The times., 1901-06-01
Cuba,s Action Rejected.

AS might have been anticipated, after
the Cabinet meeting yesterday, it was
| announced that the action of the Cuban
Constitutional Convention, in pretend
ing to accept the Platt terms. while
! changing their intent and meaning by
means of addenda containing the al
! legged construction given to them by
Secretary Root, was refused endorse
ment by President Mckinley. The
matter is now where 1t was before the
convention assembled.
Although the Administration is ex
tremely annoyed at the outcome, it is
not likely that anything will be done
at present beyond instructing General
| Wood TO assure the native leaders that
| the Platt terms must be accepted with
| oIt change or question, or not at all.
In the latter event thi- Government will
know what to do, and if the question of
a final solution is left for settlement by
Congress next winter the Cubans of all
factions will have cause to regret the
foolishness of their representatives.
One feature of the situation which
disturbs the Federal authorities is the
ban radicals, especially the negroes
might start a revolt which would have
TO be put down with stern hand. But
even such an eventuality in the end
might not be so deplorable, since 1t
would remove any sentimental objec-
ton now existing in this country to the
idea of annexation. 1t is plain, how
ever, that if the islanders are not frank
ly willing to accept American suzerain-
ty under the mild terms proposed to
them, the only alternative will be to
take over their country and rule 1t as
we are ruling Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines. At some future time, in all
likelihood, we should have to do that
anyway, and the necessity might Just
as well be discounted now.
Nevertheless, all that depends upon
the Cubans. If they choose, they can
have an autonomous Republic, independ-
ent locally. and preserve that status as
long as they can maintain good order
and a stable municipal government
But they have not much leisure left to
make up their minds on the subject
Some of them, we fear, under i'll advice, |
are holding on to the ghost of that fool
ish Teller resolution of April, 1S9S and /
fancy that Congress will pay some at /
tention to it But for the effect it did !
have during the late session the terms |
would have not been made as easy as
they were in the Platt amendment But |
its influence is no longer apparent, and |
the next Cuban debate in Congress, !
should one be necessary, will result in |
the enactment Of legislation which Cuba |
wiz have no chance either to accept or /
reject.
1t is very desirable that the real condi-
tions should now be laid before the Con-
stitutional Convention at Havana. The I
Administration is to blame for the pres
ent sitsation to a certain extent, in
failing in the past to tell the Cubans
definitely and without circumlocution
or reservation exactly what they had to
expect, and what would be required of
them. There would have been a great
deal of grumbling and perhaps some
threats to take to the long grass but
in the end the present ENHANCEMENT
would have been avoided. After this
We LOpe MI. MchlHFy VIII not allow
and a desire to butter in
ternational parsnips TO stand in the
way of perfectly open and unmistak-
able declaration that the United States
is willing to grant local liberty, with
to Cuba; failing in the ac-
ceptance of which, 1t will become man
datory upon us to establish a military
protectorate or annex the island.