The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
The Sawdust Doll.

president Roosevelt and his advisers
ray give these people another doll. But
thank God. wo Americans down here
have learned how 20 Jet tho sawdust out
or it'
The remark was not az an mysterious.
The ease with which revolution may he
started In Cuba and thc promptness with
which the President Of tie United States
vii send down au army and governor
o. bring about order and quiet were
somcW hat in the nature Of revelations.
even to Americans resident IN Cub
They arc not uneasy any more. They
Lave. in truth. found the secret OF let
ting the sawcust our OF the doll
The cuban government Was never taken
seriously by Americans living IN cuba.
u was never one 70 command the re-
spect of people used 20 a strong and
stable adm.nistra tion. Tn time. the
methods of administration caused the
Spaniard. and even the more substantial
of the cuhans. 20 lose Whatever Of re-
spect they had FOR their government and
conhdence in its stability.
There may ~ a new Cuban republic
There VIII never be a republic of Cuba
resting upon lasting fomdation-not IN
our time.
Americans at home have not learned
the truth about Cuba and the Cubans.
the island. it's people IT'S government
them iu the course OF the past ten years
but the greater portion OF the knowledge
ecQuircd was incorrect Americans have
Judged Cubans by American standards.
81 is true. bur judgment has been passed
without correct knowledge Of Cuban
character.
The average Cuban has not the faint
est conception Of the duties Of citizen
ship as such duties are universally con-
ccivcd in America He has not that con-
ception ~ the objects Of government and
the duties Of those charged with the ad-
n;nistrati0n OF public affairs which OBJ
tains among all classes in English-speak-
ing countries
The average cuban does not realize
that he owes any duty To- his govern
mcnt lie can scarcely realize that his
government owes any duty to him other
than 20 give him opportunity to live at
the expense OF the public treasury
The average Cuban official honestly be-
hevoy he is justified in exercising every
vesSge Of power conferred by his of5ce
iTi retaining that office. even though he
is discharginEe it's duties solely in the
interest OF himself and tho party which
put him in power. Those who woulI
attain TO a correct view OF Cuban condi-
tlons should realize. first Of an this mos
obvious ana all-important fact
Tho Cuban does not recognize tho right
gard the minority az possessing solitary
right which the majority is bound to
respect. To the average Cuban Edmund
Burkes splcnJidly defiant assertion OF
the rights of the minority in government
IS as meaningless as a nonsense rhyme
written in Volapuk.
Opposed to Palma.
There can be no doubt that "A ma
4cTity OF the people of Cuba were op-
yesed to tho recollection Of President
Palma last year. Had they been allowed
20 express their opinions at the polls the
Palma administration would have been
overwhelmingly defeated. But the adj
ninistration % few days prior to the
elections. clsppcd into jaiI AN election
officers belonging To- the opposition. or
Liberal, party. and filled their places with
members Of the Moderate or admins
tration. party. thus Illustrating the aver
agc Cuban officials belief that an the
power Of his office may justly be used TO
keep him ln that Office
President Palma WAS rc-clcctcd. and
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