West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-07-17
SENATOR ELklSs on CUBA.

been misunderstood. II had no bea,inrx on
Cuban 'ec'proci,y aui was not intended to
have any IL simply voiced in concrete
form his judgement that Cuba ought T. he
annexed TO the United States, aud the soon.
er the better for both countries. The reso.
iauon uid not suggest annexation of Cuba
an offensive way. 1, provided that the
Iuhsns must take the initiative and only
alter they had asked for annexation could
the United States act.
rof neatly century. he said, the annex.
alton OF Cuba TO the United States had been
the ambition of American staiesmauship.
lie pointed out that many distinguished and
patriotic American statesmen, from Jefferson
TO Mckinley. had favored annexation, and
ne thought the present was an oppor,unc
Time st" carry into effect the well.delincd
wishes "f a majority Of the people Of Cuba
and The United States IN regard to annex.
alton. L, is in the interest of both countries.
The environments Of Cuba, with the trials
and d,iheulties that beset her on the ,hrcs
hold OF her national life. stand in the wny
OF her being long an independent nation: I:
while as Stale IN the American Union her
people would be prosperous and progressive;
and ENJOY the liberty and all the blessings
mat would How from being pat of the best,
greatest and frcest government in the world
1
lowered The price of labor or worked injury
TO American Interests. Wherever our flag
lloats the price Of labor advances.
"But for the war with Spain. although SO
successful and glorious, Cuba would now he
part of the United States.
Even with the war, had II not been for
our declaration that the war was no, warcd
FOR conquest or aggrandzement, known ms
The Teller amendment, Cuba would today
he par, Of the United States, lust as
Porto Rico and the Philippines are. This
amendment has proved both mischievous
aud unwise.
"when Cuba shall become par, of the
American Union aud the ,sthmian canal
shall be completed, which is now assured.
Porto Rico, Cuba, Hawaii and the Philp.
pines will be the outposts of the great re.
public, standing guard over the American
| interests in the track Of the worlds com.
meIcc IN It's triumphant march around the
globe.
There ~ tendency in all human affairs
| III government trade and commerce TO con.
centration aud combination. Meieors 90 10
The SUM- small nations are becoming parts Of
great nations, aud Cuba Ia her present en-.
v'tonment, situated as she Is. cannot he cx-
p,cied io resist this tendency.
"ihe eject Of The Platt amendments will.
be to help bling about annexation A nation
cannot long remain half free and half de.
pendent; such condition cmbarrasses
healthy progress in national life aud leaves
nu, mile room for the exercise of the genius
aud Intelligence of people IN affairs of
government. especially when under such
restrictions as these amendments impose
We feel proud that we are represented in
ihe Senate by a diplomat who feels himself
capable to bring about the annexation of
Cuba, an enterprise which baiiled the cxcr-
''ons of our great statesmen from Jefferson
10 Mckinley for over 100 years, We are
also thankful 10 our distinguished Senator
ihn, he reveals To MS two State secrets,
namely, That MIR. Mckinley was in favor of
anneSing Cuba, and that the Cubans also
pine Tor H. IL is real pity that our dis
'nguished Senate did no, impart this secret
during the las, sasson Of the previous Con-
gress, when Mr.. Mckinley was alive, who
favored annexation, instead of having in.
'rodnced II SO late that !, could not be acted
upon even 10 the last session aud that, when
I've well knew that Mr. Roosevelt would
never approve il, OF has our esteemed Sen
alor merely introduced this resolution so
late 10 season that IL could not he acted on.
TO dodge real issue, namely, the admission
OF Cuban raw sugar a, reduction Of i'm.
port duties.
We copy here below The answer of Sen
ator Hanna to the speech of Mr.. Elkins
leaving IL TO the reader TO decide which Of
the two he thinks describes the true position
OF Mr.. Mckinley, his desires and purposes,
more correctly. Mr.. llama. or our esteemed
Senator, Mr.. EIkins
Nc. Hanna (Ohio) took sharp issue with
Mr. Elkins for his assertion that Presidents
from Jefferson to Mckinley had favored
annexation. Whatever had been the induce
mems and arguments in favor Of annexation
II never was accomplished, Tba, fact was
sufficient indication 81 The sentiments of
The Amencan people on the subject.
Mi. Hanna said that when President Me.
kinlcy met the commissioners from Cuba
he did not advocate annexation.
"Whai he did say" said Mr. Hanna.
was that he would do everything in his
power 20 place them 10 such a relationship
'o'ibiJ country as would prove ~ advantage
Ia ihrm."
R,fcuing 10 reciprocity with Cnla. Mr..
Hanna declared he did not think the qnes.
iiOn had been decided Whether we owed
sanYthlng 10 Cuba ot not We certainly owed
something 20 ourselves.
II want tO see this country and the Con-
gfcss stand on squarcly the plane which has
placed US under moral obligations 10 Cuba. /"
lie suggested, significantly, that soon an
opportunity would be offered 20 know
whether The policy pf Mckinley and Roose.
y,li wss 70 be upheld 10 this country.
"My opinion is, said he, 'fhat we shall
hesf from the people in no nnmsiakable
iefms. u IS the policy If the administration
today. as i would have been Of Mckinley.
had he lived, 70 treat the country Of Cuba
as ward"
Mr.. HaDna thought the United States
ought 10 be sensible of its obligation 10 the
civilized world, II not 10 Cuba alone
10 talk Of annexation al this time Is not
fsif 70 Cuba, just starting upon iis national
existence, and even before she has had
time To- prove what she car do"
The effect II such suggestions would be
- discourage the Cubans. u vas too sa-
cred . mater. he believed, to be considered
from ihe standpoint Of commcrcialisin lie
protested against consideration Of annrxa.
lion "at a time like this"
In regard TO orr own opinion We fully
agree with the opiui N u tie Pd,sburg
Dispatch Of the Sih Of This nonil, which We
hers insert
Senator Elkins persisted in making lis
speech in favor of Cuban annexation before
Congress sdjorrned, with prolonged pro
fcssion that the only thing contemplated IS
20 have annexation by The desire Of the
C0bans. But in connection with bis pre-
ylous course bis proposition plainly is that
The Cubans are 10 be starved ualess they