The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03
THE CUBAN REPUBLIC.


A new state has been porn into the
family Of nations. Il is the republic
Of Cuba. No one is deceived by the
event. nor by the hurrah which ac-
companied II. nor by the proceedings
which led up 20 It. All thinking be-
ings have from the beginning seen
the goal toward which Cuba has been
slowly and OBVIOUSLY advancing. She
is 10 become a United States. posses
sion. and finally a state in the Ameri-
can union. No one can say when, but
surely not for many years perhaps not
for a generation. Not until her people
have been purified, educated. largely
regenerated, and leavened with United
Statian ideas In the meantime such
American eyes as are not fixed upon
more interesting objects will be turned
in Cuba's direction to see how she
gets on padding her own canoe At
the moment from our point of view.
the outlook for her is not a hopeful
one. The reasons are obvious. Her
people have had no government as
self-governors, have had no taste of
fairly good government of any kind,
save that administered by Governor
Wood and his associates, whom they
love none too well. The race or races
from which they sprang have no gen.
ius for self.government. They have
always been governed, and with a
heavy hand, but seldom wisely. What
indeed the most enlightened and un-
selfish rulers could be expected Of a
people four-tenths negro and negroid,
seven-tenths illiterate and ten tenths
mongol.
Looking across the channels into
Central or South America, the specta-
tor sees what is TO be I'm Cuba, or
what would be If unmatched and un-
guarded. Her experience as an indie
pendent state will be that of other
Spanish-Negro-Am states. How
could II be otherwise? In what res.
pect do Cubans differ from Colum-
bians. Venezuelans, Honduranians? =?
Some Of these states have had thirty
revolutions In as many years. At
this moment anarchy prevails In Haiti
but there the people are nearly all
blacks.
II may be truly said that Mexico is
an exception TO this sweeping state
ment. But remember that Mexico has
had Porflrio Diaz as a ruler for TWEEN
six years. Nominally president.
actually he was dictator lie was
(and is) n despot but a benevolent
one, and under his rule the country
has prospered as never before He
quleted discomfort with a bang; am.
bilious chieftans he clapped into pris.
on or knocked on the head. But Diazes
are as rare as Presi
dent Palma IL not one An amiable
and patriotic gentleman he is, but In
no sense great. In no sense equal TO the
demands of his place and Of the occa.
sion.
The Cuban republic Is a bubble sure
TO burst. There may or may not be a
revolution; the shadow of her power.
ful near neighbor may prevent or may
suppress; but nothing short of the
long strong arm OF the Uncle Sam
will save the island from repetition of
chapters In the history Of all Spanish
Afro-American states.
The Cubans look upon the Yankees
as aliens and intruders just as half
civilized and savage peoples every
where look upon civilized explorers
and settlers.
Nevertheless the United States would
not long remain n silent and unmoved
spectator of turbulence In Cuba
Having undertaken TO pacify, to edu-
cate and TO elevate, the task would be-
completed, American planters. trad
ers, engineers. manufacturers and
winter residents (to say nothing Of
American soldiers) will at least do
their perfect work and prepare the.
Island for It's destiny as an American.
colony and an American state.