New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-16
THREE WORDS on CUBA.

President Palma's message to the Cuban
Congress is the utterance of a serious states
man, and is a correct presentation Of the facts
OF this unhappy and disastrous conflict as the
world knows them. 1t contains precisely the
indictment OF the rebels which has hitherto
been set forth in these columns. That is, they
refused 10 submit 10 the suffrages OF the nation
they voluntarily and purposely abstained from
participation in the general elections and they
then organized & wicked effort to win by vio-
lence ans crime that which they could not or
would not secure by lawful means. If that is
not true statement OF the case. the world has
been most surprisingly misinfOrmed.
Nor is such possible misinformatlon in the
least corrected by the proclamation made to
the ENTHUSIASTICALLY 10 the constitutional
army" OF rebels and brigands-by General T.
l. de Castillo. That extraordinary document
is quite characteristic of this whole revolution
airy business. II contains not a single explicit
statement Of grievances not one fact which
would enable observer 10 determine what
the trouble is all about or to form any juds-
ment as TO the merits OF the case. 1t is moth
ing but bit OF Overheated rhetoric, chiefly OF
the invective order. Fine words, we are told
butter no parsnips. and mere rawlings about die
tators.' "usurpatOrs." bloody electoral farces."
and the ike convince no thoughtful mind Of
anything but the feverishness of their author
eASANofSAs AAS aNAuoA PNA pOAk VI BUN
ments as the insurgents have made is to dis
credit them. II the great majority of the Cuban
people were opposed 20 a continuance OF the
Palma administration, why did they not 90 to
the polls and make their will known and eff
fectiye? II is quite prepOsterous 10 say that
they were ''strangled by armed forces" The
Cuban government has not and never had any
armed forces" sufficient TO overcome the pOpu-
lar will. This patter OF the rebels is OF a piece
x.-gTl he -
that there were million men in arms in Ire
land ready 10 sweep the British army into the
sea. "Then why don't you do it," Faith, be-
cause the police won't let u.s.
President ROOsevelts letter 10 Se1or Quesada
Is instinct IN every line with sincerity and
craftsmanship, with such benevOlence toward
Cuba was 20 be expected from the man who
personally did so much for the liberation OF
that country. and with a prudent and solemn
yet unfinching realization and assertion OF the
rights and duties OF this country in the mat
Ter. The President makes It plain that nothing
cave one thing could be more distasteful TO this
country than Intervention in Cuba that other
one thing being the need OF Intervention. II Is
20 be remembered that the United States went
into Cuba in 1898. not primarily 10 expel the
Spanish govenment-which in fact this coun-
try had protected and maintained there FOR
many years-but 10 restore peace and 20 estab-
nsh a government adequate for the protection
OF life, property and individual liberty II ex-
PEELED the Spanish only as a necessary means 10
that end. IL would be a mOnstrous BETRAYAL
now TO let Cuba relapse into and continue I'm
the very state from which we then rescued II.
A war Of desolation waged by Cubans against
Cubans would he as intOerabe as one waged
by Cubans against Spaniards. II was because
Spain did not and could not maintain n gov
eminent adequate 10 the protection OF life prop
erty and individual liberty that this country
interviewed. IT. most unhappily. # should be
compelled TO Intervene again, it would be be-
cause the Cubans themselves fail 10 maintain
such a government.
We cannot be persuaded that we shall be com.
PEELED 10 intervene. We cannot believe that
those whom President Roosevelt well describes
as enemies OF Cuba. the American and other
spectators who seek sordid gain in the sub
version OF Cuban autonomy, VIII be able 10