The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-17

plane upon which it has been placed By
President Roosevelt in his special mes
sage 10 congress. While some admit
their inability to comprehend the moral
aspects OF this question. others have dis
cussed the subject on the high plane Of
moral obligation.
Senator Hanna in a recent speech II
the United States senate. said:
/ With respect 10 our obligations &c
Cuba. I may say that We viii have ar
opportunity in the very near future Il
know whether the policy which was the
policy OF President Mckinley and is the
/ policy OF President Roosevelt TODAY
based upon that high plane Of moral
/ obligation. is the policy which win re
eeive the support OF the American PEG
pie. Ny Judgment is that we VIII hear
| from the people upon this question and
that we viii be notified by an over
whelming expression CT sentiment from
the country that when We abandon tina,
plane Of consideration in regaSi to her
We vii have abandoned the profession
which led Us into that war.
1t IS the policy of the adn,inistra-
ton today, as it would have been the
policy Of President Mckinley. had he
lived. 10 treat that country as our ward
whether we owe Cuba anything or not.
10 assume. manfuliy and bravely. the re-
sponsibilities which We hold toward her
future. and not seek 70 md an excuse
TO evade them
Surely II the present conditions in
Cuba lead TO general adversely and mis-
fortune If the plantations are once
more laid waste. and the unernploved la
borers once more join an arrnv Of insur-
rection. the United States. in the eyes %
the world. cannot escape responsibility
We know that in this country. when
labor IS unemployed, when the factories
are closed. and the farm is abandoned
CoXey armies marched to Washington
and demanded relief. The people OF cuba
show clearly what they want and what
is necessary for their existence. We have
given them political freedom. but this Is
valueless unless it is joined with favor
able economic conditions and general
prosperity. We would not consent FOR
an instant for any other power 10 oh
tain Judgement or control in Cuba. We
carefully guarded that in the Platt
amendment. and yet q destitute people
must so somewhere for relief They
must seek aid from some source when
denied recognition by their self appointed
guardian
1t is not Ike tho American people
after once entering upon the undertake
ing to give Cuba freedom from Spanish
rule to permit condition 70 exist SINH
lar to that experienced under the dom
nation OF Spain. believe with Senator
Hanna that the American people Will ex-
press themselves on this subject In no
uncertain way. / believe they will i'm
press upon congress. the necessity OF re-
deeming the pledge made by President
Mckinley. and that just and liberal trade
relations viii be entered into with Cuba
in the near future
Under our military occupation there
was a spirit or resentment toward Amer
leans, expressed on every side owing
to the belief we would never redeem
our pledge and withdraw from the island
But as the time drew near. and the
American flag went down and the Cuban
flag went up. the people Of the island
realized that the promises and pledges
Of the United States could be relied upon
always
There is feeling in Cuba now that
the promise made by President McKin-
ley will not be kept by his successor |
That impression must be dispelled hy the |
action OF the American congress. That |
President Roosevelt sincerely desires 10 /
keep the pledge made by his predecessor /
10 one questions. II remains for con-
yress TO clothe him with the authority %
act 1t viii, II must. be done. Cuba
must not be abandoned The cordial /
ceiling toward Us now existing in the
Stands must nor be destroyed by an. act
II ours. Reciprocity should be given
hem now. With the contamination OF
.uch an agreement they VIII understand
more fully the benefits that como from
wing under our flag And IN time. after
hey have had a reasonable trial ~ self
government, after they have had an
opportunity OF contrasting their coudl-
ion with that OF Hawaii. Porto Rico. /
nd the Philippine Islands. they viii. Of
heir own free Will and accord. do like
laval did-ask Tor the opportunity of
wing under our flag. Il Is a great priv
ege highly praised by the people ~
hose islands and VIII be fully apDre-
lated by the people Of Cuba. After
hey have looked for the last time on the
ag OF Cuba, they VIII turn their eyes
% our flag. which symbolizes the power
hat freed them from Spanish rule. They |
'll then enjoy the blessed opportunity
living under the protection ~ THE
reat republic. created bv Washington.
aved by Lincoln and expanded by Mc-
-inley."