The Atlanta constitution., 1901-12-09
The Cuban Question Looms UP.


The time is drawing near when the
Cuban question will have to be settled.
On the 3lst an election will be held to
choose electors for president, vice
president and senators and for repre-
sentatives. governors of the provinces
and provincial councils. On February
"a the electors will select a president,
vice president and senators. General
Wood says he thinks the island can
be turned over to the Cubans by May.
There il is. Nearly five hundred
million dollars spent. many lives sac
rificed. much suffering endured and
we are TO hand over Cuba To Cubans
so that they may make the doubtful
experiment of governing themselves.
The promise was made that TINS
should be done. a promise that looked
we'll and sounded all right at the out
set. but that greatly complicates the
situation now. Suppose the Cubans
fall TO fighting among themselves, or
fail 20 establish and maintain stable
government? Who is to decide?
How much better II would be If Cuba
could see the advantages OF anneXa-
ton There is sentiment of course
that attaches to Cuba libre. but 1t is
a sentiment that will cost the people
of the island a lot of money. and
against this sentiment they could well
afford to weigh what the Americans
have done. Who did the fighting at
Santiago? Who sank the Spanish
fleet? Who drove from the island the
power that had oppressed Cuba so
long? For Cuba 10 be admitted TO The
sistcrhood of states would certainly,
II seems. give the people all they could
ask in the way of liberty. Surely the
people of this country are free
enough.
General Wood. who is in Washing
ton to consult with the president and
secretary of war. speaks most encour-
agingly of the good order and good
feeling among the Cubans and reports
the sanitary condition so improved
tnat yellow fever has almost ceased TO
exist. The withdrawal of the United
States forces might mean rapid re
turn 10 conditions existing before the
war.
General Wood says he will do all he
can to obtain tariff concessions Tor
Cuba on sugar and tobacco. There Is
another rub If we make all the con
cessions how can we hope To get any
returns for what has been done? Yet
General Wood says this is necessary
10 the establishment of prosperity on
the island and without it the reforms
inaugurated by the United States can
not DE carried on.
II is said that there is a determine
tion on the part of many congress
men to withhold concessions and force
Cuba into anneXation-to starve her
into submission. This is probably an
cxaggeration The "recOncentrado
plan of General Weyler will not be fol-
lowed BY the United States. Still such
talk is one phase of a complicated sit
uation. and the charge will be made
whenever any demands of the Cu5ans
are refused.
As we have said. the situation is
nearing the acute stage. and II the
island is to be given over TO the
Cubans in May there is certainly great
danger that the outcome may not be
all that is hoped for. Great good has
been accomplished so far. but it has
been al enormous cost. and it is very
doubtful If in the short time that has
elapsed since the war the Cubans have
hau mat opportunity ioi tliV 0t""F ~
government which would insure the
island against disorder. If we intend
that Cuba shall have a stable govern
ment and that she shall be made re-
public. we ought. I'm view Of the enor-
nous cost TO date. go ahead and make
\ GOOD Job of il. If we withdraw from
the island next May it is taking a long
chance that we will have to do over
AGAIN some of the work already done
,,,a .,.t,;.l bac olraad. poSt us heavily