The age-herald., 1901-03-17

In discussing the future relations be- tween the United States and Cuba, Pres ident Mckinley said, in his second inaug- ural address, the peace which we are pledged to leave to the Cuban people must carry with 1t the guarantee of per manence." Invested by Congress with practically absolute power on the ques- tion until next December, the declaration leaves neither the people of the United States nor the Cubans themselves in doubt as to what the policy of the ad- ministration will be. It's purpose evil dently is not to turn the islands over to the political forces that control 1t until the fact becomes evident that they will not abuse the liberty into which, through the expenditure of American blood ana treasure, they have been led.
 It Is a curious historical fact that more than eighty years ago, Jefferson held precisely the same views with respect to the Spanish colonies when they revolted against Spain, and, having won their in- dependence, were devising a system of self-government. Writing to Baron Von Humbolt, Jefferson said: What kind of government will they establish? How much liberty can they bear without in- toxication? Are their chiefs sufficiently enlightened to form a well-guarded gov ernment and their people to watch their chiefs?" Six years later, in 1877, Lafay- cite received a letter from Jefferson in
 which these prophetic sentences are
 found: "The achievement by the Span- ish colonies of their independence Is no fs rious one what will then become of | them? Ignorance and bigotry like other | insanities, are incapable of self-govern-
 ment. They will fall under military despotism and become the murderous tools of the ambition of their respective | Bonaparts. and whether this will be for their greater happiness, the rule of one
 only has taught you to judge. No one,
 hope, can doubt my wish to see them and all mankind exercising self-govern-
 ment, and capable of exercising 1t; but the question Is not what we wish, but
 what Is practicable" So far as self-gov- | ernment is concerned the majority of the South American republics are very lit-
 tie in advance of their ancestors three generations ago. Are they not what Jeff ferson predicted, "the tools of the ambi-
 tion of their respective Bonaparts?"
 If the author of the declaration of in
 dependence could have dictated a policy | for those colonies in 1917. he could have | had them ''come to an accord with Spain | under the guarantee of France, Russia
 Holland and s.he United Stat allowing
 to Spain Q nominal supremacy, with au
 thority only to keep the peace among
 them, leaving ther, otherwise all thu bowers of self rnment, untili thei experience in them, their emancipatio
 from their priests, and advancement il
 information. shall prepare them for com
 plete independence" What is the differ
 ence between this plan of government
 for the South American republics which
 had emancipated themselves. and the
 plan which President Mckinley, in the
 discretion given him by Congress, seems
 resolved to adopt in the case of Cuba | The fundamental idea in both cases Is a | quas-protectorate. Jefferson did not be- | lieve that the South American republics | could walk alone, and President McKin- | ley Is evidently of the same way of | thinking In the case of the Cubans. h. | deed. the phrase he uses in the inaugu- | ral reads like a quotation from his illus | trious predecessor in the Presidency, l the peace which we are pledged to leave | to the Cuban people must carry with 1t | the guarantee of permanence."
 The question, of course, arises and will