Arizona republican., 1902-08-05
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AUG. ,, 1902.
Cuba and the United States.

Cuba and the United States.
 One of the strongest contributions vet made to the literature of the exist ing Cuban question" is the article by United States Senator O. H. Platt of Connecticut in the North American Re view for August. As speaker sen atcr Platt is noted for clearness o1 mind. and a directness, simplicity anI felicity of expression, which illumine any subject that he discusses; and as a writer he is no less happy in so clear 1y and forcibly stating his views as to give the reader a quick understanding of the points involved. Thus. in dis cussing the present situation, he re- views in masterly style the events and conditions which have brought the United States face to face with most serious problem:
 "A little more than four years ago the United States declared war against Spain; it also declared the purpose o1 the war in which it was about to en- gage. It gave notice to the world thas its object was not conquest or acqul- sition, that it proposed to liberate the people of Cuba from unendurabie op- pression and to assist them in the es- tabIishment of an independent republic In all the history of mankind no other instance of a war for such a high, noble and unselfish purpose can be found- The national conscience asserted itself, and the people were of one heart and one mind. The war was over in hun dred days, but it's consequences will last for generations. As a nation we were strong and resourceful; we put forth our strength and used our re- sources with no thought of repayment; a free Cuba new republic were to be our sufficient reward. The world ap- proved and admired our course The question which now confronts us is whether we shall go forward or turn back; whether we shall complete our success, or permit our effort to result only in ignominious failure.
 ''The doings of nations are like the acts of individuals: motive and action make character both in men and in nations. It is the man of pure motive, of brave deeds and steady purpose who builds for himself noble character. If the motive, the deed and the purpose are but feeble and soon abandoned. the resultant character is ig1oble. So with us as people. Though our purpose was lofty, though our triumph was striking, if we fail now in accomplish ment we shall be either pitied or de- spised Nations, like men, incur honor- able obligations. If fulfilled to the let ter, true growth is the result; if iS- nored, by men or nations. the just con- tempt of mankind is incurred Our obliga tions did not cease when Spain was driven from Cuba. or when years of careful and unselfish administration resulted in the establishment of the Cuban republic. When we undertook to put an end to bad government in Cuba. we became responsible for the establishment. and the maintenance as well, of a good government there The world will properly hold us bound in all honor so to treat the republic which we ourselves have set up that it shall be. both prosperous and stable. The United States, if true to it's history and it's character. must train up it's child in the way it should go so that when old it will not depart from it.
 "If these words had been written when we set foot on Cuban soil at Daiquiri. they would have met with
 
 individual who might have predicted that we would tire of our work. and leave Cuba to struggle on unaided by us as soon as it's government should have been created on paper and estab- liahed in name. would have been de- nounced as nearly akin to traitor. He would at least have been told that he understood neither the purpose nor the spirit of our people.
 '1n transactions between nations we hear much in these days about spheres of influence." and perhaps no better in depreciation of that phrase is to be found than in the relations which should exist between the United States and Cuba. We are great and strong. We have had a century and a quarter Of republican experience. Cuba is small and weak. without experience, a new beginner in self-goVernment. It is in no sense dependency. and yet in the truest sense it is a dependent neighbCr. Cuba committed her future to us when. in the depth of her misery, she accept ed our intervention. We as truly as sumed her care when we proffered that intervention
 The United States must have a pol icy with regard to Cuba. The present question is. what shall that policy be In the solution of this question, not only our good name and character, but cur own interests are most intimateI ' involved. The fate of the United States is intervoven with the fate oi Cuba
 Senator Platt then points out that there are three policies. any of whict may be pursued by the United States First. he says, We may treat Cuba with indifference and neglect: second. as a commercial rival to be feared and