The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-24
A Junket to Cuba.

Senator MORGAN has introduced a
resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a committee Of seven Senators
t O visit the Isle of Pines and make a
thorough inquiry concerning the condi-
tions there. This is a most excellent
idea-for the committee-but no time
should be wasted. If the excursion is
delayed it will not be so excellent an
idea-for the committee. In the course
of a few weeks it will be hotter than
blazes down there.
There is no doubt that seven, or yer
five or nine, grave and reverend Senators,
after carefully inspecting the soil of the
island, drinking from its medicinal
spring and inhaling the vivifying ozone
of its atmosphere, could decide at once
whether it is American or Cuban terri
tory. There is only one better sugges-
ton than that made by Senator MORGAN.
That is, that the island be sent up to
Washington, where all could see it.
The cost of a junket for seven need not
exceed 81 500, but it would be SO much
more effective and novel to spend a little
more money and bring the island to
Washington.
The question OF the political owner
ship OF the Isle of Pines is not a physical
question. 1t makes no difference what
the island looks like or smells like. 1t
makes no difference whether it is valu-
able or economically worthless. Every
record Of every kind, political and geo.
graphical, shows that the Isle of Pines
has for four hundred years been as much
a part of Cuba as Long Island is a part
by Article l. Of the Treaty Of Paris,
%relinquished "all claim Of sovereignty
over and title to Cuba" she no more
segregated and coded to the United
States the Isle of Pines than she segre-
gated and coded the province of Havana
or the judicial district of Bejucal, of
both of which political divisions the
island has for many years formed a
part. The term Cuba" in that article
embraces the Isle Of Pines as definitely
as it embraces Cayo Romano or Moro
Castle.
To take the island from Cuba under
the shadowy claim which has been set
up would be a national disgrace COM
pared with which the Treaty of Guada-
lupe Hidalgo would stand as an act Of
b~enevolence to Mexico. To impose upon
Cuba any terms under which we agree
to relinquish our claim to something
that is not and never was ours would be
an offence to national morality.
A great deal of nonsense has been
talked about this matter, and a lot Of
sympathy has been wasted on certain
spectators. most Of whom knew when
their investment was made that title to
the island was in suspense. They played
their game and took their chances. The
talk of jeopardy to American life and
property is silly. Both are as secure in
the Isle of Pines as they are on the main
island, where probably twenty times as
many Americans reside and where fifty
or more times the amount of money is
invested.
The Platt Amendment, declaring the
title in suspense, was signed on June ~,
1901, after a struggle of four months.
Six months after that there was held q
national election in which the citizens Of
the island participated, under American
authority and American auspices, as
did the people of the main island. The
Piheros were represented in the Consti-
| t~utional Convention, held under Amer
lean auspices, of 10000. For nearly
three years the island has been left
under full Cuban control. Most Of the
investment, and most Of the settlement,
has been made since it was clearly known
that title was in suspense and since the
recognition by the United States of the
de tacto Cuban Government.
Let US give Cuba what belongs to her,