The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-04
WHY ROOSEVELT
WANTS FREE CUBA j.
Continued From First Page.

in the island, The United States will
stand by and see that the claims are
promptly iquidated, for should there
be failure, the United States, having
guaranteed certain things in the Platt
amendment, would itself be compelled
to liquidate them. Damages can be
more. accurately assessed while the in
cidents are fresh and the witnesses are
at hand, and SO It IS fair to assume that
Secretary Taft will almost at once look
taround him to find out what claims for
damages are likely to be made. If
there is not enough money in the Cuban
treasury to pay these bills, a special
tax will have to be levied. Cuba is
to find out that the revolutionary habit
Is a very expensive one, especially
when Uncle Sam is standing by with
his big stick. >.-..@ @>.e:.. Y =:
49, The Country on Record.
Attention is called to the decision
of the United States supreme court in
expressing public opinion at that time
regarding our relations to Cuba, and
Cuba g relations to- the rest Of the
world. That decision was unanimous,
and while, of course, it cannot have
any binding force upon either the ex.
ecutive or the legislative branches of
the government, the treatment to be
melted out to Cuba being question of
public policy purely, and not Of legal
adjudication, yet the pronouncement no
doubt expressed what is still the pre-
vailing sentiment Of the American ma
tion.: .-~t... 49,.
The court held that by the joint res
olution under which war against Spain
! thn MI rot
pressly disclaimed any purpose of ex
ercising sovereignty, jurisdiction OF
control over Cuba, except for the paci
fcation thereof, and then. added that
that object being accomplishments was
the intention Of the United States tx
leave Cuba to the Cubans. Continuing
the court says that as between thu
Omitted States and Cuba, that islandsis
territory held in trust for the inhab
belongs, and to whose exclusive: contTo
it will be surrendered when stable
government shall have been established
by their voluntary action.'
! The Platt amendment was not il
entire harmony with this supreme court
declaration, and at the time it was
adopted it met with bitter opposition
both in this country and in Cuba, bu1
the amendment has justified itself by
recent events, for without it the United
States would not have the power Of
to stand idly by while the peace of this
part Of the world, as we'll as a goodly
share of it's prosperity, were endangered
by successive revolutions.
The U. s. on Trial.
There is no Disgusting the fact tina
annexation sentiment exists in Thu
country, just as it existed in 1898
when Senator Teller shut it off by hi
famous resolution guaranteeing our dis
interestedness, and just as 1t existed
also, when the Platt amendment wa
adopted. AS matter of fact, tina
purposes the defeat Of the annexation
propaganda. President Roosevelt I'm
derstands this situation, but he believe
that the prevailing sentiment of TIL
country today is for Cuban independ
ence, just as it was when the Telle
resolution was passed, and he will &C
accordingly. He will do this the NOR
willingly for the reason that he be
I lieves personally. that the United State
is on trial in this matter quite as niue
as Cuba, and that if there is to- be an
serious move toward annexation, W
might have abandoned long ago all on
efforts at establishing more friendly re
lations with the countries Of Sout
America. $3.50
The Cuban question thus becomes, i
the presidents mind, very much large
and more important than that islam
!, ITSELF and takes in Central and Sout
America as complete wholes. Our al
titude toward Cuba is being watched i
that part of the world good deal NOR
closel ~ than it is in this country, an
with suspicion which even Secretar
Roots recent successful trip has nc
been able >entirely--to eradicate. Thj
, enlarged view Of the situation will
Z without doubt, be taken by. congress
! and by the country as whole at tn
' proper time, and again, as in 1898, tn
annexationists in the United States wi
: find themselves in a hopeless minorit.