Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-04
Uncle Sans Record in Cuba.

In about six weeks the American
| occupation of Cuba will be al an end.
May 30 has been officially designated
as the day when the young republic
will set out for itself. and the jurisdic-
ton and authority of the United States
over the island viii cease. There is
not in all history a parallel to the war
which this country waged for Cuba or
to the record which has been made
there since the conflict was over. When
the war began, four years ago, no Euro
pean nation believed that the United
States would keep its pledge and allow
Cuba to be free and Independent when
Spain had been driven from the island.
They judged this country by their own
selfish standards and supposed that
American promises We're worth no more
than their own would be in similar
case. But the pledge has been kept and
more than kept. Much has been done
for Cuba that the United States did not
1t has been only three years since
the disturbing conditions Of the con-
generation it had been in active re-
relliOn against Spain and for three or
-four years bloody war had devastated
it from end to end. Trade was almost
all destroyed: the once great sugar
product had shrunken almost to moth
ing; starvation was wiping out the peo-
pie; the island was without security;
nothing but the death rate was flour
| ishing. When the last Spanish soldier
| had sailed for home the work of the
United States in Cuba had just begun.
No problem was absent from the work
of pacfication. There was an insur-
gent army and government to be reck-
oned with whose members were dis
| trustful of the United States and fear
| full of never getting their promised in
DEPENDENCE. The planters had neither
money or credit. There was a vast
debt. The jungles swarmed with ban
dts. Pesti.ence, ignorance and suffer-
| ing We're everywhere.
This, be it remembered, was only
three years ago in Cuba. Let us sum-
Marie in briefest fashion what has
been accomplished there SINCE Spain
was driven out. The iilsurgtnt~ army
was Quietly dis banded and the govern.
ment dissolved. The spirit of fair play
satisfied alls.. For the first time; in foilr
centuries yellow fever, has been ban
isbed, 50 ooniPlete has been our work
of sanitatioh.l The island never before
enjoyed SUCH Tranquility and security.
Education is free to all, and schools
with trained teachers have been opened
everywhere. The island is free from
debt. Agriculture has been revived and
this year the sugar plantations will pro-
duce two-thirds of n full crop. Many
problems We're presented, and the world
stands amazed at the speed and COM
pleteness with which they have been
solved.
Nowhere in history is there anything
to compare with it. No land has ever
done to another as the United States
has done to Cuba. No return is asked
for the blood spilled and the treasure
expended. On May 90 the people of
| Cuba will assume full charge of their
island, with its security, independence.
and sanitary conditions guaranteed by
the United States. If they do not now
| feel the full measure of gratitude which
they should feel, they will as the years
go by. 1t may be that the future will
find Cuba a part of the United States.
That is for Cuba to say. The United
States does not now look beyond the
faithful performance of every pledge.