New-York tribune., 1906-09-27
ENGLAND AND CUBA.
Critical Comments Based on Prdc-
tical Experience in Empire Building.
London. Sept. 10.

British opinion on the Cuban question is sym
pathetic toward America, yet criucal "lli"'
President Roosevelt IS credited with Caution
arrnness and presence OF mind in avoiding pre-
mature intervention encouragement OF an
n.xation and in warning the factions that they
must settle their differences and set their house
in order. Yet it is easy TO read between inc
lines OF the leading articles liz the Enghsh press
that the writers do not expect the CUBAN ne
nublic 10 retain its independence nor the Aiheri-
can army 10 remain out OF the island Nor Is II
difficult 10 understand why Englshmen' "hi'e
doing full Justice 10 the disinterested action OF
the American government in rescung Cuo"
from nisgovernment and then leaving II to work
-. de- ou-n salvation consider that optimism
has overreached itself and that failure is new
table They have their own method or lmpeIl0l
exnansion and Il was not followed in Cuoa anu
naturally they are not astonished when evidence
is supplied that what they have regarded as d
rash experiment is not working weA' ana li'@s
some substitute may have 70 be rouho lor IL -
they had sent al army into the isiahu anu
brought Spanish sovereignty TO an enc 'heS
uouId have accepted full responsibility Tor re-
forming the administration ana improving the
condition OF the people. They would not have
xv1thdrawn the garrison nor have taken the
risks OF a renewal OF anarchy and internecine
.+rsfa English writers for the press do not con-
n.oi their opinion that the Americans made a
.sr,ous mistake IN their settlement OF the Cuban
question after the war. and that they will have
20 pay the penalty for excessive generosity ana
undue confidence In the capacity OF the Spanish
yac. for self-government. They are not often
sdve IN obrruding their views but II is plain that
they are convinced that the Americans have
brought unnecessary trouble upon themselves.
The English people have had their experience
su Egypt, and have learned that pledges mace
for sentimental reasons are likely 10 become
source OF serious embarrassment Egypt In the
SOS was In a state OF anarchy, and since the
Susz Canal was the highway 10 India II was
necessary chas order should be restored for the
security OF the empire. The Gladstone govern
man, undertook 20 reassure the world respect
,ns .ha unselashness of English motives by
rrorn.s,nx that the troops should be w1thora"h
as sooa as the rebellion against the khediVeS
authority had been suppressed and the country
was at peace These pledges never nave oeeh
redeemed. and British ministry VIII ever
tuink Of carrying Them into erect as a hlaI'et
Of public faith. British occupation mas Deeh
,ust.ded by the successful administrative re-
forms and the withdrawal Of the garrison Woulo
be little short Of crime against civilization.
English rnoralists when confronted with the
evidence that solemn pledges have been violated.
been made by the Gladstone government and the
empire committed thereby to an impossible
course of action Occupation of the country
was necessary on imperial grounds. and as they
now sum up the case there should have been no
apologfes for II nor any protestations of supe-
,ior virtue. Altruism should have come after
occupation and the world should have been
spared the platitudes and attitudes with which
the suppression of Arabrs revolt was preceded
Intervention was urgently required. and there
was no alternative for II; and Notwithstanding
the record Of broken pledges Dr1rlsn admlnIstra-
ton in Egypt has been unmixed gain TO civ
iization-
According to current ideas in England. Ameri-
cans at the outbreak Of the Cuban war repeated
the error of the Gladstone government in max
ing unnecessary pledges and committing the ma
tion 10 an impracticable and barren policy. In
stead of accepting full responsibility for the gov
eminent of the island. England had done in
Egypt the Washington government redeemed its
promises, withdrew the garrison and left the
Cubans without an administration of their own
which would be likely 10 be effective or perma-
nent. English censors admit that there could
not have been a finer exhibition OF magnanfmity
and virtue in redressing wrongs without COM
pensation or reward and in carrying out the
plighted faith Of the nation; yet they are con-
strained TO add that there would have been a
more practical display of altruism and good
sense II the pledges had been omitted and the
Americans had accepted without reservation
their responsibilities and justified their inter
vention by the restoration Of order and prosper
fly. The English people not without sympa-
thy for liberal causes and national movements
as has been proved in the struggles for the in.
dependence Of Greece. the unity Of Italy and the
redemption Of Armenia They are sensitive
when they are reproached for violating theil
pledges in Egypt, beneficent have been the