The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-08
Circulation Statement
The Cuban Complication.

HIall Terms OF accept sNltilt NiAtSi q
wordy wraugIe extending over perhaps
weeks. w are almost inclined to hope
that the local solution viii be rejection
Hitherto most Americans have wished
that the terms would be accepted
They are not what they ought to be
in the interest of either country, and
their usefulness possibly has been mar
red by the Interpretation Of their au-
thor. Senator Q. H. Plat of Connect
cut Nevertheless this country has al
ways meant TO be kind and generous
to the people it rescued from the cruel
yoke Of Spain, and is still willing to
concede something to sentiment That
feeling will not long survive the Grass
fooIishness so far shown by the Cuban
leaders who are members Of the con-
ventiUu.
Mr.. Platt's letter, improperly publish
ed IN a Havana newspaper, is in the
nature of d warning that The whole
subject of Cuban relations should be
taken up by Congress de novo, and set
ted IN terms concerning which there
can be no ground for future contro-
versy. a more unfortunate exposition
OF Senatorial ignorance Of. or indiner-
ence to. the rules Of international law
was never presented TO the world.
When Congress adopted the Plat
amendment and the signature Of the
President made 1t supreme law. notice
was given in the clear language Of the
measure that the United States pro-
posed to exercise suzerainty over the
island The text could not be other
wise construed The Plat terms would
give this country supervision Of the in
ternationaI relations Of the new. State,
a veto power over any possible local
movement TO pay the Spanish-Cuban
debt. and the right of interference TO
preserve internal order. If these re
strictions upon the full sovereignty Of
Cuba do not constitute suzerainty, what
in the name of common sense would do
so?
Probably the letter written by Sena-
tor PIatt TO Secretary Root was Of the
made-to-Order variety That it ex-
pressed the honest opinion Of its writer
We can only grant upon the theory that
he is ignorant of the accepted princi-
pies of International law. which would
be an uncomplimentas = deduction IN the
case Of man Of his prominence as a
statesman. But, no doubt the Admin
istrati0n felt that 1t could afford to
sugar-coat the pill II was offering to
the islanders. and that II would do no
harm 10 tell them indirectly what it
did not mean When Senator Piatt
wrote that the amendment was care
fully prepared. with the object Of avoid
ing any possible idea that by the &C
ceptauce thereof the Constitutions,
Convention would thereby establish q
protectorate OF suzerainty OF in any
manner compromise the independence
or sovereignty Of Cuba" he wrote the
most regrettabIe twaddle that we have
seen from the pen Of an American
thinking man for several Iustrums-
If there were no intention or desire
TO compromise the Independence or
sovereignty Of Cuba" where was the
necessity for the Plat OF any other
kind Of terms2
The necessity did and does exist
The United States. as we have said a
hundred times. must maintain a firm
grip upon Cuba for the purposes of mu-
fuaI safety, and to prevent the estab-
HsEment Of another, greater, and more
dangerous cannibal Haiti almost in
sight Of our shores. The indispOsitiOn
Of the Cuban radicals % submit 70
American suzeTainty as the price Of
autonomy and local independence at
once raises the question Of their ability
10 form any sort Of scheme Of self-gOv-
eminent They have been offered some
thing of great value to themselves and
seem minded to throw ii aside. They
never VIII have another such oppor-
tunity. II they decide to- continue
their baking and suIIling, they need
not be surprised to see themselves
calmly but firmly annexed next winter
American Enterprise in England.
While the sensational press Of LondOT
is exploiting the marvellous wealth
financial ability. and alleged power OF
Mr.. J. Pierpont Morgan TO buy up the
island and use Il as a storage ware
house for Yankee merchandise and
coal destined for the Continent, an
other American capitalist is giving ouI
British cousins an object lesson Of en-
terprise, as the term IS understood OF
this side Of the Atlantic. Mr.. Charles
T Yerkes. late street railway Inagnate
of Chicago Is about to change tht
smoky, noisone steam underground
railway system Of the English metrop-
oils into an up-to-date a -lerican cleo
trical system, using American cars
devices. and equipment geneI ally, and
employing American engineers
John Bull has resisted the invasion Of
our methods and comforts II not man
fully. then perhaps buIlfuuy. Not 81
many years ago such a thing as a sleep.
ing car was not 10 be seen in th'
United Kingdom or on the Continent
Archaic compartment cars Unheated il
winter and unfinished with the facili
ties. common 10 even emigrant coache:
in this country We're the rule. Now +
IS different. After long struggle con
servatism surrendered 10 common
sense. and one can travel with reason
able comfort almost anywhere on the
main lines. What has happened in con
nection with the trunk railways /:
about TO take place on the tramways
no city IN the world is perhaps IN a.
vital need of rapid transit as London
The congestion Of population in some Of
its districts is dangerous to the public
health and good morals. The compile
ton o. the yerkes system. together