The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-06
THE PRESIDENT AND CUBA.

The Cubans. like everybody else, are
pleased with President RCosevelts mes
sage. Indeed. IT would hardly be putting
it too strongly to say they are delighted
They profess TO see in it assurance Of the
realization Of their hopes Of independence
and prosperity. One Havana paper char
acterizes the message as most encOurag-
ing" another calls it "a noble message,
ana a third says, 1.-THE Presidents words
show that the administration has no de-
sire TO incorporate Cuba into the United
States" for which it expresses satisfaction,
as if this were new discovery. As this
is almost the first exhibition Of reasonable
ness on the part Of the Cubans 1t is worth
while to recall what the President said
on the subject. His only direct reference
10 Cuba was in the following paragraph:
In Cuba such progress has been made
toward putting the independent govern
ment of the island upon a firm footing
that before the present session OF the
Congress closes this will be an accom-
plished fact. Cuba viii then start as her
own mistress; and TO the beautiful queen
OF the Antilles, she unfOldS this new
page of her destiny, we extend our heart-
lest greetings and good wishes. Elsewhere
L have discussed the question or reel
procity. In the case of Cuba, however,
there are weighty reasons Of morality
and of national interest why the policy
should be held TO have a peculiar applca-
ton, and L most earnestly ask your at
tentlon TO the wisdom, indeed TO the vital
need, or providing Tor substantial re-
duCtion in the tariff duties on Cuban i'm
ports into the United States. Cuba has in
her constitution affirmed what we desired,
that she should stand, IN international
matters, in closer and more friendly rela-
tons with us than with any other power;
and we are bound by every consideration
OF honor and exped1ency to pass CONNER
cial measures in the interest of her mate
rial well-being.
Again, in discussing the Monroe doctrine
the President made an incidental allusion
to Cuba, saying: "Our attitude in Cuba is
a sufficient guaranty of our own good
faith. We have not the slightest desire
to secure any territory at the expense Of
any of our neighbors." The same idea
was expressed as strongly in different Ian
guage by Secretary Hay in his recent
speech before the New York Chamber of
Commerce. when abiding to "our sister
republics to the south of US" he ended
1--WE no more want their territory than we
covet the mountains of the MOON"
The Cubans ought to be we'll satisfied
with the Presidents frank and friendly ex-
pressions regarding the future of the
island, but they should have been satisfied
on this subject long ago. That they were
not shows that they were unreasonable,
suspicious and ungrateful. The solemn
pledge of Congress and the repeated acts
and expressions OF President Mckinley
should have fully convinced them of the
honorable intentions of this government
/ and its fixed purpose to withdraw from
/ the island as soon as its pledges were re-
deemed and the Cuban government estab-
lished. President Roosevelt's assurance
on the subject does not make this purpose
any clearer than it was before, but as
it seems to have convinced the Cubans
that the United States has really meant
| what it said from the beginning it is well
he gave it. His assurance that the indie
pendent Cuban government will be on a
firm footing before the present session of
Congress closes should be notice to the
| Cubans that the time is close at hand when
1t will behOove them to stop all racial and
factional quarrels and show the world
whether they are fit for freedom and self
government. 1t should also be notice to
Congress that the browning act of our duty
to Cuba remains to be done in the estab-
lishment of such commercial relations as
will inure to the prosperity of both coun-
tries and to insuring the stability of the
new government which we have planted
at much cost in money and lives The
fact that President Roosevelt has by his
first message won the complete confidence
OF the Cubans should be a great help tc
Congress in establishing friendly relations
for the future. 1t would make one of the
most interesting pages in Mr.. Roosevelt's
history if the rough rider of Santiago who
assisted in liberating Cuba should, as
President of the United States, be the first
to welcome her on a prosperous basis
among the family Of nations.
"AN AMERICAN LIVING
In a few sentences in his message tn,