The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-21
QUIZ LIHEE.

theoretically in the right is undoubted.
We went to Cuba to free the Cubans
from the Spanish yoke. We succeeded
in carrying out that portion of our pro-
gram at the cost of a number of lives
and the expenditure of much treasure.
Then we found the country was not in
a condition to be abandoned imme-
diately to its own resources and we
stayed on, pacifying the remote lis
tricts, putting down the usual gangs of
bandits, which were the natural result
of years Of civil strife and guerilla war
fare, disbanding the Cuban army
which swelled to large proportions,
when it was known that Uncle Sam
was to be paymaster, improving the
finances, organizing the school system,
cleansing the cities in fact working
our officials to death in order to get the
country into proper order.
Yesterday our work was finished and
we handed over the organized govern
ment, and all the improvements we
have made to the Cuban people in the
person of their president Tomas Estrl-
da Palma. There viii naturally be great
rejoicing, and they will be appreciated
by people in all parts Of the globe. The
attitude of the United States in the
matter is most thoroughly indicated.
Not only has the United States carried
out her promise of freeing Cuba. but
she has returned a Cuba in a very
much better condition than it was
when she took it in hand.
The curtain has been rung down on
the last scene Of long struggle for in
dependence. The point now is how is
that independence going to be used.
The population of Cuba is no more
composed of angels than any other
population is. There are many men of
the highest ideals, but it is seldom the
men of highest ideals who lead the
politics of country. There are keen
and slippery politicians, the Latin
strain in the population supplies that.
There are the spectators and pro-
motors in manufacturing and agricul-
tural enterprises, and there is the great
pulation of the ignorant majority that
danger will lie All Spanish ruled coun-
tries are hot beds of ignorance and
Cuba is no exception to the rule
The first President Of the new Re
public has been a resident of the Unit
ed states for a period of eighteen
years. He must thoroughly understand
the institutions of the country which
gave him shelter and enabled him to
earn an honest and honorable living in
quietude and peace. Whether that
eighteen years residence in the United
States will serve him well or i'll during
his term of Office remains to be seen.
However capable and however patri-
Otto President Palma may be it will
remain a question for a full year to
come whether his previous training has
fitted him for the arduous duties which
he will be called upon to perform, and
the quick decision which will be re-
quired of him. Theoretically he may
be an ideal executive, practically he
may prove anything but ideal.
1t must be remembered that the Cuba
Libre party is divided into two camps
One, to which President Palma leans,
and indeed of which he is the repre-
sentative, believes in American meth
DDS and would do all in it's power to
Americanize the Island, though eager
to keep it's autonomy. The other hates
the name of America, and hates every
American method. 1t dislikes our
even-handed justice, it dislikes a strict
police force, it hates the cleansing of
the cities, it does not want free public
schools, and more than anything else, !
it hates work. The only good that this
party ever saw in Americans was the
golden stream which poured in from
the continent but it was a stream
which was received as a right and for |
which no thankfulness needed to be ex- |
pressed. Now, that the stream has |
stopped and Cuba will have to depend /
upon her own revenues, there will be |
much dissatisfaction.
Beyond these two sections of the .
Cuba Libre party, there is the out and |
out annexation party. This will sup
port President Palma in any plans for
Americanizing the islands, for the more /
thoroughly the Island is Americanized /
the more quickly does it consider that
the annexation cause win be served.
1t viii be most interesting to watch /.
developments in Cuba, and none viii do |
so with greater keenness than the ex-
ecutive of the United States and the /.
members of the cabinet. President
Palma has serious problems before |
him, all wen wishers of her institutions |
trust that he may find solutions for !
them.
r,,, ~. o., r,-,r- nm. r,,-r,