The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
The Presidents Warning.

Mr.. RoosE vELT's letter TO Senior
QUEsADA, the Cuban Minister to the
United States, is virtually, Of course, a
message to the Cuban people, who have
reason to know him to be their friend.
II is impossible for them to m~isconstrue
the motives Of a man who in 1898 risked
his life 70 their liberation from oppres-
sion, and who in 1907 ordered an American
army to e~vacuate their island, although
pretexts might easily have been found
for ~prolonging the occupation. They
cannot but believe him, therefore, when
he tells them that he has no desire and
10 present intention Of intervening in
Cuba by military force, but that il civil
war shall continue there such interview
ton will be imposed upon him by the
duty Of safeguarding American citizens
and their investments, and by the obi
cation contracted by the Treaty Of Paris
to protect the lives and property Of
foreign residents in the island. He
earnestly exhorts Cubans Of all parties,
the upholders Of the Palma Government
as well as the insurgents, to bring about
som, agreement by which peace and order
may quickly be restored. To further the
efforts Of reasonable and patriotic men in
that direction Secretary OF War TAFT and
Assistant Secretary of State BACON will
leave to-day for Havana.
We cannot believe that the Cuban
Congress, which met in extraordinary
session on Friday afternoon, would have
taken the course which it adopted had
IL heard President RoosEvELT,s warn
ing and been apprised of Secretary
TAFT speedy arrival. As a matter Of
fact, the Congress acted with great pre-
cipitation on President PALMA's mes
sage, before Mr.. R~oosEvELT's announce
ment Of his present position was made
known to them. 1t approved all orders
and DEGREES Of the Cuban Executive pro-
mulgated since August 20, and declared
that they should have the force Of law
until the disorder in the island should
cease or ntil they should be annulled
by President PALMA. 1t empowered
him to increase the Rural Guard to TO-
900 men and the artillery to 1900, and
also TO enlist auxiliary forces for the le-
establishment of peace; and finally, it
authorized the Executive to employ for
the purpose Of defence all the funds in
the Treasury, including those which
previously ad been appropriated to
specific objects. 1t ever went so far as
TO reject a motion providing that men,
bers of Congress should enjoy the bene-
fits OF, Parliamentary immunity from the
Presidents decree s~uspending the con-
gtitutional guarantees to that effect.
These measures were passed by MAORI
ties Of the members present in both
houses, but they seem to have no con-
stitutional validity, no quorum being
present in either chamber. Such a high
handed performance is not likely to en-
nance the respect with which President
PALMA's Government is regarded by
di~spassionate onlookers.
II the funds in the Cuban Treasury,
amounting to some $40, 900, 900, could
legally be diverted from the purposes
for which they were originally appro-
priated, to military projects, and if they
we're honestly expended instead of being
subjected TO the footing which is ap-
prehended, the Palma Government might
be able TO place in the field, and for a
time maintain, a force of 10000 or 1900
men. OF what avail, however, would
such q body be for the suppression Of an
instruction which already has gained
much momentum in three provinces
and threatens - spread throughout the
island? A task which General WEYLER
was unable to accomplish with 100000
men is obviously far beyond the re-
sources Of the Palma Administration,
which at the utmost might succeed in
holding the cities and large towns. The
warfare between the Government sol
diers and the insurgents would be pro-
longed for an indefinite period. Hwould
result in a stalemate. Neither Of the
combatants could destroy the other.
What would inevitably be, however, the
victim Of destruction is the industry,
the commerce, the prosperity Of the
island. .
Not tamely could European Powers
be expected to submit to the protracted
devastation Of their subjects property,