The Irish standard., 1902-06-21
IS CUBA REALLY FREE =?

IL tUbA REALLY FREE
In recent editorial the Newark
Ledger throws some light upon tn
kind Of self government that Cuba ha
obtained by the grace Of the Republic
an administration at Washington. Con
gress in its declaration OF war sa
that Cuba is, and of right ought tt
be, free and independent and tina
after Il stable government had bee
established by the United States in the
island the people thereof could govern
themselves without any further inter
| ference.
Shortly after this declaration the i'm
perialists repented of their solemn
promise, and their subsidized organs
began to speak of ''forcible annexa.
ton" which Mckinley had previously
stigmatzed as Criminal aggression
Had Mckinley lived we believe the
American troops would be still in the
island and that the day Of it's indie,
pendence would be Indefinitely post
poned. But while the Americans ruled
what did they do?
Governor General Wood appointed
judges of the superior court for life
instead Of appointing them during the
American occupation. He appointed
men on the bench whom he knew to
be true to the interests of the party
which placed them in power. In the
civil service of Cuba are thousands OF
men under life appointments conferred
by order Of the Washington admins
tration. Franchises for railroads, WA
ter and lighting Companies, street paw
ing, sewer works and hundreds of con-
tracts for public buildings have been
placed by the recent military govern
ment with powerful men who are all
leagucd together to work for the an
nexation Of Cuba at the first cpportu-
nifty. The tremendous cost of the vast
public works forced upon the Cubans
by the recent government has served
to brighten capital from the island,
and, consequently, the so-called repub-
lie Of Cuba is sent forth naked and
hopeless a cringing beggar among ma
lions that will soon have to cry out
to be taken into the American Union
Governor General Wood was most
lavish in the expenditure Of public
money for the bribery Of Gomez S.
that he would not antagoniZe the cleo.
ton of Palma as first president of the
new republic. Though Wood and Co.
mez deny the allegation, Secretary
Root admits it and assumes all the
responsibility. In an authorized inter
view last Monday he says the pay
ments of large sums of money were
rendered necessary by conditi ms eX,
listing in the island and that (le is will
ing to furnish congress with Il COM
plete itemized statement Of money paid
to Gomez.
1t is said that during the three and
a half years of American occupation
this patriot received sums aggregltinG
nearly 100000. He was furnished
with sunlptuous palace at Havana
where he entertained General Wood
and other Americans at the expense
of the Cuban people. 1t appears that
the administration feared that Gomez
would take to the mountains with his
insurgents and keep the island in hot
water if he was not paid the money
for the influence he possessed.
General Brooke, however, began the
bribery of Gomez. and it was contin.
ued by Wood. How much Brooke paid
will not be known until Secretary Root
sends his report to congress Whatever
. was done in the matter during the
.ovcrnorslip of Brooke and Wood WAS
without the knowledge of ngress.
1t is now supposed that many 9th
ers besides Gomez received money.
Why the administration could not gov
ern the island without carrying c.
meZ and his followers on the pension
roll is rather strange. Some sly they
were pacified in order to avoid COM
, plications during the last presidential
campaign.
The president and his party are n,w
Mt loggerheads over reciprocity with
Cuba. We believe that Roosevelt
means to do the right thing by the
little republic. despite the fact that
the sugar trust endorses his action.
Senator Elkins however, would solve
/ the problem by anneXing Cuba Mt once
and making it a state of the Union.
Looking Mt matters as they stand the