The times., 1901-05-13
The Situation in Cuba.

The good effects Of the recent Cuban
pilgrimage to Washington continue to
be seen in Havana and elsewhere in
the island in the change of sentiment
among the intelligent classes respecting
the Platt terms. As our news columns
! yesterday informed readers, Jose Co
mez, Civil Governor of Havana Pro
vince, and Radical leader. has been con-
verted from absolute opposition to sup
| port of the proposition. Other men
! prominent in the same political party
are sur"endering to the inevitable. Gen
| eral Ruiz Rivera has written from Hon
| duras to several delegates to the Con-
stitutional Convention strongly urging
immediate acceptance of the terms, that
! the Cubans may proceed at once to the
work of establishing an autonomous
! State. Opponents are weakening. and
| there is a fair chance that the matter
may be settled satisfactorily before
! long.
A considerable element of the Radical
faction. however, are trying to induce
the convention TO delay action until the
meeting of Congress in December. The
that better bargain might then be
made. Senor Capote, Chairman of the
visiting committee. tells them that
when he left Washington he was
strongly impressed with the belief that
the whole American people were sup
porting President Mckinley in his Gu
ban policy. The Cubans are hearing the
same sort of thing from others, and it
would seem that by this time all whose
opinions are important ought to know
that the Platt terms are the most lib
eral that ever will be offered, and that
should Congress get its hands on the
matter again the result win be much
more drastic arrangement.
The resisting contingent in the con-
vention is being bolstered up by the |
local sugar and tobacco planting in |
terests who are foolish enough to think |
that by securing delay they can make
acceptance of the Platt terms the price
Of a reciprocity treaty which would ad-
NIT their products to the American |
market under more favorable conditions
than at present Nothing could be more
illusory than such an idea. Both Houses
of Congress are under the influence OF
trusts whose interests would be affected
by the lowering Of duties on Cuban su-
gar and tobacco. All the trusts stand
in matters of legislation. The
Senate's failure TO act upon any of the
treaties presented 10 it at
the late session is sufficient proof of
this
It would be the depth of folly for the
Cubans TO hang a solitary hope on Con-
gress, and the notion some of them
seem to entertain that we are anxious
enough TO have them accept the Plat
terms to pay them some high price for {
the favor ought TO be dropped at once
Tke interest Of this country in the mat
-er is 10 set through with it, but there
need be no particular hurry. There is
very disposition to treat the Cuban 7
people as kindly and literally as ma
ional prudence will permit. But they :
viii not get another chance like the
present one to become almost a sover-
ign State. Should they refuse to ac- :
ept the olive branch now held out to ;
hem probably they will regret it Be :
ause after American patience had been 7
that would not take
many months-annexatio would come /
With a rush. Some of the Cuban lead +
rs appreciate this. It is pity that all
,ubans do not, because il is the gospel
ruth.