New-York tribune., 1902-05-20
CUBA: MAY 20. 1902.

IRree Gays ago the hlnS OF SPAN WAS III
stalled upon the diminished throne OF his an
cestors. To-day the first President of Cuba Is
installed. and Cuba takes its place among the
nations of the world. The approximation of
dates is impressive No romancer or play
wright could devise one more dramatic and sug
gestive. For though the broad Atlantic rolls
between them the two incidents insepa-
raby and vitally connected. and in them is con
centred and crystallzed the epilogue of a stu
pendOus world drama OF 70 centuries duTa-
ton. The Spanish settlement upon Cuba. 70
which Columbus devoted the bulk Of his atten-
tiOn in his three voyages, was the foundation
OF the world encircling Spanish Empire. The
loss of Cuba marked the ending OF that empire.
The Queen of the Antilles is the Alpha and the
Omega Of the story of imperial Spain 1t is
therefore most fitting that the first reign Of n
king over Spain shorn Of her colonies and
shrunk back to her peninsular domain and the
first administration of the independent republic
into which the last of Spain's colonies has been
transformed should begin practically at the
same time. May 90. 1902. is memorable date
with reference to the past. Let it be regarded
most auspcious with respect TO the illimit-
able future
The birth Of a new nation is an Interesting
event. It is not a common one. We have seen
in our time the deaths Of many independent
States. but the births of few. To 20 fur
ther back, the fates of Madagascar. of Finland,
of Samoa. Of Hawaii and Of the BOer States of
South Africa strongly remind us that the num-
Der of separate and independent States in the
world is steadily growing less Consolidation
is the order of the day in statecraft as we'll as
in commerce and industry. The spectacle which
behold to-day is therefore n novel one 1t
is one also which we may regard, save in one
TTnit al
States has, with one exception, acquitted itself
well toward Cuba. 1t has done its work, and
it has fulfilled it's pledge. It removed from that
island the power of Spain when that power had
become hOpelessly evil. 1t did for Cuba the
works which Spain had persistently neglected
or refused TO do. 1t gave the island roads and
schools and sanitation and sound admnstra-
ton. 1t led it on to the organization of a ma
tive insular government of its own, acceptable
to American standards Now Il Withdraws
from the island and leaves Cuba to be governed
by Cubans. Really. it scarcely seems too much
for 10 accept the tribute of the Mexican
"Patria" that in dealing thus with Cuba "the
country of Washington has covered itself with
GLORY higher and purer than that of arms"
Save in one particular. But let us remember
that there is that one exception to our other
wise admirable record. There is one fact
which makes this day OF rejoicings in Cuba
day of reproach 10 the United States That
IS that we have failed to meet Cuba upon
the threshold of her nationality with justice,
with honor. with redress for her wrongs and
with an assurance Of prosperity in the new life
which is opening up before her. Do men try to
evade the issue, saying that the future of Cuba
is I'm Cuba's own hands? 1t is not We have
retained it largely in our own hands by our
dictation of addenda to the Cuban c0nstitu-
tiOn and by our persistence in maintaining our
traditional policy of a semi-protectOrate over
that island. Well and truly did William Nc
Kinley say that "this nation has assumed be
fore the world a grave responsibility for the
future good government of Cuba. We have
accepted a trust the fulilment OF which calls
"for the sternest integrity Of purpose and the
exercise of the highest wisdom" Well and
truly did Theodore Roosevelt say that since
Cuba has in her constitution affirmed what we
desired that she should stand in international
matters in closer and more friendly relations
with us than with any other power, 1--WE are
bound by every consideration of honor and eX-
"pediency to pass commercial measures in the
interest of her material wellbeing" Honor
and expediency, And yet we haggle and hest
tate Truly, we seem to hold our honor light
ly and to be careless of expediency, in the pres
ence of petty selfshness and sordd greed
We have righted the wrongs or Cuba-all save
the one primary and fundamental wrong which
was tile cause OF her woes and Of her revolt
We have supplied her needs-al save the one
supreme need upon which all her welfare de
pends We have redeemed her from Spanish
commercial oppression-only to force her be-
meath our own commercial oppression. We
! have refused to the Cuban Republic the very
| selfsame thing which eagerly profered 10
mOnarchical Spain; end today responsible
| statesmen and national lawmakers at Wash