The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-04-13
coNGREssMEN ON CUBA.

The country had a deal OF the same
sort before the spanish war It was
the means of drawing us into the en-
terprise and Of launching us upon The
sea Of troubles whereon we are nov
drifting with no sails to speak Of. rud-
der gone, compass magnetized, and chr'-
ncmeter out Of order
If the kind of information ;ha, IS be-
ing furnished by congressman now had
been furnished then. there would have
been no war, and If the kind We had
then were furnished now, there would
not be ahead Of us the prospect Of
more trouble If the truth Is ;old by
congressemen now, the congressman
/ then did not tell the truth
Congress adjourned on March 1, In
that brief time parties Of congressman
have visited Porto Rico and Cuba and
have returend wise in knowledge Of the
whole situation.
One of them says ne doubts the safety
of capital in Cuba, and h. finds the
hest people DO not want independence,
and those who do are not the best peo-
pie and are merely looking for office.
Another says the people are not fit nor
ready for self-government.
Another distinguished senator returns
and hastens TO say thar it is only a
matter of time when the island will be
annexed, and that the present consti-
tutional convention is not a represent
tative body, The best people want an
nexation. as do vast majority Of the
American people.
A Democratic newspaper which plays
Jelyll and Hyde with the administra-
ton. admits that the congressional
views are in notable contrast TO the
congressional views Of three years ago.
The official pilgrims then saw through
their emotions and found heroes. war;
riors and patriots. But the present EN-
lightened and honorable members" find
the respectable classes desirous OF an
nexation and opposed to independence,
while the rest Of the people are a lot
Of predatory riffraff, who have none Of
the culture and respectability Of the
island with them.
Turning to the congressional reports
and speeches OF three years ago We
find that the wealth and culture" the
best and most respectable people of
Cuba. wers therein denounced as sor-
did supporters Of Spain. while the rest
of the people. now denounced as pre-
datory rifrraff, We're gasping on the
point Of a spear and dying for liberty.
Those who survived are now denounced
as being for independence merely to get
Office, a motive that must be abhorrent
to every American politician.
In behalf Of our own countrymen and
the national honor, we protest against
this new insrallment Of information and
views.
The record If mans aspiration for
liberty and Independence is not the BIZ
ography of the best classes" as now
understood. American independence
was inspired by Thomas Paine, the stay
maker; Franklin, the printer; Knox, the
stationer's clerk; Putnam, the farmer,
who plowed his stony fields with oxen
and could hardly write his name. and by
John Stark, clod hopper; Nathan
Hale, poverty-smitten teacher; Ethan
Allen, a rude woodsman; and the plain
people endured and suffered for liberty.
while the best people who shared their
lot could be counted on the fingers.
Those of culture and refinement, wealth
and respectability We're Tories. en-
emies Of their country and allies Of
Great Britain.
L has been 50 always. The English
revolution which destroyed the royal
prerogative was led by a brewer and
was fought out by a lot Of psalm-slng-
ing cartmen. Masinello was Neapol-
tan fisherman, schamyl was a noun
taineer. and Ypsilanti was a vine dress
er.
The future deliverer Of Russia will
probably he the grandson Of a serf. and
certainly not Of bayard
The law Of liberty, The universal sta
tute Of Independent seif-government. is
written in the hearts of such people in
Cuba. Such hearts have always been
the tablets which have borne its in
scription. If We are going to break
faith and lie to the world in the Cuban
settlement as we have been lied to either
three years ago or low. let us do Il like
bold buccaneers, declaring that we pro-
rnco u tni,n L. i.,nn -,