The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-11-12


placed by revolutionary means and the
country distracted by civil war. The
turbulent condition of Mexico for fifty
years following it's independence is
Well known. The condition of anarchy
became so great that President Buch-
anan requested Congress to confer au-
thority on him to send in his discre-
ton, an army into Mexico. for the pro-
lection of the lives and property of
American residents; but this Congress
declined to do. Later, through our in
tervention, the French were required
to leave Mexico, but their departure
was followed by several years of civil
disorder, and the present successful
ruler of our neighboring republic came
into power by revolutionary methods.
The condition of affairs in Cuba does
not approach the disorders through
which Argentina, Chile and Mexico
have passed. and it becomes us to be
patient. forbearing and reasonable to-
ward this youngest of American repub-
lies.
There seems to be a widespread feel
ing in this country that if Cuba makes
another failure in government, the only
alternative will be annexation. This
conclusion takes it for granted that an
nexation is desirable and would be ad-
vantageous to the United States. Is not
this at least a debatable question? Let
us briefly make an examination Of it.
The considerations which enter into a
decision of this question are of two
kinds, political and economic.
The political considerations. Some of
these are the following:
1. How are we to annex Cuba? By
force and in violation of our public |
promises, or by the consent of it's peo- |
pie freely given? If by the latter
course then we must make the island !
Il part of the territory of the Union /,
and create out of it one or more States, |
for under no other conditions would the |
people of the island consent to annex |
alton. 1t is true, We could disregard |
their wishes and our own public declar-
atoms, make of Cuba a dependency and |
govern it as We do the Philippines or
Porto Rico. But are the American
people so enamored of that policy that
hey desire to complicate the unsolvei
problem by adding new obligations and
burdens in that direction?
2. Does Cuba contain a population
which it is desirable to Incorporate at
his time into our Union? Out Of its
1ne million six hundred thousand peo- Il
Die, only from one to two hundred
thousand have any scholastic educa- Il
ion. To the great mass of the voting i
population of today the common school Il
s an unknown institution. Il
3. a large proportion Of the popu-
alton is of negro or mixed blood. Cuba
vas the last of the American countries
% abolish slavery, the final act being
n 1887. With the negro problem in our
States pressing upon US for
'olution, and IF we are to accept the
conviction of one of their ablest and !
pest informed SENATOR'S a race war Is
here threatened. do we desire to ag-
yravate the situation by adding mil
ion more of the despised race TO our
5oting population?
/. The people of Cuba are almost n
heir entirety the adherents of one re-
fgious faith. The Catholics in the
United States are among our most pa
riotic and useful citizens, but it would
lot be desirable to have one or more
# our States composed entirely OF
hem. Our experience with Utah in the
government of hierarchy cautions US
% avoid, for our own civil peace and
,redit. further experiments in that di-
-ection.
5. The annexation of cuba without
he consent Of its people viii make nee
.ssary the employment there for some
years to come of a large contingent OF
our army. and ever by any method OF
annexation. for many Of its Poop have
1een in almost continuous instruction
,or years and II viii require strong
force to accusrom them to the
ways Of peace AMI Industry NJ ~ of
he peace-loving people Of the United
states Iamente1 the necessity in he
philippines which called for an Increase
! the army. and they will lament still
more a further inc~ease on account OF
he annexation Of Cuba
The economic considerations I shall
7nIy attempt a brief mention Of some Of
-hese.
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