The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-11

IL looks as II President Palma, of Cuba,
may achieve high place in history. AS the
first President of a new republic. created
under unusual conditions. he would, in any
event, occupy an interesting place in his
tory, but there are indications that he may
do more than that. He is developing a de-
gree of character, of patriotism, of cour-
ageous conviction and of high purpose quite
unusual in men of the Latin race and If he
continues in his present course history
may record of Cuba, IL has of the United
States. that her first President was her
greatest one. 1t is comparatively easy for
great men to follow where a greater has led
and blazed the way. We have had some
great Presidents, but all of washingtons
successors have been content to emulate
the standard he established without claim
ing to reach it.
1t seems almost providential that the Gu
bans should have elected for their first Pres
ident a man who. identified with one of her
early wars for independence, should have
been for twenty years separated from insu-
lar politics and resident of the United
States. where he became thoroughly Amer
icanized. In his long period of American res
idence Senior Palma must have become ia
mliar with Washingtons record and with
the profound generation in which he is held
by Americans Who knows but he is trying
to steer his course by Washington's exam
pie? He certainly has shown much of the
same disposition to keep aloof from party
and factionaI alliances and IN davota oil bic
efforts to establishing the new government
on stable foundation Party spirit is run
ming PRETTY high in Cuba, but President
Palma absolutely refuses to be known as an
adherent of either party and selects his as
sistants. counselors and appontees from
either or both with sole reference to the
public welfare as he sees it. He is trying to
serve the country and not party. In a re-
cent authorized interview he said:
L am a stubborn man with respect to
whatever refers to my patriotic duties, and
L discharge them without party passions or
struggles influencing my mind. / am not
holding this post for ostentation, nor was 1
led to it by anything else than my patriot
ism. / want the country to support me, and
the politicians to comprehend well that as
man OF experience, l adapt my procedure
TO what is necessary to a people beginning
independent llIe L. am Urm In my purposes,
and look only to the strengthening of the
republic, in which / have faith; and when
existence bends me toward the grave /
have no other aspiration than to reach it
having made my country happy and left il
prosperous.
He said further that the people knew his
programme before they elected him, and
that nothing could induce him to swerve
from it; that he did not care for either
party, as such. but that he found patriotic
and high-minded men in both; that he
would not take the risk of leaning on any
party. but would lean on the people 1T
trust in the people," he said, "in the
masses who are greedy for tranquility, who
aspire to absolute peace that they may
work: 1 trust in this docile. intelligent and
patriotic people. who, tired of political per-
turbations, violent changes. unexpected evo-
lutions. are ready material, the principal
element for rendering the republic firm"
He declared that he did not come to Cuba
to be either Liberal or National. but to
solidify the republic. and that. every moment
of his term of office should be given to that
work. There is a strong demand for a ma
tional lottery in Cuba. President Palma has
given notice that If the bill passes he will
veto il. To quote his language:
Undoubtedly will veto IT, / have the con-
viction that / would be obeying my con-
science. / must maintain here the creeds
that made me a revolutionary. When We
raised our flag against Spain in 1868 one of
the things that made me hate the govern
ment was the lottery, and the lottery here
has continued repugnant 10 me the same as
everywhere. The lottery is a source of reve-
nue. to the state, but the money collected
thereby is almost a hold-up. Nothing is
more immoral than for the country TO be a
great bank in which the lottery figures
The lottery reduces the moral level of a
people: Ii seems 20 have been invented for
an indolent people where men do not love
work. No; the lottery would be a return TO
the past. which would hurt me very much
1 shall have unequivocally TO oppose IL.
This has the ring of conviction and cour-
age. 1t is evident that Cuba is fortunate in
her first President. and If the Cubans will
give him second term he may leave be-
hind him record that will make them re-
gard him as their Washington
Yesterday brought a reminder of a great
coming event Cor indianapolis in the visit
CT the directors of winona Assembly, who
are also backing the National Technical In
stitute to be established here The visiting