Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-11
what win BE Done About Cuba?


The Constitutional Convention OF
Cuba has rejected the demands of the
! United States, as set forth in the Platt
amendment to the Army Reorganiza-
tion bill, which amendment practically
dictated certain provisions and re-
stric.ions that should be. included in
the Constitution of the Island Re-
Iublic. 1t is not surprising that the
convention should refuse to be thus
dictated to, for II the people Of Cuba
cannot make their own Constitution,
they win not be free people, nor will
they have Republican form OF govern.
ment.
But Cuba having refused 10 be
dictated, to, the question is what will
the Mckinley administration do about
itY The solemn pledge of Congress, at
the time Of the declaration OF war
against Spain, was given to the people
OF Cuba and of the world that our only
object was to secure the Independence
OF Cuba. and that We had no idea Of
annexation. The adoption Of the Platt
amendment to the Army Reorganiza.
tion bill was practically violation of
this pledge, as it interfered with the
work of making Constitution for
CUBA work which the people Of the
island should be allowed to attend to
without the slightest interference.
1t is insisted upon by the Washing.
ton correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press that the proper ty owning Cubans
are practically unanimous in their
approval Of the Plstt amendment. 40.
curding TO this authority only the
revolutionary element in the island ia
opposed to granting everything that
Congress demanded. The principal
objection which this element advanced
against the adoption of the platt
amendment, observes the correspondent
OF the Press, was that 'the amendment
is in violation of the pledge made by
Congress. The correspondent has no
patience with, such an objection.
This talk of the United States ever
having made any pledge to the
Cubans, he asserts In his most con.
temptuous style, lis ridiculous. Where
were the Cubans to whom this pledge
was made? The few thousand men
who composed the revolutionary army
were scattered around on inaccessible
hilltops and in swamps and were GER
tainly in no position to demand
rledgs or to receive one. To talk OF
the United States having made pledge
to these people is absurd" Then, as
II to dispose Of the question for all
time, the correspondent of the Press
fatty asserts that the Teller resolution
WAS "a mere declaration Of one Con-
gress that could not bind another,
That is to say, says the Baltimore Sun
in reply, the Fifty-fifth Congress- could
promise the world to make Cuba a free
and independent state, while the Fifty
sixth Congress could proceed to fasten
an American collar around the necks
of the Cubans. There would be nothing
disgraceful in change Of policy,
nothing inconsistent, nothing to prove
that the government of the United
States is not the best and most en-
lightened in the world. 1t is perfectly
honorable and fair to blow hot and
cold through the mouths Of separate
and successive Congresses.
This kind of talk sounds very much
like an intimatIon that the administra.
tion will repudiate the pledge of Con-
gress and continue the military occrpa-
tion Of Cuba indefinitely. That 1t
hates to give up the island to the
people of Cuba, and that it will seize
upon any pretext for maintaining its
occupancy. The question of national
dishonor involved in such a course does
not seem to bother the administration
supporters. All they see is another
opportunity for expansion, and, as
with Hawaii and the Philippines, they
will not hesitate at anything to secure
their desires.
In the appointment OF Mr.. Philander
@. Knox Of Pittsburg az attorney gen.
eral, says the New York Evening Post.
President Mckinley secures a lawyer
OF marked ability, according to the
testimony Of all who know him. IL
must always be accounted something of
a drawback, however, when the Presi.
dent picks out as his law adviser a man
who has no public reputation, in pref
erence to one whom the people have
come to know and respect. 1t seems
also rather unfortunate that, when
there are laws on the statute cooks
sgainsts trusts. the attorney -gsneraIship
should be given to a lawyer who has
been the adviser of great promoters OF
trusts. This is not to say thar Mr.. Knox
may not prove impartial as we'll as able
only that, human nature being what il
is, a man with his record has to over.
come measure of distrust and sus.
pioion. From this. point of view the
appointment Of the Pittsburger does
not maintain Mr.. McKinley's we'll.
earned reputation for political shrswd.
ness.
In his itsmizsd bill Of election az.
penses, made in accordance with the
provisions. Of law, Tom L. johnson
swears that it cost him only s132 to be
elected mayor of Cleveland. He ia
lucky. I Men have spent many more |
times than this sum Ia the effort to bs |
elected mayor Of Wilmington, and |
faIled in the end. =" r.
Mr. Philaut3ar fy8.Kn,s 10