The Washington herald., 1906-12-11
What About CubaP

fun week Of the last session of the
Fifty-ninth Congress has passed into his
tory, and not a, word has been uttered
by any of its members on the always en-
gaging and nearly always vexing oues-
ton Of Cuba. Interesting developments
have occurred in Cuba since the national
lawmakers were last assembled. In a
previous Congress they enacted a statute,
after considerable travail establishing a
relationship between the United States
and Cuba that Is absolutely unique That
statute invested In the executive power
Of this government an authority and a
responsibility new and novel to our insti-
tutions. Having done this, the Congress
no longer feels obligated, apparently, to
make inquiry as to the state Of Cuba, or
TO ask for information as to how the
Executive trust is being executed.
Obviously, very little, If any, interest Is
longer felt by the people of the United
States in the governmental welfare Of
Cuba. At a cost Of many millions and
considerable bloodshed we freed Cuba
from the tyranny Of Spain and set up
down there a government modelled as
closely after our own as the circum-
stances would admit The Platt amend
ment bound Cuba to the United States IN
bonds that do not gan. That enactment
is an integral part of the organic law Of
the insular government. The Cubans.
then, can ask nothing more. provided. of
course, they are capable of administer
ing their affairs in the manner. prescribed
by US. But that they are capable OF do
ing this is open to serious question now.
as 1t has been from the beginning At
present the Cubans have no government
Of their own. Their status in the family
of nations is novel. Nationally and inter
nationally, It Is the republic of Cuba
under the provisional government Of the
United States" A greater number Of
United States soldiers are quartered in
Cuba to-day than in the Philippines.
There is constant disorder in the Philip
pines. and that archipelago IS territory
belonging to the United States" There is
no physical disorder In Cuba, and there
was precious little even when Cuba's un-
fit President, Estrada Palma. appealed
to the President Of the United States 10
exercise the military authority expressly
granted him in the PIatt amendment for
the restoration of public order and the
maintenance Of peace. In the extension
Of this authority, President Roosevelt
has, acting through the provisional gov
ernment established by his direction. dis
solved the Cuban Congress. Hence, there
IS now no legislative authority in the
Cuban republic All authority there
rests In the viii and wisdom OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt and is executed by his
provisional governor, Charles Z. Magoon.
Some questions are liable to arise be-
fore long about the payment of the extra
and unlooked-fOr expenses imposed upon
the United States by the necessity of our
sending a large part Of the regular army
70 Cuba for the restoration Of order and
the maintenance OF peace. We doubt
that President Roosevelt would feel in
clined to assume full responsibility for
putting all or a part of this cost upon
the Cubang. Undoubtedly, however. the
Cubans ought 10 regard Il as a high
privilege TO share their just proportion Of
the financial burden involved. Whether
they do or viii view the matter in this
light is open to question. Hence, II be-
hooves the Congress to begin an early
agitation Of the Cuban subject in all OF
its phases. Of which there are many
President ROosevelt's authority is ample,
his courage is superabundant, and his
initiative bold 10 the point Of audacity;
but the Congress ought not expect him to
do Il all.