The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-10
building and keeping the marvellous fab.
ric of our industrial prosperity
Honesty in Cuba Proved.

You have made a particular effort in
your exhibition to get into touch with
the West Indies. This is wise. The
events of the last four years have shown
US that the West Indies and the isthmns
in the future occupy far larger place
III our national policy than in the past.
This is proved by the negotiations fol
the purchase Of the Danish Islands, the
acquisition of Porto Rico the prepare
ton for building an isthmian canal, ard
finally, by the changed reations which
these years have produced between US
and Cuba
AS a nation we have an especial right
to take honest pride in what We have
done for Cuba. Our critics abroad and
at home have insisted that we never in
tended to leave the island. But OH the
goth of next month Cuba becomes a free
republic ard we turn over to the ISL
anderS the control Of their own govern
ment. 1t would be very difficult to find
parallel in the conduct of any other
great state that has occupied such a po-
sitiOn as ours. We have kept our word
and done our duty just as an honest indt-
vidual in private life keeps his word and
does his duty.
Be it remembered, moreover, that after
our three years occupation of the ISL
and, I'VE turn it over to the Cubans in a
better condition than it ever has been in
all the centuries of Spanish rule. This
has direct bearing upon our own well
fare. Cuba is so near to US that we can
never be indifferent to miSgIoVernment
anu uISdSIGI WIltlI1 It's llIHIlS. lQDd y IO-
sitiOn makes it necessary that her pOlit-
zeal relations with us should differ from
her political relations with other power S.
Ih1s fact has been formulated by us ana
accepted by the Cubans in the Plat
amendments.
Pleads for Justice to Island.
It follows as a corollary that where the
CubanS have thus assumed a position of
peculiar relationship to our political sys-
tenn they must similarly stand in a pecu-
lar relationship to our economic system.
We have rightfully insisted upon Cuba
adopting toward US an attitude differing
politically from that she adopts towards
any other power; and in return, as a
matter of right, we must give to Cuba
a different-a better position, economically
in her relations with us-than we give
to other powers. This is the course
dictated by sound policy, by wise and
FAR sighted view of our own interest,
and by the position we have taken dur
ing the past four years. We are
wealthy and powerful country, dealing
with a much weaker one; and the con-
trast in wealth and strength makes it
all the more our duty to deal with Cuba,
as we have already dealt with her, in
spirit of large generosity.
This exposition is rendered possible
because of the period of Industrial pros
perlty through which we are passing.
AS is inevitable in a time of business
prosperity, some men succeed more than
others, and it is unfortunately also in
eVltable that when this is the case some
unWlse people are sure to try to appeal
to the envy and jealousy of those who
succeed least 1t is a good thing when
these appeals are made, to remember that
while it is difficult to increase prosperi-
ty by law. it is easy enough to ruin it
and that there is small satisfaction to
the less prosperous if they succeed in
CverthroWing both in the more prosper
Gus and themselves in the crash of a
common disaster.
Great Problems Before Nation.
There are great problems before US.
They are not inSoluble: but they can be
solved only if we approach them in q
spirit of resolute fearlessness, of COM
mon sense and of honest intention to do
fair and equal justice to all men alike.
We are certain to fail if we adopt the
policy of the demagogue who raves
against the wealth which is simply the
form. of embodied thrift, foresight and
lnteIhgence; who would shut the door
of opportunity against those whose ener-
gY We should especially foster, by pen
alizing the qualities which tell for sue
cess. Just as little can we afford to fol-
low those who fear to recognize injuS-
tee and to endeavOr to cut it out be-
cause the task is difficult or even-if per-
formed by unskflled hands-dangerous
This is an era of great combinations,
beth of labor and capital. In many ways
these combinations have worked for
good; but they must work under the law,
and the laws concerning them must be
just and wise or they will inevitably do
evil; and this applies as much to the
| richest corporation as to the most power
full labor union.
Above all, the administration Of the
government, the enforcement of the
laws must be fair and honest. The laws
are to be administered simply in the
interest of justice to each man. be he
rich or be he poor-giving immunity to