New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20
WEST INDIAN COMPLICATIONS

The Western Hemisphere probably contains
at this time no more marked centre Of possible
trouble than the great West Indian island which
is occupied by the two republics of Dominica
and Hayd. or these two states the former has
had the more creditabe career, and is today
in by far the better condition. Yet even it is
scarcely to be regarded with entire satisfaction
or confidence. Its domestic peace is not as
sured It's foreign relations are by no means
free from danger of awkward complications.
AS for Hayu. there is a deplorably small
amount Of. good to be said Of 1t. Perhaps this
IS more its misfortune than its fault, for be-
yond doubt 1t has on many occasions been i'll
treated by powers that should have aided it
and led it into better ways. The fact remains
that its chronic condition, both domestic and
external, comes unpleasantly near to being in
tolerable.
a few days ago there appeared in the Cuban
press a uggestion-perhaps even more than
suggestion-that the island of SantO Domingo.
including both its republics, might well be, and
indeed should be- annexed to Cuba. At precise
~ the same time, too, the veteran chief of the
Cuban army. Maxine Gomez, went to Santo
Domingo. Between the two incidents there
may have been no connection. Gomez is
native Of Santo Domingo, and there Is moth
ing more natural than that he should revisit
his birthplace, without any Interior purpose;
all his life cherished the dream OF creating a
great West Indian confederation, comprising
Cuba, Santo Domingo. Porto Rico and the other
Islands. The publication in Cuba TO which we
have referred indicates that there are those in
that island who cherish a similar ambition.
There is no hint that the Cuban government
has any such fantastic plans. 1t is surely to be
hoped it has not That government is getting
along well in Cuba, and gratifying the friends
nj Is Ir,,Ia I,oA
ter than most people expected it could or would.
But it has enough work on hand and enough
problems still before it without butting into
any such hornets nest as 1t would find in its
eastern neighbor. We could indeed regard it
as little If anything short of suicidal for the
young Cuban Republic TO assume responsibility
for the potential chaos Of Hayti The strongest
nation in the world might we'll shrink from such
responsibility unless it were politically and
morally prepared to rule with a remorseIess
hand Of steel. In such an undertaking Cuba
could have little hope of any gain, and she
would incur the gravest danger of irrepara BILE
loss.
If it be asked what then, is to become Of
Santo Domingo, no statesman need blush to
hesitate to reply. So serious problem is not to
be solved offhand. 1t would at least seem better
for the two republics to continue indefinitely in
their present courses, alone and by themselves
than for Cuba to fasten them to her and run
the painfully probable risk of being dragged
down toward their level. or at any rate of being
disasrously hampered and halted in her now
suspicious progress. We can perhaps afford to
let Hayt and the Dominican Republic stew
in their own juice" but we could not afford to
see Cuba immersed in the same wretched mess
The ultimate disposition of Santo Domingo is a
bridge which IT may be difficult to cross, but
which We need not cross until we come to It,
Meantime nothing could give that island a bet
ter chance and a stronger impulse for self-re
demption than the influence and example Of its
two next neighbors, Cuba on the one side pros
pering in insular self-g government and Porto
Rico on the other, also prospecting under Ameri-
can sovereignty.