Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-10
Cuban Revolution.

Cuban Revolution.
The revolt in Cuba was undoubtedly
caused by the high-handed proceedings
and apparent frauds perpetrated by the
Palma administration ut the national
election in 1905. The Liberals claim
they were in the majority, but the gov
eminent had the counting of the votes
and the police and rural guards to
protect those who committed the cleo
ton frauds. The Americans interested In
the island and the Spaniards and the
Canadian-owned railroad corporation
were for the Palma administration, and
it is claimed by the Liberals that much
money was used to corrupt the elect
crate. These same interests, or at least
some of them, are said to have insti-
gated and encouraged the revolution, as
they desired American intervention, to
be followed by American annexation.
Evidently more than half = probably
| three-fourths-of the people of Cuba
are opposed to the Palma government.
The question for the people Of the
United States to decide is, do we want
| to annex Cuba? for that is what inter-
| vention means. 1t will take years of
education and good government to bring
the mass of the Cuban people up to the
standard where they can govern them
selves, as we understand free govern
ment in the United States.
President Roosevelt in his letter to
the Cuban politicians jumps at the con-
clusion that: whoever is responsible
for armed revolution and outrage, who
ever is responsible in any way for the
condition of the affairs t:lat now OBJ
tains, is an enemy of Cuba" That view
would hardly seem just to the Liberals,
who at first only demanded fair deal
and a new election in place Of the
farce of an election that was held in
1905. The administration, the army
and the courts were all in the hands of
the Palma administration. and to ap-
peal to the law would have been use
less. When people are cheated of their
just rights they would be unworthy
of freedom If they did not fight for
them. The fact that the Liberals are
willing to fight rather than submit to
injustice is the redeeming feature of
the situation. Men seldom fight unless
they feel they have been grossly
wronged and have no other means Of
redress.
The Americans who went to Cuba to
exploit that land did so with their eyes
open. The profits were large and they
took chances, but the people of the
United States will not feel like uphold
ing an unpopular government in Cuba
or annexing the island, merely to give
these explolters greater proportion of
profits than they are rightly entitled to.
The Spaniards who remained In the
island after the withdrawal of the
Spanish forces are in the same boat.
There will be no peace in Cuba, even if
annexed by the United States, unless
the government is backed by majority
Of the people and is administered for
the welfare of gil the people, instead of
the few who practice fraud to perpetu-
4 ate their power. The forces of the
4 United States must not be used to back
up an oTigaFeny Is + BANKERS and specn.
lators whose sole interest is to exploit
tile natural riches Of Cuba and who
fear the rule of the people there, MS
the similar class fears government by
the people In the United States.
i The sending of the Secretary of War
and Assistant Secretary of State to
Cuba to probe conditions there will be
only valuable If the real facts are dis
covered; but Havana is poor place
to examine the real conditions, for all
the Liberal leaders there have been i'm
prisoned by Palma or have sought safe
ty in seclusion. All the elements that
support the de facto government of
Cuba are conferred at Havana, and 1t is
only by investigation elsewhere that
the real conditions can be solved.
The advice Of Assistant Secretary Of
State Bacon will be looked upon with
suspicion, for his connection with the
]. P. Morgan bank and its well-known
trust and corporation connections, with
Its probable participation with Cuban
exploitation, would make him an inter-
ested adherent of the Palma junta, that
has given SO great dissatisfaction.
| The American people want facts fair
ly gathered and they will surely get
them in due time, and to hoodwink
them will be dangerous to the hood
wlnkers.