Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-10-05
rHE CnRAN CRISIS.

The Cubaps refused TO be reconciled In
their political differences, and President Pal
ma resigned his office. Secretary Taft, the
mediary from this country between the
Cuban factions, on Saturday last declared
himself Provisional Governor of Cuba In
liberal proclamation, which states:
"In 80 far as is consistent with the nature
Of provisional government, established
under the authority Of the United States
this will be a Cuban government conform
ing with the Constitution OF Cuba. The
Cuban flag will be hoisted as usual over the
government buildings Of the island. All
the executive departments and provincial
and municipal governments, including that
of the city of Havana, will continue to be
administered as under the Cuban republic"
But for the Cubans the bitter fact remains
that William H. Taft, Secretary of War of
the United States, now signs his decree
United States Provisional Governor of Cuba,
and the heads Of all departments of the Gu.
ban government, the commander OF the rural
guards, the treasurer Of Cuba, all civil gov
ernors and alcaldes are made subject TO his
instructions. Back of him is the military
power Of the United States to enforce his
orders.
The pettiness of her politicians has cost
Cuba dear. They have shown themselves
incapable of compromising that Secretary
Taft went to Havana only as benevolent
neutral In their domestic dssensions. Each
side hoped to use him for its exclusive ad.
vantage. 1t was not until they were brought
actually face to face with armed interven.
ton that the saner heads counseled compro
mise on any basis. Then they realized that
they had staked Cuba's freedom on parti-
san quarrel, and that both factions must lose
all II Cancellation failed and the island passed
again under foreign control.
OF all Cuba's public characters, none to.
day presents 80 pitiful figure as President
Palma. For the first years OF his admins
stration he deserved respect and praise. He
helped plant the young republic firmly on
its feet and started 1t on the way to pros.
perity. But when the real crisis came he
revealed himself to be utterly unequal to
the occasion. Even when Moderates and
Liberals united with Secretary Taft in urg.
ing him to withdraw his resignation he
talked weakly about his personal dignity
and honor and abandoned Cuba In the hour
of Its direst distress to difficulties which he
above all living Cubans was duty-bound to
avert.
Secretary Taft makes 1t plain that his
summary measures are designed to be only
temporary. The United States purposes
that the provisional government erected In
the emergency created by the Cubans them.
selves shall exist "only long enough to re.
store order, peace and public confidence"
In effect, then, it rests with the Cuban PEG.
pie to decide whether they shall soon come
into their rights again, or whether foreign
control shall be through their irresponsi.
bility indefinitely prolonged. The United
States has re-entered Cuba not from choice,
but from necessity.
But Intervention by no means commits
the United States to annexation. Before
that question could become pressing, the
Cubans must give their free consent. 1t
would not be matter of merely holsting
the flag over another island 1t would be
necessary to consider whether Americans
wanted to borrow another race problem,
whether Cuba should be received as State
OF a Territory or dependency, and whether
its restless population could be kept content
and loyal under foreign dictation.
After the issuance of the proclamation of
Secretary Taft large force OF marines were
landed from the various war vessels at sew.
eral ports Of Uaba. These have since been
reinforced by several thousand troops of the
regular United States army. The dIsarm.
ing OF the revolutionists has begun, with
the consent Of their officers, and apparent
peace seems to prevail on the island.
Secretary Root, In letter urging Minis
ter Quesada to remain, expresses the belief
that "this wretched business will soon be
over" and the independent government of
Cuba restored. The minister has consented
to remain at his post in Washington.
Judge Charles K. Magoon has been select
ed for Provisional Governor of Cuba and
will 60 TO Havana at once.
TURN THE RASOALS OUT.