reasonable state policy rem
der it more desirable to US that it
(Cuba) should remain subject to Spain
| rather than to either Of the South Amer
lean states"
In 1910 the state department went so far
| as to assure the Spanish government that
in case any attempt were made to wrest
from her the island Of Cuba, she might
securely depend upon the naval and mill
tary resources of the United States to
aid her in preserving or RECOVERING 1t.
In 1853 q committee of congress which
had been appointed to Investigate and re-
port upon the feasibility of acquiring
Cuba by negotiations, in its report took
occasion to remark 1.-The independence
(of Cuba) can only be nominal. It can
never be maintained in fact. 1t will
eventually fall under some protectorate,
either open or disguised. If under ours,
! annexation will follow as certainly as
the shadow follows the substance. A Eu-
| ropean protectorate could not be toll
| Grated"
The last effort to secure Cuba was
made during President Grants admins
tration. In this there was no hint of
Cuban independence, but the transaction
| was prompted by military and CONNER
| cial considerations.
It was left for the circumstances of the
years 1887 and 1898 to develop the popular
sentiment for Cuban independence and
| strange as it may appear, the course
taken was about the only consistent one
| under those circumstances. If Spain had
been wise she would have sold Cuba to
| the United States, in which case the
| transfer of sovereignty might have been
! accomplished without hostilties. Spain
| having resolved to resist intervention,
| there were but two courses left the Unit
| ed states-to seize the island and hold 1t
as spoils of war or reverse its policy OF
years and announce to the world that the
! Intervention was for the purpose of Sc
| curing Cuban independence and trust to
| the future for Developments.
In all this there has been no essential
errors The resolution of April 60 1898,
THAT The people of Cuba are and of
right ought to be free and independent
| was a diplomatic necessity When it be-
comes equally necessary for the United
States, for its own peace and prosperity
to demand of the Cuban people good and
sufficient guarantees of that new liberty
won for them, as well as assurances that
no national act Of theirs shall place in
| jeopardy the interests Of either republic,
who can find reason to complain?
The demands of the administration are,
it viii be seen, in direct line with the ma
tionaI policy maintained for years and
must have been anticipated by the more
| intelligent inhabitants of Cuba.
The difference between the administra-
ton and the Cuban convention over naval
stations ought not to interfere with the
good feeling that has been in evidence
thus far; those matters can be adjusted
with the new Cuban government
The time will ccme-and that soon
| when Cuba will ask for and be granted
| admission to the Union as did Texas
thus fulfilling the prophecy of John
! Quincy Adams, nearly eighty years ago.
GENEROSITY IN REAPPoRTToN-
MENT.
As viewed by the comparatively few
who may believe that there is any i'm
/ portant question involved IN tho nro