The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-31
rRFE CUBA ON NAY co.

Ifrom the washington 4oSt-1
Lite US consider Cuba for a moment
situation. Cuba itself, of course, is the
same old Cuba 1t is a land of hides
cribable fertility and of enormous
though undeveloped resources, where
only foreigners work and where the
naughty native lounges in the shade
and dreams of a dispensation under
which everybody viii have a salary 1t
is a land whose great men, whose
patriots and martyrs, nearly always live
abroad, and whose warriors are most
refulgently in evidence in times CT peace.
That is the Cuba we have known hither-
to and quite sure of. There may or
may not be a new Cuba, but there is a
new situation beyond doubt, for Secre-
tary Root has so proclaimed, and it is
in this alluring prospect that we would
battle our fevered eyeballs.
AS we understand the programme Off
cially announced on Wednesday morn
ing Cuba is to be set free May 20 next
without fail. Clearly, Cuba must be in
bondage now. though we should never
have suspected it. However, a free peo-
pie can not be emancipated, and there
you are. We proceed. AS soon as Cuba
is set free. to wit, on the 20th of May
we shall withdraw all our military
forces from the island. Even General
Wood is to be called in. With the ex-
ception of a few hundred artillerymen-
who are to remain there permanently
as garrisons for our various naval sta
tions-Cuban soil will be cleared of all
invading or intervening foreigners. The
United States flag will be hauled down
and the Cuban ensign broken loose
from the summit of the Moro. Mean
while, and by way of preparing fer the
apotheosis, much of great Importance
is to be done. Gen. Wood hastens back
to Havana to arrange the details of the
evacuation. Some rather complicated
inventories must be made, receipts ex-
changed. and quittances bestowed To
pave the way for all this Gen. Wood
will convene the Cuban congress-for
this remarkable country has a congress
which obeys General Woods orders, to
say nothing of a president-elect, who
has not so much as seen the island for
a quarter of a century-and congress
will be told to enact such laws and per-
form such acts as may strike General
Wood as appropriate or necessary to
the contamination in view.
Concurrently with these entertaining
and distinctive military proceedings. the
state department will shed mysterious
SOlSIllnlJy upon the eplSOue Oy dTIdIS-
ing diplomatic and consular ,esta blish-
ment for Cuba. There will be minis
ter, of course, with the usual trim
mings of secretaries. etc, and there
will be consuls and commercial agents,
and all the rest of it. Similarly, Cuba
will send us an envoy extraordinary
we recommend General Jesus Rabi-and
so on. In this way President-elect Es-
trada Palma. provided he can be induced
to leave this country when the pinch
comes, will find the governmental ma
chinery already in full working order
The new president of free Cuba will
have nothing to do but draw his salary
and, incidentally, watch the other bleed
ing victims of Spanish cruelty draw
theirs. The foreigners will continue to
do the work, conduct the industries, pay
the taxes, and maintain the institutions
of civilized society
No one can deny that there will be a
situation in Cuba on May 20, provided
nothing occurs to interrupt the present
programme. There will be other situa-
lions, too, as time goes on-a large and
assorted lot of them.