The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-03
AN ExrRA SESSION PROBABLE.

An EXTRA SESSION PROBABLE.
While it is true that Congress had
nothing 10 do with the calling of the Gu
ban Constitutional Convention. it seems
that it is the purpose of the President
that it shall have something to do with
the question as to whether the cOnstitu-
ton adopted by the convention is salts
factory 10 the United States. In view
of the fact that Congress said in a SOL
emn resolution that the people OF Cuba
are, and of right ought to be. free and
independent" it would seem as II that
body had nothing to do with the Cuban
constitution. but there are signs that it
intends to have something to say about it,
That being the case. it is evident that
there will have to be an extra session
of Congress or else the Cubans will have
to wait for their independence until Con-
gress meets next winter. 1t is asserted |
that some of the Republican leaders ytn- !
sist that the President ought to take the |
responsibility for the Cuban constitution. !
He takes different view. He points out
that Congress took the initiative in the
Cuban business. that it passed one reso-
lAllOtl utGidIlIE int AuDdAtS " NC AlIS I
and independent and another resolution !
announcing that the United States had |
no other purpose than to paclfy the ISL
and and give the control of 1t to its peo-
pie, resolutions that were wholly unnee- |
essary, and that now it is for it to say |
whether the United States are satisfied with |
the constitution which the Cuban con-
H. he xyal
that he has done everything Congress di-
reeted him to do-that is, he has used !
the army and navy to drive Spain out
of the island and he has restored peace
to the Cuban people-and he Is willing to
carry out any other orders which Congress
is ready 10 give him. 1t does not seem
as If the President occupied the right po-
sition in the matter. 1t would be very
great responsibility for him to say that
the Cuban constitution is satisfactory and
to withdraw the troops and announce to
the Cubans that the control OF the island
is in their hands.
If trouble should arise in the near fu-
| ture among the Cubans-and there is a
strong probability that it will-the whole
blame for withdrawing from the island
before strong and stable government had
been established would be placed on the
President. In the constitution which has
been framed the United States are not
mentioned. There is no expression OF
| thanks for what they have done for the
Cuban people, no statement as to any re-
lation that is to exist between the two
| republics.
| Naturally there is some inquiry as to
what the United States are to receive for
| the millions of American money spent
and the thousands of American lives sac
rihced in giving freedom to Cuba. The
President thinks that If they are to re-
| ceive nothing Congress ought to take the
responsibility of saying So
1t seems that among the members OF
the Cuban Constitutional Convention there
| is some sort of understanding that the
relations which are to exist between the
United States and Cuba win be adjusted
after the United States have approved
the Cuban constitution, but it is being
pointed out that the convention mas no
authority to make any agreements OUTSIDE
of the constitution it was called to frame
The question about which the people OF
this country are most concerned is
whether the Cubans win be able to gov
ern themselves. They have adopted uni
versal suffrage. There will, therefore.
be a large negro element in the govern
ment. 1t would not be surprising If the
government were as unstable as apy OF
the South American governments.
1t is important to this country that the
government shall be stable, because there
will be large American interests IN the
island. Under the circumstances how
ever it is difficult to see what Congress
can do except to approve the consutu-
ton. IL 1t had not declared that the peo-
pie of Cuba were free 1t might nave
some excuse for retaining control OF the
island until it was certain that the Gu
bans were capable of governing them
selves.
|