Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-06-06

1
drafted and adopted. The path to
empire has been cleared, it is true, but
some misgivings still linger.
Turning to the Cuban question, q
great deal might be said. We are on
the brink OF what may be serious
trouble with the people of this island
A very unfortunate state of affairs
exists. Cuba wants TO be free. Fol
over generation she struggled
against Spanish tyranny. When she
was beng wasted by Weyler, America
interviewed, justifying action on The
high ground of humanity and calling
the world to witness, by the Teller
amendment, that not territorial
aggrandizement, but justice, was the
purpose of Intervention. After the
victory had been won and Spain forced
out of Cuba, change was manifest in
the attitude of the United States.
We were not half so anxious to see
Cuba libre" as we were when Spain
held the island. We contracted
misgivings as to the capacity of the
Cubans for self-government. We
insisted ON holding Cuba for period
until order was restored. The Cubans
eurbed their natural desiEe for
immediate independence ana submitted
to American military authority with
the expectation that it would soon
cease and their fond dream would be a
reality. Time flew on. The Americans
held on. Finally, Cuban constitu-
tional convention was called to create
a framework of government for the
island. 1t was all done under Amer
lean supervision. The grip never
relaxed a moment Last winter
Congress adopted the Plat amendment,
in which, far from acknowledging the
free Cuba promised by the Teller
resolution, it named conditions under
which, if accepted By Cuba, our troops
would be withdrawn. These eondi-
tons amounted to at least a partial
protectorate, and, being in the nature
of pressure, were extremely distasteful
to the Cubans. The Cuban constitu-
tional convention was disposed to
reject the Plat amendment. but finally
sent a deputatlon to Washington to
consult with the administration
These latter explained the
provisions of the amendment so
plausibly as to efface The objections of
many leading Cubans, who supposed
they were receiving the word of
On the return OF the
report was made and
the Platt amendment accepted by
narrow majority of one vote. with the
embodied in the admin
istration's explanation. Instead of
ending the matter, it is announced
that the United States cannot accept
the action of Cuba, and that 1t must
ratify the Platt amendment just as il
passed Congress without change of
any kind. In the present temper of
he Cubans, this is altogether too
much to expect. They feel keen
at the treatment they have
and charge bad faith. 1t |
looks to them as if, having imposed |
conditions that we felt certain they !
would not accept, we have been dis
appointed by their virtual acceptance
md are determined not to get out of
Cuba as long as there is the least
excuse for staying. AS to the modifi- |
,ations made by the convention, they |
say they only embodied in formal
manner what was promised them by |
Secretary Root, and it is not their
ault if he spoke without authority. |
They will not be likely to accept the
platt amendment unmodified. We do |
lot blame the Cubans for their posi- |
ion, nor do we see how the admins
ration can take a different course at |
present. If the Cubans can wait until
Congress meets, we feel confident that |
he really slight grounds of disagree
nent can be removed. The United |
States ought to take all reasonable |
to protect itself, but it has
been trying to drive pretty hard |
rade with Cuba. which may not inure |
% our advantage in the end