The Iola register., 1901-03-08
OFFICIAL PAPERlOF ALLEN COUNTY
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Washington, Feb. 81, 1901.

estimation of those charged with the re-
sponsibility Of conducting the affairs
of this Nation, the Cuban question is
far more delicate, difficult and inn
portant problem than the Philippine
question. The latter is regarded as
already in large measure solved.
We are in possession of the Philip
pines, and even those who most stren-
uously opposed our acquisition of the
Islands now concede that our only
possible policy is to subdue the insur-
rection and establish civil government.
AT the worst the problem of the
Philippines is one wholly within our
own hands. There is no danger
= and no fear of national compli-
cations.
In Cuba, however, the situation is
vastly different. We are charged
with the pacification of the Island
and yet we are pledged to recognize
its independence. There is universal
feeling that the Cubans cannot main
tain a stable government, andl yet we
are bound by the most solemn and
self-imposed pledges to let them try
the experiment. 1t is felt that the
Cubans may protest, perhaps even to
the extent of armed resistance, against
any restriction whatever sby the
United States upon their absolute in
dependence; and yet without such:lre-
striction conditions may easily be
brought about which would make war,
either with some foreign power or with
the Cubans themselves, absolutely I'M
avoidable. In brief. to violate our
pledges means war now, while to keep
them seems almost equally certain to
lead to perhaps graver trouble here
after.
Under such circumstances it certain
ly cannot be charged as a weakness
upon the part of President Mckinley
that he has insisted upon Congress
sharing with him the responsibility of
determining SO far as they can now be
determined, the future relations be-
tween Cuba and the United States.
And it is that insistence which, until
within the last three days, has seemed
to IN AXE an extra session of Congress
unavoidable. 1t was felt to be impera-
tive that plain statement of the rela-
tions that are to exist between the two
countries must be incorporated inthe
Cuban constitution, and for "a time it
seemed impossible that this Congress,
in the few remaining days of its life,
should be able to formulate and agree
upon statement of those relations.
ship, and to the adroit parliamentary
management of the Republican lead
ers in the Senate, what seemed the inn
possible has apparently been ac-
complished. BY an amendment to the
army appropriation bill it is provided
that the United States troops are to
be withdrawn from Cuba and the gov
ernment and control of that island left
to its own people when they shall
agree, either in their constitution or
by ordinance, to eight provisions
which may be briefly summarized as
follows:
First-No treaty inmcH to theinterests
of the United States with any foreign
power
Second-No debt beyond the power of
the island revenues to meet and cancel.
Third-The right of the United States to
fntprvana wi hanpver the indanandanpa nf
Cuba is threatened. and to maintain gov
ernment adequate for the protection OF
life, property and individual liberty.
Fourth Acts OF the United States during
military administration to be ratified.
Ffth-D Development OF plans to prevent
recurrence Of epidem.cs.
SIKH Isle OF Pines 20 he omitted from
Cubln boundaries until title thereto can
he adjusted
Seventh The selling or leasing of land
necessary for coaling og naval stations.
Eighth A treaty embpdytug pl these
provisions.
This amendment win doubtless be
concurred in, and with its passage,
the necessity for an extra session of
Congress will no longer exist.
What Cuba will do with the propo-
sition remains of course, to be seen
Undoubtedly their adoption would
restrict very materially the inde-
pendencc of the island. giving the
United States suzerainty over it
much more pronounced than that
which great Britain claimed to exer.
else over Transvaal; and equally
without doubt the radical element in
the Cuban convention will oppose
their adoption most bitterly, 1t is
hard to see, however, how the United
States can safely consent to anything
less Suppose Cuba refuses utterly
to consent to these conditions, and
suppose the United States refuses ut
terly to recede from them. What next9
1t is certainly not without reason
that our wise men regard the Cuban