The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-17
THE NEW CUBA.
American Fingers in Cuoas Affairs.

uallo selooH taxes an ot1clal steP "i'"o"'
listening carefully, before taking 1t, lor
echoes from the United States. II may be
that some day Cubas exact political status
will be more clearly understood by ootn
Cubans and Americans, than 1t now is'
Americans will then realize that, aslele
from few specified provisions, CUBA
relation to the United States is quite the
same as that of Mexico. Cubans will realize
that aside from those provisions, the
United States has no more right OF inter-
ference. direct or indirect, in Cuban affairs
than it has in Mexican affairs. AS matter
Of fact, any other attitude is distinctly DIS
creditable to both. From any other point
OF view the United States stands in the
light Of a meddler, If not Of bully. while
Cuba appears as weakling bringing in
fear Of the opinion or the act Of her stronger
nei hbor.
The value of a rurnor sometimes lies IN
its shadow rather than in its substance.
few days ago it was quietly whispered
in political circles in Havana that Cuban
just returned from Washington had re-
ported an interview with President Roose-
welt during which Mr.. Roosevelt had said
that he would have no other President OF
Cuba than Estrada Palma, and that to
secure that end he would if necessary, send
a naval squadron to Cuban waters on the
day Of the election. This utterly ridiculous
story was passed quietly on from one to
another, and actually found enough be-
| levers to give it a certain currency In
various milder forms this silly idea OF
American interference in Cuba's Presiden-
tial campaign is made to play its part in
the processes Of that campaign. There are
many who believe that American official
influence will be exerted on the ground that
MIR. Palma is far more pro-American than
his opponent, Gen. Jose Miguel Gomez.
Much Of this sort Of thing is used, of course,
| for mere political effect. The pity Of 1t is
that there are many who really believe that
something of the sort will be done.
At the root Of this idea there lies the In
ability of the Cubans to read, even yet,
| the Plat Amendment, particularly Article
| III. in accordance with the construction
| placed upon that instrument by its trainers.
On April 3, 1901, Mr.. Root, then Secretary
of War. cabled to Gen. Wood as follows:
you are authorized to state officially that
in the view of the President Mr.. Mckinley
the Intervention described in the third
clause Of the Platt Amendment is not syn
onymous with intermeddling or interior
ence with the affairs OF the Cuban Govern
ment.' Despite American official state
ments and unofficial aas RANGES egarding
the attitude of the United States toward
Cuba, many Cubans believe that Gen. Wood
was an active fore in Cuba's election, as
he d ubtless was. and that the United States
will. with similar directness, concern
itself in the second election. Regarding
Estrada Palma as the choice of Washing
ton, there are those who believe it useless
and unwise to oppose him. This card is
also played by unscrupulous political lead
ers for purely political effect. The argu-
ment, however, cuts both ways. There are
some who will vote against MIR. Palma be-
cause of their belief that he is to be forced
upon the country by American influence.
1t was quite natural that, in the opening
days of Cubas life as a self-governing
nation, some Difference was paid to the
views and opinions OF Washington official
dom. But the tendency thus to defer should
have lessened with the advancing months.
1t should have been. by this time. practically
eliminated, leaving Cuba in her official
conduct as independent of American opinion
as she is OF English or German. That this
is not the case is due. to no small extent. to
the fact that many Americans have for
gotten that their own Congress declared
that "Ct,ha is and Of night ought to be free
and independent" They appear to labor
under the conviction that these words were
meaningless, and that despite them Cuba
is in some way dependency of the United
States, to be run primarily in the interest
OF American citizens. and that any American
who wants anything in or from Cuba has
full right to demand il and valid reason to
think that he should get it.
Subject to the few conditions for which
provision is made in the Plat Amendment,
it is best that Cuba be left absolutely free
to work out her own salvation. Her people
should understand. and should he made to
understand, that in no way and through
no agency will the United States play any
more part in the present campaign than it
played in the late elections in Venezuela,
Colombia and Mexico They should I'M
ders;and that in their courts and in their
legislative proceedings Americans stand
on no higher and no other footing than do
the people of other nations. For Ameri-
cans to ask or to expect special advantages
beyond those lawfully established by means
of treaties is to abuse a courtesy and to
demand a greater payment for services
rendered to a weak Power than would be
expected or demanded from strong Gov
eminent. Cuba is loath to refuse any call
made upon her by the United States or by
any of its citizens. For that very reason
the greatest care should be exercised in
presenting claims or requests. Above all,
Americans should keep absolutely clear
of Cuban politics. There should be neither
direct meddling nor indirect influence.
During the next few months Cuba has
to work out desperately tangled po-
litical situation. She must work it out in
her own way She has many problems of
policy and Of administ ration to solve. She
will best solve them along her own lines.
Unless there shall come distinct infrac-
ton Of the provisions Of the Plat Amend
ment, America and Americans should hold
themselves so far aloof from any interfer-
ence with Cuban affairs that it will be i'm
possible for any Cuban to charge or insinu-
ate that American hands have essayed po-
ltical manip ulation Of insular affairs
Butter Is Awfully Yellow In Springfield.
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