The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-07
THE CUBAN ELECTION,

THE CUBAN ELECTION.
Unless the Cuban character and
temperament have Undergone a mark
ed change during the time that has
elapsed since the successful culmina.
ton of the interference of the Unit
ed States in the affairs of the island,
serious trouble may be looked for
over there before many more months
shall have passed. The withdrawal
of the Massoists from participation
in the election must not be regarded
as an evidence of ac~quiescence in ev-
erything for which the party of Palma
stands, and peaceful intention of sub
hitting to the policies which his gov
eminent may adopt. Masso is the
head of the radical element of the
island and as such is opposed to the
compact between Cuba and the Unit
ed States which the election of Palma
ratified,
February "a the electors chosen will
meet and cast their vote for Palma
as the first president of the Cuban re-
public. They will also elect
a vice president and senators.
During the time which shall
intervene until the withdrawal of the
American troops from the island,
which is to be in May, the Cubans
will proceed with the organization of
their government. Until the last of
the American soldiers shall have left
the island Masso may be relied upon
to keep quiet, at least not to engage
in any overt acts calculated to
cause him to become involved with
this government. After that, however,
he may conclude to try the effects of
physical force and attempt to bring
about that which he did not care to
trust to the choice of the ballot. He
may organize a revolution and seek to
place himself at the head of the Cuban
government. Should he do this it will
then probably become the duty of the
United States to interfere once more.
The Platt resolutions, which form a
part of the Cuban constitution, give
this government the power and author
iy to do so, for they continue the
guardianship of the United States
over Cuba. 1t may be fairly said that
they constitute a protectorate, as they
guarantee the island against foreign
invasion or obstruction and it's gov
eminent against internecine destruc-
ton. Hence it does not require a very
great stretch of the Imagination to
picture the presence of our soldier.y
in Cuba for the second time, but for
a different purpose than was the first.
Instead of being there to protect the
islanders against oppression from a
power across the sea-, u troops may
be called upon to protect the Cubans
against themselves. Should Masso
bring about such a state of affairs he
may live to regret his rashness in |
more ways than one. Not only will
he find himself suppressed, but he
may also find that instead of a mere
.protectorate this nation may be called
upon to exercise complete sovereignty |
over the island as a part of it's own
territory. The sentiment in favor of |
annexation cannot be said to be dead |
in the island, or in this country either,
for that matter and should strife and
internal disorder assume the proper
tons possible annexation may become
imperative. When the United States
undertook active Intervention in
Cuba's behalf it did SO with the pledge
to- the rest of the world that it would
maintain order in the island and con-
serve the rights of all, natives and for
eigners. To keep this pledge it may
yet become necessary to annex, much
as such a possibility may lar on the
nerves of many of our people.