The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-07-22
Is crBA FREE.

Is not Cuba Libre held in greater
thraldom by the United States now
than she ever was by Spain? She has
elected q president who has been inau-
gurated and now exercises the duties
OF the chief executive OF an independent
republic, and the Cubans have elected
their governors OF states and a national
congress which has met for the purpose
OF enacting laws for the government OF
the people OF the republic. The Aneri-
can officials and forces have been with
drawn and the Cuban flag has taken
the place of the Stars and Stripes over
the public buildings of the island. but,
still, Is Cuba free? Is not she held in
the fast grip OF the American financier
and money king. Is not there a pre-
concerted effort TO force free Cuba TO
petition for annexation to the United
States. Who doubts IL she knocks at
the door of the American union that 1t
will be opened to her. In fact the
permission to enter has been given be-
fore the request has been made, and the
men who control the party in power
are taking sure measures to force her to
make the request. If the republicans
persist in carrying out their policy to-
ward Cuba as defined by the action of
the last session of congress one of two
results are inevita able-Cuba must be-
come bankrupt and disorder and an
archism prevail to such an extent that
our government must step in and again
take charge Of affairs, or the people
must voluntarily CD seek annexation to
the United States. This is where our
boasted philanthropy will end. This
will be the result of the war in which
we sacrificed so many lives and spent
so many millions of dollars in a war
for the purpose of giving freedom and
independence to the Cuban people. We
made them an independent nation, 'tis
true. but we are far from having given
them freedom, for they have swapped
the Spanish yoke for that of the Amer
lean money king and monopolist.
The New York Evening Post, a re-
publican newspaper, recognizes this
state of affairs and has the following
to say about the condition of the island
in consequence of our governments
refusal to grant the relief that Cuba
has the right to expect and demand
from us:
THE Diario de la Marina of July Sth
declares that the news which it gets
from the country, and the events re-
corded in the regional press, could not
be more alarming or disheartening.'
Thousands of laborers, it asserts, are
out of work, and with no prospect of
getting any. Many are even suffering
from hunger. Two thousand workmen
recently left Manzanillo to go to Mexi-
co in search of employment. Sugar
mills are being abandoned and prepara-
tions for the next crop abandoned, on
many plantations, in despair. This is
the testimony, be it remembered, of an
impartial newspaper, which knows
nothing of party politics in Cuba, and
has no interest except that of stating
the facts. Tt is mournful account of
American stewardship in the island.
We shall not soon see another American
president inviting his fellow country
men to glory over their unexampled
generosity to Cuba. Let us charitably
hope that it is to hide it's own shame
that the lingo press has lately taken
to abusing the Cubans, telling them
that their request that we remove our
coal from Havana is a mere bluff and
asserting that we need a naval station
there and will have it, whether they
like it or not