Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-07-18
THE CUBAN SCANDAL
POINTS OF INTEREST IN THE
BRIBING OF GOMEZ.
Policy Of Secretary Root and the Ad'
ministration a fragrant Violation
of American Principles-WilI the
People Indorse Such a System?

Secretary Root accepts, reduces to
practice and defends the doctrine
which Alexander Hamilton borrowed
from the immemorial maxims of
absolute monarchy, that while most
men are to be governed by force, or
the fear of force, some men are to
be governed by interest"
To put the euphemism into plain
English, the doctrine is that some
men who cannot be easily frightened
Or forced are to be paid for submit
ting to the authority of the govern
ment. Where this doctrine Is &C.
cepted so is its necessary sequence
that those who are governed by lin
terest" are to be paid in proportion
to their ability to make trouble for
the government.
We all know that Mr.. Root has
applied the force method in the Phil
ippines in a very arbitrary and des-
potic fashion. We now learn by
his own admission that he has ap-
piled the interest method in Cuba
in at least one case, and we have to
infer that If he has not applied it in
many cases in that and other islands
1t is because he has found the force
method more suited to his DISPOSE
ton or his purpose.
While the republican house has
fatty refused to call on the war de-
- ~ 60 f,,Il tie iv~ ro-
gard to expenditures in Cuba during
the American occupation, and while
a republican committee of the senate
shows itself no less reluctant to per-
NIT the facts to get out before the
congressional elections, Mr.. Root
cheerfully volunteers his willingness
to tell the whole story to congress.
In an interview he frankly admits
that large sums have been paid to
Maxine Gomez, with the approval
not only of his department, but of
the president, or rather of two presi-
dents. He admits that the money
was paid to Gomez for his distin-
guished service to our government in
not taking to the mountains at the
head of his bandits and insurgents
and continuing against the United
States the war which he had been
waging against Spain.
1t would seem that our military gov
errors, Brooke and Wood, paid the
Dominican adventurer as much as
100000, first and last, for not going
on the warpath and making trouble
for US, and that the money was taken
from the Cuban treasury, or, to go
further back, from the Cuban people.
The amount and the source from
which 1t was obtained are not so
important, however, as the fact that
this mode of governing has been en-
ployed by the executive branch OF
the government and is declafed by
the secretary of war to have been
dictated by the highest ideals OF
craftsmanship.
If that is the way in which it is
regarded by the administration we
may assume that the same mode of
government is pursued in the Phil
lPPiACo Vi Will DC WhShCNOi III 10
judgment the highest ideals of states
manship may dictate.
If the highest ideals of statesman
ship dictate that mode Of government
in one place within the national juris-
diction why may they not in every
other place? Why may we not OK
pect the same officials at home to at
tempt to govern bandits or notorious
instigators of riot by bribery and by
maintaining them sumptuously in pal
aces?
Do the American people really ap-
prove of putting premium on abil-
ity to instigate and lead riot and in
surrection by rewarding such ability
with brides and honors and digni-
ties?