The Irish standard., 1901-03-30

sumed that the people Of Cuba can do
no better. So far as facts are availa-
BILE, they refute this conclusion"
He then proceeds to show from the
American census Of Cuba that native
whites constitute fifty-eight per cent of
the population, foreign whites nine per
cent, and people of colored and mixed
race thirty-two per cent. In every
province the native whites are in the
majority. One half of the white peo-
pie and more than one-fourth Of the
colored people are educated. The num-
Der of male voters in the island is
AT, $685. of whom 4S per cent are able
to read. The Cuban citizens of voting
age number 29O,9O5, of whom Al per
cent are literates. The Cubans are in.
dustrious, both white and colored, and
the number engaged in occupations is
an evidence they are not idle. Sixty
eight per cent of the breadwinners
work as against SO per cent in the
OulItu StdteS.
The writer in the North American
shows conclusively that the Cubans
have demonstrated their ability to rule
themselves, even during American oc-
cupation Of the island. Profound peace
and quiet have prevailed, and the cleo
lions have been conducted in the most
orderly and satisfactory manner with
out any interference from the Ameri-
can troops. In closing his article he
says:
1.-THE resolutions Of congress may
have been the outcome of false senti-
ment and bad judgment. That is
matter Of opinion and of the past.
Cuba asks for the fulfllment of our
national pledge. 1t is choice between
national performance and national
reputation. No array of reasons, no
juggling of words can obscure that
ISSUE"
Mckinley and his imperialist follow
ers are ready to repudiate the national
pledge made by congress in it's joint
resolution of April 20, 1893, when it
declared that the people of Cuba were
free and independent; disclaimed any
intention to exercise sovereignty, juris-
diction or control over the island, ex-
cept for it's pacification, and asserted
when that was accomplished the Gu
bans themselves would be left in sole
control of the island. Mckinley in his
message said that "forcible annexation
would be criminal aggression" and de-
spite these asseverations the imperial
president and the representatives of
trusts and corporations, like Loren
Fletcher, are now ready to grab the
island Oh the prctcnSc that the CubnnS
are too ignorant to govern themselves.
We have no hesitation in saying that
there are many Cubans, both white
and black. who are head ana shoulders
above such legislators as Loren r'let-
cher and the gang of cormorants who
say that amy people canliol govern
themselves to their OWL satisfaction!
y decent respect for the opinions of
honest Americans should restrain Lo-
rem Fletcher and nlcn of his ilk from
advocating the grand larceny nj Cuba
But the spirit of greed, of dishonesty
and Of uiSlennr is abroad in the land
under the un-Amcrican administration
"l William Mckinley. and Cuba will
hcromn Il province instead of FREQ
and Independent nation.
Ii may resist the American, yoke, as
it did the Spanish yoke, but it is too
weak for an encounter with the Amrri-
can anaconda. If il loses it's liberty.
America will lose its good name and
he no longer respected by the nations
of the earth.