The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-31
PRESIDENTS HURRIED RETURN.
Spends Almost Entire Day Over Dis.
patches From Havana.

Oyster Bay, .I.APresidentR Roose'
velt, who had been absent witnessing
target practice of the fleet, returned
to Oyster Bay on the Mayflower al
1890 a. m, ahead of the time he
was scheduled to arrive. 1t Is under
stood that the Cuban situation tnf1u'
enced the President to hasten his re-
turn. Assistant Secretary Latta
went at once to Sycamore Hill with
lengthy cables from Havana.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt,
with Ethel, Archie and Quentin, left
Sycamore Hill for Washington at 9
o'clock a. M, arriving at the White
House at 4.15 o'clock in the after.
noon.
The President had met his neigh.
bors on several occasions during the
summer and it was his wish that no
special notice be taken Of his depart'
ure. The station was roped of and
the official goodbye for the village
was said by a committee of citizens.
The Foreign Offices of Great Brit
ain. Germany and France approve
the decision of the United States to
take charge of the Cuban Government
until order is restored.
Conditions Which Forced edInterVention
When the United States, in Janu.
ary, 1899, assumed control of the at.
fairs Of the Island of Cuba 1t was
bound by specific pledge, made by
Congress, as follows:
"That the United States hereby
disclaims any disposition or intent to
exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or
control over said island, except for
the pacifcation thereof, and asserts
its determination, when that Is &C
complished, to leave the government
and control Of the island to its peo.
ple."
When, in conformity with the
above pledge, the Government was
transferred to the people OF Cuba,
May 20, 1902, the following right
was reserved by Article Ill. of the
Platt amendment: 80. q, :
"'That the Government of Cuba
consents that the United States may
exercise the right to intervene for the
preservation Of Cuban independence,
the maintenance Of government ad-
equate for the protection Of life,
property and individual liberty and
for discharging the obligations with
respect to Cuba imposed by the
Treaty of Paris on the United States,
now to be assumed and undertaken
by the Government Of Cuba"
For the reason that the island has
fallen into state clearly within the
above provisions it has become the
duty Of this country to play once
more the part of the friend and pro-
tector of Cuba. The established
Government has confessed It's in
ability to maintain peace and order
and afford due protection to life and
property. President Palma's ap-
peals to Washington for American
aid have been insistent. A state
of anarchy existed and the condi-
tions grew worse and more hopeless
day by day. The President replied
to Palma's appeals and the COM
plants and protests Of property
owners by sending Secretary Taft
and Assistant Secretary Bacon as
Investigators, advisers and pacifica.
tors. The Cuban leaders failed to
agree and refused to compromise.
The step taken by the American
peace commissioner was the only
course possible. Further delay was
impossible. A dark cloud of ruin
overhung the great productive in
dustries, on which the very life Of
the island and the people depends.
Nearly twenty thousand men in arms
were living by the seizure of cattle,
hogs and poultry belonging to the
large planters and the small farm
ers. Thousands Of working oxen
had been slaughtered already.
Thousands of peasants, who by
patient toll had restored their: little
farms, wrecked by the last revolu-
ton, were once again destitute. With
a complete realization of the serious
ness Of the step and clear apprecia-
ton of the disastrous results Of fur
ther delay Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bacon,
with the full approval Of President
Roosevelt, pronounced the verdict.
There is every reason to believe that
ninety per cent. OF the people of
Cuba heartily indorse and approve
Intervention.