The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1906-10-11
TAFT WINS HEARTS
OF CUBAN PEOPLE.
Cheered al University Opening When
Policy Of U, 5. is Cheered.

high appreciation of Governor Taft
and the work President Roosevelt's
commissioners have undertaken.
Those present included the flower of
Haranas most intellectual and re-
tined society, and their oatbarsts of
applause were significant indica-
tion of appreciation of the pro-
visional government by the most
thoughtful element of the capital,
After the annual address and the
history and progress of the univer-
sity, Governor Taft presented the
diplomas to the successful students,
and then made notable address,
which lasted half an hour, the spirit
of which was that the intervention
of the United States was undertaken
entirely to assist Cuba, and Cubans,
and that her future was dependent
upon her young men,
Mr.. Taft spoke impressively in
English, which many of his auditors
understood, pausing at every SEN
tence for its Interpretation by Judge
Schoenrench, amid applause and
frequent college yellS.
Following is Secretary Taft's ad-
dress before the university students:
81 count it a peculiar honor in my
temporary representation of the eX-
ecutive of Cuba to participate in the
exercises of this great university
This is especially interesting to me,
because, when exercising the execu-
tive function in the Philippines, l
took part in similar ceremony in
university founded by the same or
der, but more than century before
this university was founded.
''Those of us who have come close
TO Spanish civilization have been
Impressed with the consciousness
that the Anglo-Saxons have much to
learn from the intellectual refine.
ment. artistic temperament, poetic
imagination and courtesy of the
Latin Spanish races. Spain has ex-
erted a tremendous force in civiliza-
ton and progress, but nations, like
men, suffer reaction. The civiliza-
ton of Spain and all her institutions
we're founded on the idea of the con-
troll of the state by one man, or
few men. That idea has force. The
AnglO-Saxons have brought to the
front the idea that people who are
sufficiently educated to know what
their rights were could more safely
be trusted to determine how these
interests should be preserved than
one man or few men, and we have
the advantage of 200 years educa-
ton in self-government, we unreason-
ably plume ourselves with superiority
in the knowledge of government
which only circumstances have
given US.
sit has recently fallen to the lot
of the people of the United States
who have struggled along the road to
popular government and fallen down
and picked themselves up again to
aid some countries who haye not had
that experience in coming to the en-
joyment of the benefits of popular
government. The republic of Cuba
has progressed so rapidly in the last
four years as almost to intoxicate
the believers in popular government
1t was like the growth of a tropical
plant which needed cutting in order
that the stock might gain strength
1t is perhaps necessary that the
Cubans should be warned that the
foundations of self-government must
be broad and solid rather than high
and conspicuous.
1T is saddening to me to be called
to Cuba, and still sadder to the
president, who is so identified with
her liberation, that we are here at
the time of a stumble in Cuba's pro-
gress toward popular government,
but it has given us an opportunity to
assure you in the name of the presi-
dent and the American people that
we are here only to help you.
"With our arm under your arm, we
are lifting you again on the path of
that wonderful progress you have
Travelled. We shall, L am certain,
be able to point with pride to the
fact that the United States is not an
exploiting nation, but that she has
such deep sympathy with the pro-
gress of popular government as to be
willing to eXpend her blood.
81 venture the suggestion that if
the other classes do not take a more
active part and insist upon exercis-
ing their influence in politics the
question naturally arises: What was
the necessity of changing your form
of government at all? The theory
of popular governments that every
class shall exercise a decided politi-
cal influence, but it seems to me
that your ideals have been too high.
An ideal so high that it is beyond
the reach of realization is not very
useful. Soaring too high is danger
GUS, and the higher you get the more
disastrous the fall,
"The hope of this country is in its
educated youth. While l do not
want to jar or make uncomfortable
Hose youths who are entering active