The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-25

The Cuban republic is pHssi!is - 49, 80
Z, ~, neriod. On the one hand we
nre told that the Liberals at ei ' A'' &
r,,ottod 10 use dynamite extensively II IL 'l NJ
,a.,,,, ~ he elections did not suit thein'
m the other hand the Liberals OF ' iis-
4yana while admitting u complete VIZ
tory for President Palmats PartS-'-. ~
Moderates-say that their men o'o ny
NJ because administrator policemen
stationed at the polls pre'veelht'cul 'ie''
from doing so.
,rhe success Ut a republic depends
iron these two essentials---fair ana non '
81 elections and loyal acceptance OF ING
resn,t Nv the minority. Every election
in a sense, a revolution. me ' t{n =
nrf.ce Of those in control expires by
Nv, i,a.icn, and all questions involved
10 back to the people Each side proessui-
Eates a platform Of principles anu puss
ss, car4idatcs to represent It's prlncl-
rlqs and policios An election is hela on
"A day agreed upon, and the battle OF tlle
s8yo,a goes on from sun to. sun. me
Z ballots arc then counted and the re-
sllt declared One side wins and the
Iot,,.r loses, and the revolution" comes
ID an end The battle is fought WIN
ballots instead Of with bullets, and there
is no hloodshcd
But all this presumes, as we nave saiul
that the election is fair and honest ana
tint the minority Is willing to accept the
result OF the peaceable arbtrament, u
the elections are not fairly and honestly
conducted; IL one side undertakes to In
timldate or ITO cheat the other side; or
IL. In spite OF fair and honest elections
the minority refuses to accept the result,
sooner or later tho revolution WIZ 20
actual war and bullets instead of ballots
will DO USED 10 test the relative strength n
Of The hostile factions. In some OF the
so.caled republics Of South America 1t Is
said that an election Is always a farcical
formallty, and that the party In control
OF the election machinery Invariably
carries the election" no matter how
the ballots are cast. Therefore, sooner
or later, the outs take up arms and en-
force their rights, Hence the frequent
bloody revolutions In that land OF hot
heads, But even II the elections were
fair and honest. there would stu be
bloody revolutions II the minority refused
to "bow TO the will Of the majority"
In every successful republic there must
be In the hearts OF tho people the spirit
OF manly concession obedience to law
and respect for government and the III
stltutions OF government.
The Cuban republic is on trial, and it,
success viii depend not upon its consti'
tuition, its institutions and its officials
but upon the body polite; upon The
character OF the people. for the people
are the republic, and be 1t remembered
that 1.-THE people" are composed OF In
dyldual units, and SO In tho final nnnly
sis II comes down to u matter OF ind
yldual character, a matter of individual
II elf-government, a form OF government
may be maintained In Cuba even though
the people individually and collectiyel
may be lacking In these qualifications; bu
1t will not DO popular government ]
will be Russian government. In n renuh
lie the government cannot be better tina
the people Themselves The people mus
be capable Of ruling themselves, throug
their chosen servants, or they must hay
s,sing 10 rule over them aud delegal
their powers Internationally TO him, IT
destin!es OF the Cuban republic are
tho keeping of tho body polite.