The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-18
LITTLE AMERICANS IN SMALL
BUSINESS.


ton Of the smallness of some Americans.
The fact that the movement is led by
democrats shows also the desperation with
which that party is seeking an issue a few
days ago there was a great outcry over the
discovery that Governor Wood had paid out
money for the circulation of literature in
the United States favoring reciprocity with
Cuba, and now there is a similar cutlery
over the fact that during the last two
years and pending the establishment OF the
Cuban government General Gomez, the
leader of the revolution and the idol Of the
people, has been paid an annual stipend in
lieu OF the pay to which he was entitled
and of the pension which the Cuban Con-
gress has recently granted him. Those who
are expressing Indignation over these ex-
penditures pretend to regard them as in
decent, currupt and violative Of some law
or implied obligation. They were nothing OF
the kind. So far from this being true they
were justified by every consideration of
good faith, good policy and true statesman
ship. They were intended 10 promote the
very objects for which the United States
was in Cuba, namely, the pacifcation OF
the island and the establishment of stable
government, and are entirely defensible as
a part OF this policy. The presence of the
United States in Cuba was only justifable
on military grounds, and its government
there was not subject TO any law except
that OF a faithful discharge of a great trust.
1t was not acting under the Constitution
or the laws of the United States. 1t was a
law unto itself. its only pledge being to
pacify the island after liberating and to as
sist the people in establishing a govern
ment of their own. In the accomplishment
of these ends it was authorized to use the
largest DISCRETION and exercise whatever
power might be deemed necessary. No gov
eminent ever had more difficult situation
to deal with than that which existed in
Cuba after the expulsion of the Spaniards.
There was an army Of unpaid soldiers
flushed with a victory which many of them
thought they had won themselves. and
many of whose leaders would readily have
fought the Americans. To bring about the
disarmament of this army was a work of
great difficulty. In the latter part of 1895
General Gomez forwarded TO Washington
demand for $57,OOO,OOO as the condition
precedent of disbandment. This sum was
fixed upon by a Cuban assembly consisting
of delegates from the army. They de-
manded pay for three years service at the
rates prevailing in the army of the United
States. President Mckinley sent special
commissioner to Cuba to negotiate with
General Gomez and an agreement was
finally reached by which the United States
was to pay 100000 instead of $4,000, 900
The former sum was placed subject to the
order of General Brooke, then military
Governor, to be distributed among officers
and men, pro rata. The muster rolls con-
tanned the names of 5000 commissioned of
fcers and 1900 noncommissioned officers
and privates. OF the 100000 appropriated
81, 10000 was spent and the remaining $780,
600 was turned back into the United States
treasury. To bring about the peaceable
/ disarmament of the Cuban army under
/ the circumstances was great achievement
If General Gomez was paid liberal stipend
for two years it was a fine stroke of states
manship to thus secure his cooperation il
! the establishment of constitutional govern
ment. Equally justifable was the expendi
ture of money in putting the case of Cubar
reciprocity before the American people il
its true light General Wood says it never
occurred to him to doubt his right to spend
a reasonable sum of money in this way il
the interest of the Cuban people. My posi-
tion," he says, was Identical with that 81
/ the trustee of an estate who finds it IN
cumbent upon himself to refute unjus
claims upon the estate upon which he il
called to administer. Any man would b,
false TO his trust who did not do all in hi
power to contest such claims, and that il
all did" The secretary OF war, who is {
better lawyer than any of those who ar,
attacking the administration. says there Il
not a particle of doubt as to the legalit,
and propriety Of these expenditures, and h,
assumes the whole responsibility and chal
| lenges investigation.
The men who are making an outer,
about these expenditures are small Ameri
cans engaged in small business. In trying I,
pick flaws in our military Administrative
in Cuba they overlook great results an,
affect indignation over isolated acts which
besides being unimportant. are perfect!
justihable. Instead Of trying to pick flaw
in our administration in Cuba these nttl
Americans should join with the rest of tn
world in praising it's splendid results.
/