The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-21

.no 0oosy oeclelon Tn JanuoIy' ASv.. then our Government acted in bad faith when 1t forced the Platt amend ment upon the Cubans three months later. When that radical restriction of Cuban Independence was first pro- posed. in February, 1901, it was de- nounced as an act of bad faith by those who believed-as the Supreme Court had just shown that it believ- ed--that the nations promise when It made to be faithfully observed. not to be wriggled out of. Even among the ranks of the stalwart supporters of President McKinleys policy in the Philippines voices of earnest protest were heard. The Chicago Record Herald. in particular, a paper of that character and whose stand took spe- cial significance from the fact that 1t wasthe organ or one of President friends. MT. Kohlsaat urged the Gu bans to appeal directly to the United States Congress against the wrong about to be done them. When the amendment was first submitted to the Cuban Constitutional Convention, 1t was rejected by a vote of 24 to 2. But it soon became evident that what confronted Cuba was a case of Hob- son choice-it was either this mon-
 
 they accepted the only kind of inde- pendence they could get.
 For the past four years the Cubans have been on trial in the conduct of their semi-independent government. Until a short time ago. they carried 1t on with degree of success that Tar surpassed the expectations of their most hopeful friends. No pretext for intervention. no approach to such f,,rn hv the course of events in the island. Suddenly, one of those insurrections which are a common episode in the tropical ana semi-tropical countries of South ana Central America, broke out in Cuba. The Palma government showed itselt lamentably weak. Messrs. Taft ana Bacon went over to try to straisnten things out, and failed to effect work ing compromise. Mir. Taft has now. in entire conformity with the terms Of the Platt amendment. established provisional government with himself at its head. Under this government. we are told in every possible quarter. the Cubans are to be given another trial and upon the way in which they acquit themselves in this trial will de- pend the future of their country. In other words. if they don't want to be annexed. they must give a mighty good account of themselves. They arc being watched by the great Yankee or long as that nation pleases, 1t VIII pass its verdict upon them.
 But the Cubans are not the only peo- ple who are on trial. The people Of the United States are on trial. too. Secretary Taft, in his proclamation 10 the people of Cuba. so1emnly declares that "the provisional government here by established will be maintained only long enough to restore order, peace and public confidence by direction or and in the name of the President or the United States, and then to hold such elections as may be necessary to determine on those persons upon whom the per 1manent government of the re- nublic should be devolved;" and at tho very same moment it is reported rom Washington that this proclamation IS regarded at the capital. with remark able unanimity" among high military and naval authorities there. as fore shadowing the formal annexation or the island within the next six montns' at the very same moment. too. Bever- fdge goes on with his bellowings about manifest destiny and his mouthings about the American people "doing the work which God has called upon them to do."
 The Platt amendment was breach of faith with Cuba because It suostl- tuted for unqualified Independence an independence subject 70 the protection of the United States; and yet 1t dlf promise that protection, not merely to the peace and order, but also to the independence of Cuba. We scaled down our ,promise from the real inde- nendence Of the Teller resolution or 1898 to the semiindependence or the Platt amendment of 1901; and the op- ponents of the Piatt measure charged that it would be made, at the first con- venient opportunity, a pretext for the total extinction of Cuban independ- ence. Are we about to fulfill that forecast? Shall our present acton constitute a refutation of the pledge of the Platt amendment. as that amendment itself constituted a half- repudiation of the Teller resolution! If so does any American imagine that history will acquit his country or oad faith? Does he suppose that the eIao- crate apparatus which shall have in teryened between the liberation or Cuba and the gobbling of it by the Tinted States will alter the essential nature of the transaction? The Platt amendment was open to the charge or had faith because 1t paved the way Tor actual bad faith; but it left the choice still open to the United States to act in good faith when put to the test Secretary Taft declares that that IS the way in which this country IS gong to act; but it is by it's actual conduct, not by it's professions. that 1t will be judged The United States is on trial every bit as much as Cuba Is.