The Minneapolis journal., 1901-01-31
The CUBAN PROBLEM

A Havana dispatch announces that busi-
ness there was in a panicky condition yes
terday, because of rumor that the United
States would soon turn over the insular
government to the Cubans. There would
be good reason for business anxiety were
1t true that our government would hand
the island over to the Cubans on the basis
of the constitution as at present draft
ed, and evacuate it.
The constitution-makers are proceeding
with their work without reference to any
obligation on their part to defer to the
advisory function Of our government, and
the element advocating immediate and alb
solute independence evidently has a strong
grip upon the convention. There are prac-
tically but two parties In Cuba, the ma
tionalists, who will not have an American
are the people of property largely, and take
conservative view of the situation and
the needs of Cuba These would object to
see Cuba turned over suddenly to the keep
ing Of the radical element, who succeeded
yesterday in inserting universal suffrage
clause in the constitution and adopting a
clause suspending the several guarantees
of personal liberty embodied in the bill
of rights when the safety of the state re-
quires this suspension, "a governmental
power which would, doubtless be used i'm
properly with a radical government in
power as is the case in most of the Span
3sh-American republics.
President Mckinley, in his proclamation
OF July 26 1900 directing a call to be is
sued for an election of delegates to the
Cuban constitutional convention, repeated
the resolution of congress of April 20, 1898,
declaring that the Cubans "are and of
right ought to be free and independent
and that the United States disclaims any
disposition or intention to exercise juris-
diction over the island except for the
paciication thereof and expressly stated
that, as "a part of the constitution" the
people Of Cuba were "to provide for and
agree with the government of the United
States upon the relations to exist between
that government and the government Of
Cuba" When the convention was called to
order by the military governor of the
their business to frame a constitution and
'swhen that has been done to formulate
what in your opinion ought to be the re-
1ations between Cuba and the United
States and the completed constitution
would be sent to congress for it's consid-
sration and action.
There we have the respective duties Of
the United States and Cuba defined. The
Cuban constitution will be along in a few
days If the convention expedites its re-
vision. The draft, as it came from the
committee, said not a word about the rela-
tions Of Cuba and the United States, but
that may come after the work of revision.
1t is evident that congress must insist
upon such relations as will insure the
peace and stability of Cuba and prevent
complications with foreign powers which
will involve our government, and, to ac-
compltsh this, our government must have
some restraining power over Cuba s foreign
relations and war-declaring and debt-mak-
ing power. Unless this is done the sacrifices
we made for Cuban freedom will meet
with but meager requital in practical
gratitude. Congress so eager to fight Spain
in Cuba's behalf in 1898, must face this
extremely important question with all the
intelligence it commands.