The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-02
THE CUBAN CONSTITUTION.

In his famous speech at the anti-m-
perialist meeting in Chicago in 1899,
Bishop Spalding, of Peoria, said that
tic Mckinley administration never in
tended that the pledge Made by con
grcsS as to the freedom and independ-
cnce Of Cuba after it's Specification"
should be kept by the United States
Recent developments indicate that the
patriotic American prelate was correct
in his statement. The president aud
his advisers, according to news from
Washington, are bent on exercising Il
S,:Zcrninty over Cuba and consequent
ly the Cuban constitution must he 81
changed that it will be practically
worthless TO the Inhabitants of the
island. Within three months an cleo
ton will be held in Cuba, and the
United States will be asked to turn
over all the government property to
the officers to Ire elected and then the
islanders will govern themselves with
out amy interference from the United
States.
! The administration ut Washington
wants to hold its grip on Cuba in VIOLA
tinn of the pledge made by congress
when declaring war against Spain.
What care Mckinley and his imperial
iStic followers for repudiating the ma
tional pledge? They intended to copy
after England in violating pledge and
treaties when dealing with weak ma
| ticnS.
Last Monday the senate committee
on relations with Cuba offered rs Il
rider to the army appropriation bill the
following resolutions:
''rhe president is hereby authorized
to leave the government and control Of
the island of Cuba to its people so
| soon as government shall have been
established in said island under q
constitution, which, either as a part
thereof or in an ordinance appended
thereto. shall define the future rea-
tions of the United States with Cuba
substantially us follows:
Il. That the government of Cuba
shall never enter into any treaty or
other compact with any foreign power
or powers which will impair the indie
pcndcncc of Cuba. nor in any manner
authorize or permit any foreign power
or powers to obtain by colonization or
for military or naval purposes or other
wise lodgment i'll or control over any
portion of said island.
'2. That said government shall not
assume or contract any public debt to
pay the interest upon which and to
make reasonable sinking fund provi-
sion for the ultimate discharge Of
which the ordinary revenues of the is
land, after defraying the current ex-
pcnses of government, shall be made
Quate.
"3. That the government of Cuba
consents that the United States may
exercise the right to intervene for the
preservation Of Cuban independence,
the maintenance of a government ade-
Quate for the protection of life, proper
ty and individual liberty and for the
disclarging of obligations with respect
to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris
on the United States, now to be as
sumed and undertaken by the govern
ment Of Cuba.
"a. That all acts Of the United
States in Cuba during its military oc-
cupancy thereof are ratified and valid
ated, and all lawful rights acquired
Hereunder shall be maintained and
protected.
80 That the government of Cuba will
execute, and as far as necessary ex-
tend, the plans already devised or 9th
or plans to be mutually agreed upon