New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
"CUB4 LIBRE."
SAFEGUARDS AND DANGERS OF THE NEW
PUBLIC.
To the Editor Of The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Morning dawns brightly on the Carih-
bean Sea. and Cuba awakes to ind that her
alream Of Cuba Lihre" is ~ealy accom-
plished fact. Yes. cuba at last is free She can
discard all fears of Spain or Of Uncle Sam.
She stands under the protecting folds of her own
flag. and looks out upon the world, a sovereign
State. And now, having gained her freedom
the next question is. What will she do with it,
She takes her first steps in th' path Of self
government with due caution. She knows that
her people are unused to Anslo-SaXon methods
of meetings, debates and representative bodies,
and inexperienced in the use Of newspapers
schools and ballot boxes. Yet she has held
peaceablc election and has chosen one of her
most sensible and sagacious sons to he her first
Chief Magistrate,
Cuba has two differing political elements,
One is active. the other passive. I'm the first
one there are generals. co!ouels captains and
privates who have fought long and bravely for
their country There are men manned in her
service or ruined in health and fortune for her
sake. There are men expert in guerilla war
fare, but untitled for the arts of peace. There
are many who are willing idlers and many
more whose idlencss and poverty have been
thrust upon them. Before the eyes of all these
hangs the attractive picture Of cuba Lihre'
dispensing civic titles and offices. salaries pen
sions lavish expenditures and profitable con-
tracts, such as Spain bestowed upon her soldier
favorites. These expectations seem to them
natural enough. and the question whether the
public revenue VIII be adequate to meet all de-
mands IS they do not trouble their heads
about.
The other element is the more passive one
It comprises the property owners the planters.
the merchants and many Of the professional
men and laborers. They want peace and Sc
curity. They are ready to win wealth by work
ing for it, They know that confidence is a
plant OF slow growth. and that without con
ldence there can be no prosperity. They know
that Cuba. rich as she is In natural resources.
will find it hard to borrow money without Sc
curity, and harder still to raise it by any form
of tax that Will be acceptable to her people.
They dread that Cuba may follow the example
of other Spansh-American countries and enter
upon career of pronunciamentos and resoiu-
tions, forced loans and military relationships.
They do not want her to become San Do
mingo. nor even a Venezuela a Colombia.
They hardly would venture to say above their
breath that annexation TO the United States
would be safer and wiser. but they ponder
ing that thought in their hearts.
Cuba has had prototype in Texas. History
often repeats itself. though always with diff
ference. Slavery was dominant factor in the
Texan annexation. and that in this case is hap
PLY absent. But there is analogy in the brief
experience Of Texas an Independent republic
Her rejoicing in her victories her pride in her
Lone star" flag; her generals and coonels
turning into Presidents and honorabes ready
to negotiate her loans and eXpend her revenues.
1t was fine but it was short. Texas dis
covered that continuance of Lone STAR eX-
istence meant empty Golfers and continued
fighting. She saw that it was safer and more
profitable to be independent State inside OF
the American Union than to be an Independent
State on the outside Of it.
There are still some European newspapers,
with American imtators, who indulge in twad-
die about the deep and dark designs of the
United States upon the liberty and autonomy OF
the Cubans. But these only survivals Of
past fictions. No respectable responsible
political party entertans any such design. If
there is one thing that the American people are
agreed upon, 1t is that justice shall he done
and freedom guaranteed TO Cuba. The Stars
and Stripes are more Of a menace to popular
liberty in Havana and Santiago than they
on Governors Island and at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard They are there not to disturb the peace,
but 10 maintain il. Uncle Sam is guarding Cuba
by the potent arm of the Plat amendment
against all foreign monarchs. fnancers and
adventurers and even against the possible
pidity or folly of her own representatives. She
is his protege whom he has delivered from
the hand Of the oppressor She may prove to he
silly wilful or unruy, but ne will continue
to watch over and protect her. lie has a strong
conviction that her people are not fitted for
the responsibilities OF Statehood in the Union
and he has doubts and scruples as to their
cession to it in any form one thing is certain
he has determined that he will not let Cuba he
tricked into the Union hv fraud nor driven into
il by force. She will be allowed TO enjoy her
coveted Independence long as she pleases.
II she ever comes into the Union province.
Territory or State it win only he by the plainly
declared wish and will of her inhabitants. and
the equally plainlv declared assent of the Amer
lean people. So he gives her his best wishes
for success in her new career. If they are
mingled with some misgivinss, they
the less hearty and sincere.
FREDERICK ". SEWARD
Montrose- on the Hudson. n Y, March 1S
1902
THE ADMISSION OF NEW STATES