The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-09-23

- HE present insurrection in Cuba can
have afforded no surprise to practical
students of political history, nor to
hose conversant with the current Of Iolit-
cal and commercial affairs in the island
ince the establishment Of the republic. We
have In Cuba two distinct sets Of causes
initiating against the maintenance of the
republican form of government These
rauses are similar to those which pre-
vented the prosperity of Mexico under a
popular form Of government and found a
satisfactory solution In dictatorship
and those which In Hawaii led to the
nsurpation of power by the men In whom
.entered the intelligence and wealth OF
the lslands- The Cubans have no genius
for government. They know neither how
TO govern, nor how to be governed. 1t is
no more than natural that such should
be the case. They have neither had OPP
portunity to practice the art OF admins
tration nor an example by which they
might benefit. They lack entirely the
motive power and the balance that more
stable communities find in an Intelligent
public opinion. With the exception OF q
love Of liberty, which In Its undisci-
plfned state Is little more than a love OF
license, the Cubans as a people are
wholly deficient In the necessary qualIfi-
cations for the conduct and maintenance
Of republican form OF government.
History affords no instance of a people
ignorant Of anything but misrule having
established a peaceful and permanent
government without passing through a
long period Of more or less turbulent for
nation. There Is no reason for supposing
that Cuba will furnish an exception to
this rule. On the contrary, 1t Is more
than probable that IL the present insur-
rection Is suppressed 1t will be followed
by another before the expiration Of
President Palma's term Of office. Ulti-
mately, armed Intervention on the part
of the United States will surely become
necessary and few thoughtful persons be-
ueve that the Stars and Stripes. IL once
again raised in Cuba. will ever be low
cred. Either OF two contingencies may
defer such q contamination for q period
the seizure Of the reins Of power by
Diaz. or the occupancy Of the White
House by a Democratic president The
other set OF causes. whilst slower in their
operation. will be surer in their eventual
effect Cuba Is today In much the same
situation as was Hawaii at the time OF
the annexation. The wealth and re-
sources of the former are In the hands
OF foreigners. as were those of the latter.
The regeneration OF Cuba Is due mainly
t. American capital. which has unceas-
lngly flowed into the island In enormous
quantities since its emancipation from
Spain. The American interests In the
island today represent an investment lit
tie, II at all. short of S1oO, 900. 900. The
vast sugar and tobacco industries are
largely In American hands and American
Or other foreign capital controls the
manufactures, the railroads. the banks
and practically all the important enter
prises. The natives are the admins
traitors, the officials and the iaborers;
foreigners are the proprietors of the
country. There are today 20. 900 or more
Americans owning real estate In Cuba,
for which they have paid upwards of
$50. 600, 600.
The desire of these foreigners TO see
the island in the possession of the United
States Is easily understood 1t Is not
merely a sentiment by any means. but Is
mainly due to material considerations. The
prosperity that has accrued from reciproc-
ity Is only a promise and a gauge of what
will result from annexation and free trade
with the United States. In 1904 Cuba ex-
ported to the United States sugar to the
value of over $50, ooo. 600 and tobacco to
the value of nearly s13. 600 600. the duty
q these items alone, IL saved. would form
the planters. Whilst these Interest," have
every Involvement to expedite factors that
would tend to the accomplishment OF an