The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-11
Circulation Statement.
The President and Cuba-

There is a disposition among some Sen
ators and Representatives in Congress
to shift responsibility in Cuban matters
to the shoulders of Mr.. Mckinley which
we are unable to approve. In the first
place it is unfair to the head of the exec
utive branch of the Government to COM
pei him to decide the terms upon which
new Western nation shall be born, when
the considerations involved in the mat
ter are national and ought to be oonsid-
cred and decided by the American Legis-
lature. Secondly. too much Importance
has already been given to the executive
power in the United States. But that
division of the subject perhaps need not
be considered at this time since, today,
there is every reason to believe that
the Supreme Court will call a halt in the
direction of that departure from right
principles
But if no other question were involved
it would be wrong to place the onus of
responsibility for the acceptable consti-
tuition of Cuba upon Mr.. Mckinley. who
has no mind to take it. and who rea-
sonably takes the view that the Congress
should afford him the basis upon which
to act in so momentous matter. 1t is,
after all, simple thing which is demand
ed by the situation. All the American
people honestly desire to give to the Gu
bans the fullest measure of statehood and
independence consistent with the dignity
and safety of this Republic. AS we have
repeatedly explained. it is impossible to
allow the island complete sovereignty.
BY so doing. we should simply place our
selves in worse position than We occu-
pied during the Spanish misrule. which I
We found intolerable. Cuba is TO be free 4
and untrammeled as far as its internal .
affairs may be concerned. but must not I
be allowed to become a menace to the /
United States by having the war, treaty, I
and public debt powers which go with alb +
solute sovereignty. This may be unpleasant
for the Cubans. as certainly it viii be:
but II is a necessity from the viewpoint i
of the United States. We may be as gen |
erous as We please TO our wards. but We !
must be. at the same time. just TO our
selves.
1t is cur imperative duty. and one as to
which the powers of civilization viii hold
in comforting autonomy and local indie
pendence upon Cuba. We do not place the
illiterate and turbulent population OF the
country in a condition TO disturb the
worlds peace. The United States is more
than merely one OF the nations OF the
Western Hemisphere; II is the high sheriff
of the cis-Atlantic States. Il is within
our power to impose any sort of govern
ment upon Cuba that We may think neces-
sary. and it would be madness for US to
leave the island, or to turn over its man
agement to the natives without exacting
from them guarantees of good faith and
submission to American suzerainty.
In arranging this connection. We trust
that President Mckinley and his advisers
will not make the mistake that Mr.. Glad
stone did in lodging the question of SUI
erainty when he made his peace treaty
with the Transvaal. 1t is positively i'm
perative that our little neighbor shall
be under our control in several impor ant
respects. If the people of Cuba are not
willing to accept the limitations which
The interests of the United States force
us to demand, then there will be no es-
cape from the necessity for forclble en-
nexation. Sentiment and ethics are en-
tirely out of place in the discussion of
our proper attitude toward Cuba. We
cannot and dare not consent to the cree
ton OF another Haiti. only ninety miles
from our shores.