New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-30
THE ALIENATION OF CUBA.

TO The Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Not for the first time take occasion 10 ex-
press my hearty agreement with Tribune editorial
on Cuban affairs. I am referring to your
leader, The Alienation Of Cuba" In to-days issue
II is only little by little that Americans and Gu
Dams are beginning 10 know each other $ the OBJ
scurng fog gradually lifts We are beginning To
realize how We stand toward each other and what
We can and should expect OF each other. AS to the
motives and objects Of people and COVER lment
in intervening between Spain and cuba when and
did. II is needless to inquire. Suffice Il that
We broke chain and had liberated captive on
our hands. What the nature. character. manners
and customs OF the captive did not know:
stll worse thought We knew them when va did
not. The standard by which measured them
was our own. and any deviation from that stand
ard argued inferiority. That they could think and
act correctly and yet differently from US. that they
could possibly reach different conclusions from us
TO what was best for themselves and stlll. per-
haps. be right. ideas dreamed OF in our
philosophy. That they should not at once adopt
point OF view IN matters social, political and
commercial simply proved that they too OBJ
fuse TO profit 10y their opportunities. Evidently We
were casting our pearls before swine. This. 1
think fairly represents the general opinion held by
Americans regarding Cubans. 1t would be harder
to tell how they, their part. estimated They
are very polite people and do not always express
their thoughts
We have got through with this stage. and, to the
relief OF ALL American authority has been with
drawn, and we now looking at each other across
seas lillllh we SHau IKE tACH olIleT DetteF lniS
way. AS for the Cubans, the more they saw OF us
rulers the less they liked individuals on
the task of trying to make poor Yankees out OF
The Cubans left 20 themselves have certainly
disappointed their enemies than their friends.
They have shown themselves TO be veIy shrewd
fellows that know perfectly well what they
about, with keen eye to their own interests They
the rest of their lives in expressions of gratitude
for past obligations. however vast these may have.
acted on business basis and not a sentimental
srect them the more in proportion as they respect
In Your leader referred to you express very clear
y the attitude which Cuba may naturally be ex
persist in closing our doors to her But You also
make it clear that neither Cuba nor the United
States can afford to let it go at that. The doors
must not be closed; there must be cordially and
geous relations between us, and the idea that cuba
should be driven by plgue or ca{oled by allure
tons must not be entertained by her or us, even as
cuba Is now. an Independent nation. no longer
under our dt US tb treat her as sEGh and
the true and final solution Of the problem lies in
likely to occur when Cuba shall have enjoyed a
period Of hourishng independent existence, with
and With an eihcent system Of local self go Sern-
she may do ~ so as people able to stand ons ba
willing. for mutual advantage, to enter into the
great North American confederation. on an equal
Yonkers. N y, Nov 81 1902
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ITS CRITICS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The Public Library and it's trustees have
been the subject of more or less public comment or
criticism. most of which seems to have been ig
nored; for, If I apprehend the situation correctly
the corporation. while styling itself the New-York
Public Library, processes in reality to be a pri-
vate institution. and such amenabe to the
general public for it's acts. The trustees are con-
stituted from NETWORKS foremost citizens and
any criticism must be tempered with this knowl-
edge constantly in mind Nevertheless. the great
collections of books intrusted to their
the general benefit and policies that seem to re-
strict the channels of usefulness which these books
are intended TO should be subject to review
in the public prints Mr.. Knox's criticisms as to
the hbrarys attitude toward the professions are
more than justified. The matter has been agitat-
ed before, and nothing has resulted. According
the official handbook of the library boasts OF
an endowment OF near $3.5O0,O0 much of 1t invested
at or per cent and yet the director stated that
the total available appropriation for the purchase
of books for the last two years and for the two
with this pitifu the director is permitted to
ride his hobby on sociology to such extent that
subjects is purchased, and all other departments
have to suffer from a selection (sic)i He states
that the library has entirely stopped buying books
present management, the chief fame of this grand
collection was from books on the drama and Amer
IL is a fair inference that the director mas been
Mr.. Carnegie's chief adviser in his magnificent
benefactions. The needs of the great central IL
establishing OF numerous branches. which used up
Mr.. Carnegie's colossal gift and the library is
gifts from rich men almost improbable and OF
having seriously impaired its usefulness to this
New-Yofk. Nov. 81 1902