The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-26
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the Cuban Constitutional Convention
should waste their 1luas in preparing .
constitution, some OF he terms of which .
the United States could not possibly toll .
crate. Certainly We de not begrudge the .
Cubans their country or their liberty /
Sentf1aentaiIy. Americans are largely anx- !
1ous 10 see the once fertile island again I
prosper under liberal institutions. 1t
Nsald never SO prosper under such fun /
damental law as that just presented TO /
the convention by its central committee !
In two vital respects the proposed con- I
stltution is impossible. II provides for /
universal suffrage. which would at once /
reduce the country to the political level /
of Haiti This Government cannot afford
TO have fresh island home of anarchy
within ninety miles of our shores a
State such as Cuba would 5eeome in six
months under the majority rule of its half
wild and wholly ulite-ate black popula-
ton could not perform its international
obligations nor guarantee the lives and
property Of foreigners resident within its
jurisdiction. Indeed so great and many
are The dangers TO be apprehended from
the liability OF Cuba to have diheresces
with European nations, that. even were
the local government based on the most
carefully restricted suffrage, il would
sill be the duty of the United States 20
insist upon control Of the Islands foreign
relations
The preamble TO the proposed constity-
tion states that II creates a sovereign
and independent nation, and a permanent
government capable Of complying with its
International of7IIgatlors.,- and 50 On To
the Latin mind form goes for great deal,
and possibly the trainers OF this instru-
ment really believe that, by adopting
constitution following closely the lines Of
that of the United States, Cuba VIII step
at once into the family of nations COM
plete sovereignty. IN this they make
serious mistake This country wishes
them well. and would be pleased TO leave
could be done without violating the eter-
nal Law Of self-preservation-
In other words. the American people
cannot and viii not permit the establish
ment Of another semi-barbarous State in
the West Indies It follows that before We
shall be ready to think about the eyacua-
ton OF Cuba the Government of the Uni
ted States, for its own protection and that
Of civilization, must be assured against
what unlimited suffrage would inevitably
produce. and, in any and every case, must
occupy the relation Of suzerain TO Cuba
as far as international relations and the
treaty making power are concerned
These qualifications Of the full soyer-
eighty desired by the revolutionary faction
now in the ascendant IN Cuba. viii not be
accepted without a struggle; bat they viii
have to be In the end Men like Gomez
and sanguIlIy who dream Of the Empire CT
SouIouque repeated in the Pearl Of the Ar
titles. cannot be permitted TO shape The
destinies Of Americas first line Of defence
on It's South Atlantic coast.
The question must be faced sooner or
later. and might as well be considered
now. This might not be wise if there were
& growing party in Cuba favorable to
suzersinty, pTotectorare. OF annexation.
But there is moi. On the contrary the ia
yoritism, nepotism, and corruption that
marx our Administration have alienated
the respectable elements OF society which
at the start we're friendly TO America. aud
left Us with 10 considerable following
among natives. spaniards, or other for
eigners- This is not IN agreeable state
sneRt. but 1t is a true one. L is in no
sense ar exsggeratlons as the country VIII
have an opportunity TO understand before
long. a situation which could have been
handled IN a way TO make the best Cuban
elements anxious for union. has been mis-
managed TO such an extent that practical
Il the entire population is irimicaI TO the
United states That fact is Ar additional
warning to US not 70 withdraw from the
proper government. II the faction which
now seems % b in q large majority is
determined 10 make sovereignty in inter
national matters. sad universal suffrage,
basic Issues. the sooner We know it the
better. AS remarked above both are en-
tjreiy cut Of The question IN existing cir
r.ITnstances.
The Invasion of Venezuela.
one nay II looks as if the Administra-
lion wanted 10 shirk the responsibility OF
invading Venezuela in the interests Of the
Asphalt Trust and. on the next, matters
present quite the opposite apPearau e
There is serious trouble down on the
Orlnoco- Perhaps il would not be par
iicularIy embarrassing were Congress not
in session, and there have been signs that
efforts were being made TO keep it from
coming TO a head until after adjournment
This does not now seem feasible, The
latest phase of the matter is that the
gunbost Scorpion Is again ordered 10