The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-19
DUFF DUTY TO CUBA.
We Have Done Much for the island,
but Not

but Not Enough.
Correspondence New York Evening Post.
One of the arguments most frequently
heard in opposition to the granting of any
tariff concession to the island of Cuba is
that I'VE have done enough for Cuba all
ready" If those who use that argument
be asked to specify our benefits to the Gu
ban people, much the greater number are
quite unable to give any adequate explana-
ton. A vague idea prevails that the United
States has spent the last three or four
years in shOwering blessings upon Cuba
for which her people have failed to be prop
erly grateful. They are, therefore, un-
worthy Of any further consideration. The
argument appears with sufficient frequency
to make it worthy of analysis. What have
we done for Cuba?
We freed her from the hated domination
Of Spain. 1t is to be m that only
a part of the people of Cuba really hated
Spain, and a good many of those were
killed during the war. We did not go to
war with Spain, primarily, for the freedom
OF Cuba. We went there to end a situation
which had become intolerable' to our
selves. The benefit TO the Cubans was an
incident and not the primary cause.
We went to Cuba pledged to exercise
neither sovereignty. jurisdiction nor con-
troll over the island and only for the
were pledged TO leave the island to the
control of its people. The island was wholly
pacifed within six months of our occupa-
ton of Havana but for three wears we
way of military absOlutism. Spain never ex-
ceeded. In the repeal and amendment and
creation of laws, in the expenditure of pub
lie funds, in the appointment of officials,
the American system has emulated that of
it's predecessor in all points save that of of
fetal dishonesty. In the policies adopted
and in the plans pursued Cuban opinion has
had little. If any, more place than it had in
the earlier days. Spain was no more indif-
ferent TO or neglectful of that primary
cause of Cuban revolt-oppressive economic
conditions-than the representatives of the
United States have been.
We have given her schools and school
houses. We have spent % per cent. of her
none too abundant revenues in the estab-
lishment Of a school system. We took $780,
coo from her national treasury with which
TO build a schoolhouse in the city Of San
tiago. At the close Of the civil war Ala
bama and the Carolinas were as much in
need OF schools and schoolhouses as Cuba
is. Did We think Of appropriating funds
from our national treasury for the erection
of a college in Montgomery, or Salisbury,
or Greenville? Did we spend $4,000 from
the national funds TO purchase ardwood
furniture, book cases and wall clocks for
any one OF those States? Would such eX-
penditure have been approved by the pub
lie? We have done that out of Cuba's poor
little income, while the pupils parents
hardly knew where they were to get food
or clothes for their children. We did not
ask the Cubans If they wanted these things.
We, who declared that we were not TO eX-
erciSe jurisdiction" over them. decided the
matter for them and spent their money.
We nave instituted a high order Of sani-
tation in the island. We have spent $10.-
00,00 from the insular revenues to make
Cuba a place where Americans could go and
stay without danger OF yellow fever. and
for the protection of our own land against
that disease. The chief medical authority
of the island, a competent American Off
cial, declares in his report for the year 1900
that the part played by dirt and filth in
fever was always problematical; now We
know that they have nothing TO do with 1t,
except inasmuch as they may attract and
feed mosquitoes" But the sweeping and
the scTubbing, for which the Cubans care
much less than we do, still go on, and the
Cubans are made to pay for il; by those
who were not 10 exercise control" over
them. The Platt amendment, which We
forced upon them, binds them 10 q. continu-
ance Of this expenditure-for our benefit.
The honest and efficient administration
of the custom house by Colonel Bliss, and
the equally honest and efficient manage
ment of the Treasury Department by Major
Ladd, have won for those gentlemen the
highest approval of the Cuban people. But
how is IL about that equally important de-
partment, that OF the law and the Judi
ciary? We established the existing laws by
our first act. a military Governor repeats,
annuls and amends one OF the most able