The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15
GEN. WILSON on THE CUBAN sITUA.
TION.

Gen. James II. Wilson's criticism of the
American policy in Cuba will attract at
tention and excite some surprise He is a
very able man, and his views on any sub
ject are entitled to respect but i'm this
they appear to be somewhat incon-
sistent. He has rendered efficient service
to the government in different capacities,
and after the close of the war with Spain
was appointed military Governor of the
province of Matanzas in Cuba. In a speech
delivered at the Union League Club, i'm
Chicago, General Wilson made frequent al
lusions TO what he called the unfair treat
ment Cuba had received at the hands of
the United States government and said the
Cubans had a right to charge us with hav-
ing broken faith with them He said that
since our occupation of the island we had
not done one thing to repair the ravages of
war or to establish prosperity in the
island. He continued:
We pledged ourselves at the beginning
of the war against the intention of eX-
erting any sovereignty over the island and
promised TO withdraw our army as soon
as peace was restored. In spite of this
pledge we have exercised every conceiv-
able attribute of sovereignty over Cuba.
We have absolutely controlled the domestic
affairs of the people, and. although perfect
order has existed for two years, our army
is still in possession of the country.
These statements are not sustained by
facts, and they do the United States in
justice. General Wilson misunderstands or
misconstrues the pledge made by the
United States at the beginning of the war
The pledge was not to exercise sovereignty
except for a specific purpose. 1t said: THE
United States hereby disclaims any dispose
ton or intention TO exercise sovereignty.
jurisdiction or control over said island
except for the paciflcation thereof. and as
serts its determination, when that is ac-
complished. to leave the government aud
control of the island to its people" This
was intended as assurance TO the world
that the United States did not intend to
retain permanent control or exercise per-
manent sovereignty in Cuba. 1t did not
lar the exercise of temporary sovereignty
On the contrary. ii expressly provided for
the exercise of sovereignty and control for
the pacihcatiOn of the island. Such pacifi-
a solid foundation under stable govern
ment. To have stopped short Of this would
have been a violation OF the pledge. As
President Mckinley said in his annual mes
sage Of December 1899: Our mission. TO
accomplish which we took up the wager
of battle, is not to be fulfilled by turning
adrift any loosely framed commonwealth
TO face the viclssitudes which too often at
tend weaker states whose natural wealth
and abundant resources are Offset by the
incOngruties Of their political organiza-
ton and the recurring occasions for in
ternal rivalries 10 sap their strength and
dissipate their energies" Mr.. Mckinley
evidently did not think the mission of the
United States in Cuba would be fulfilled as
soon as active hostilities had ceased He
evidently construed the pledge 10 leave
the government and control OF the island TO
its people 10 mean when they were rea-
sonabIy well prepared for such government
and control. and not before. General WI
son says: I'VE promised to withdraw our