Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30

mics of the protective principle. All the
tariff changes that are necessary will be
made by the republican, party earlier than
the opposition could possibly make them.
And republican changes will be benefcent
Opposition changes would be ruinouS. We
republicans believe in two great modes or
public conduct-fideiity to ideals and the
application of common sense. And 1t is
merely the common sense OF the SITUATION
to meet conditions as they arise and not to
wait until accommodating conditions ulInet
break down the dam and sweep all before
it in a general and disastrous change.
Our Duty Toward Cuba.
Yesterday men said, let US treat the Phil
ppines as we have treated Cuba. What
man says that today? What man does not
| foresee that all we have accomplished in
the Philippines we must soon begin to ac-
complish in Cuba? What man does not see
that the day is coming when all the work
that we did In Cuba must be done over
again? We found Cuba fostering place
| of disease; found 1t the home of brave
| but childish people who knew not the su-
preme art of orderly government; found IT
| the richest of islands with the poorest OF
revenues. We left it purified and eleansed
| with Havana as sanitary as any American
| city; we left it with an orderly government
and an efficient administration: we left 1t
| with finances untangled and treasury De-
| ing filled.
| And now in time brief that it seems
| but yesterday all these conditions are de-
| moralized. The government is in panic,
| the people are in arms, industry is para
| lived and all society in confusion All this
has come about in these brief years be-
cause of little things which the Cubans
themselves scarcely understand All these
things have come about because they were
tneytable; because the character of the
Cuban people made them absolutely certain.
Every student who understands the com
position of the Cuban people knew that
this eruption would come and that as long
as Americas guiding hand was Withheld
| from them these eruptions would continue.
All this was understood by that great
statesman who provided for such emer-
| gences in the famous law which bore his
| name, the Platt amendment-one or the
three most important statutes since the
| adoption of the American Constitution and
| the most vital part of the Cuban constltu-
| ton, for the Plat amendment is a part of
the fundamental law of Cuba.
| Speaking for myself alone, 1 believe 1t
/ is certain that the American flag will float
once more in Cuba. 1t may be this year
or next year, next century, but in the end
American administration of Cuban affairs
is as certain as any of those great move
| n!ents of the past, like our expansions to-
ward the Pacific were certain before they
were accomplished. And when the Amerl-
can flag is once more lifted over Cuba 1t
will never be lowered again That Cuba
| should be American is the highest example
| of manifest destiny in history. Geography
makes her American-she is geographically
part of Florida. Her position in the gulf
| makes ler A1neTlCdI-Slle COlll1fldIuS us
entrance and the approaches to the Mis-
| sissippi's mouh and all our southern har-
bors. The natural currents of trade make
her American-she is the natural market
place of our products and we are the natural
/ purchasers of her products. Political gravi
| tation makes her Amercan-no island so
small ever maintained a separate existence
near country SO great and government
| so powerful.
American Government for Cuba.
| American government of Cuba is the ira
dtional policy of the American people. 1t
began before the republic was founded. The
| American colonsts petitioned the English
| king to let them take Cuba and gave as their
| reasons the very same causes that have In
| spired American statesmen to desire the
| same thing ever since, she very same
causes that are operating today. When pc:
litical parties were formed and political
| platforms began to be written, the pohcy
Of American government over Cuba express
| ed itself in all political creeds. All Ameri-
can statesmen whose names survive, no
matter to what party they belonged. down
almost to the civil war. held this consum-
nation as one of their dearest dreams
Claw was for it. Cass was for it, Webster
was for it, and only the mighty question
Of slavery, eliminating in the red years OF
the civil war, stopped the intensifying spirit
Of the American people, winch, out 1ol
those dreaded events, would long since nave
ACCOMPLISHED that purpose.
But we have promised her independence
and that pledge we must fulhli we mus
lIet events correct our folly. A higher wis
dom than our own must erase our mistakes
and rewrite the Teller amendment on which
our pledge of independence is based ant
from which all present and future trouble
and confusion flows and will flow. But We
must accept the decree of those events; WE
must obey the orders of that higher wis
dom; and when it is clear that Cuba is no
capable of stable overnInent and contlnuou!
orderly liberty, then we must act under
Senator Platt's great statute, act promptly
fearlessiy wisely, and, acting thus, &C
for the interests of America, the welfare
of the Cuban people. and for the uplifting
OF that law-regulated liberty which consti
: tutes our American civilization.
, This time American occupation of Cubt
will be permanent The American peopl,
will stand no further trifiing. They hav,
! let sincere sentmentalists play with then
/ destiny long enough. American occupation
of Cuba and American restoration of Law
and order means the shedding Of American
blood, and that blood now to be given t,
bring civilization back to Cuba is the prize
| the American people must pay for the foil,
, Of ur timid theorists and the baseness O
n scheming politicians, who have cloaket
j, their baseness in the robes Of a pretended
| sanctity.
n And now the American people will cas-
n | these false teachers aside and move for
g ward, clear-eyed, stout-hearted and full o
r faith to the doing of the work God has beel
1 1;,,<~ x1,nyVr IN Ia