The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-06-05
tors.

domain The case of Texas scarcely
affords a satisfactory precedent in op
position to such belief, since tho &c
public of Texas was created by Ameri-
cans who designed to make il a part OF
the United States. The Cubans, unlike
the Texans of Sam Houston's day, are
in the sense American empire-builders.
They are people apart and by them
selves. of different stock and language
from our own, and they are, above all
possessed of solid body Of traditions,
rooted in their long wars for indepen-
dence against Spain, which made the
sentiment of nationality passion OF
the common people.
The inherent strength of national
sentiment has, always been the puzzle
and the despair of aggrandizing states
men. And it is not alone in the hearts
of independent peoples that it may be
sound 1t is even force against which
the decorating movement within the
British empire must contend. In the
new commonwealth Of Australia the
national feeling Of the people is noticed
by all observers. Even in the Dominion,
which is very loyal to the British con-
nection, the idea that Canada is ma
ton, albeit part Of the empire, is so
popular that public men can safely
dwell upon it in their hours Of patrio-
tic oratory. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
liberal premier in n recent speech de-
clared that the Parliament Of Canada
today is sovereign Parliament. 1t
was precious word that sovereign;
and every member of the Canadian
Commons thrilled at the sound Of It,
although there was none who did not
know that it could be used only in q
rhetorical sense.
If, then, the Cuban nationality is a
vital force which in time may enlist
even the sympathy of the devoted
adherents of Spain, the question OF
Americas future relations with the
islands cannot De viewed solely from a
material standpoint But there are
many people in this country who seem
incapable OF comprehending the moral
and sentimental phases OF tho situation
You will hear them saying with the
most serene assurance that the Cubans
could easily be forced to seek annexa-
ton by deprIving them, while in their
independent state Of American markets
Such reasoning is based entirely on the
grossest materialism. 1t assumes that
no passion save that for wealth, can
sway the destinies Of a people Appeal
TO II nations pocket and you touch the
nerve of its highest aspiration that is
the notion which often prevails But
how false it il Material considerations
are not the only ones that determine
nations course, powerful ~ they are.
There is something besides an economic
Interpretation of history, notwithstand-
ing that economic factors may general
ly be discerned influencing the course
Of events There are such things N
national pride, national sentiment and
patriotic fervor. 1t may be rag, but
it is our rag, the little nation says of
its flag Mr.. Morgan might buy up the
commercial marine Of the world, but
there isn't money enough in existence
to buy some Of these rags and by con
tract, in consideration of certain
amount Of preferred stock, syndicate "A
nationality
NO the Cuban sentiment Of nation
ality is not likely to perish in an
economic depression, nor is it likely to
wither and pine away in case Ameri
can markets are denied to the pro
ducts of the young republic A policy
Of commercial exclusion against Cuba
il quite ~ likely TO arouse antipathy in
that country against the Unirdd States
IA a similar policy has aroused it in
Canada You cannot make the Cubans
continue to love us by showing them
how selfish we can be, now that they
have begun life alone. The policy of
commercial eXclusiveness, in short,
would probably do more to stimulate
the Cuban sentiment of nationality
and 30 develop an alien, antipatheiic
people near our shores than any policy
that could be devised TO win them,
it would be necessary to conquer them;
for whatever the disorder and ineiiicien-
cy in government they might display,
under conditions of commercial dis
tress, the Cuban people, IA n whole,
would not be likely to hail an American
army again landed on their shores ~
liberatOrs Now that the Cuban gov.
eminent il started on its course and
America has granted it pious blessing,
the importance Of reciprocal CONNER
cial arrangements between the two
countries that will not turn the nation
al sentiment Of the Cuban people into u
well Of luminosity toward the United