Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-01

ment and how far in what manner and
under what circumstances the American
government shall intervene in Cuban at
fairs. 1t Is the opinion Of the thinking
men Of Cuba that the present intervention,
by formally recognizing an armed insur--
rection, led by irresponsible men. and
treating them as belligerents, with rights
and authority. has established a very dan
gerous precedent Hereafter every political
agitator who can get together a few men
with guns and threaten the peace OF the
island will naturally expect to receive the
same consideration and to be recognized
as having the right to dictate terms to the
representatives of the President of the
United States. 1t was precedent for
lege of melting armed resistance TO con-
stitutional government.
such precedent leaves us In very
perilous predicament. and we think the
United States ought to declare explicitly
and precisely how often 1t Is going to DO
that. and under what circumstances 1t
should define exactly what acts, events or
conditions will justify Intervention. and
how such Intervention shall be conducted,
so that we may know where we stand
In case of another armed instruction Will
the United States recognize the belligerent
rights Of the instructors, or Will 1t sus-
tain the established constitutional govern
ment? That Is what the national-conserva-
tive party wants to have settled. and 1t is
treaty, which will enable everybody to
have a clear appreciation OF the relations
between the two countries.
Plan Of the Canvassers.
"Our organization will be composed of
citizens who have both intelligence and
property. the men who are responsible for
the prosperity and the progress Of this
island, as the United States government Is
responsible for It's peace. We are going to
canvass the island thoroughly in order to
secure an expression from every such citi-
zen. We will establish headquarters in
every town of Importance. organize clubs,
circulate, printed matter. hold public dis
cussions, and convince the people Of the
advantages of our proposition. We will not
be ready for an election so soon as June.
We will need five or six months to edu-
cate the people, and In the meantime we
hope the statu quo will be preserved and
that the provisional government will deal
impartially with all classes Of the commu-
nifty and the members of all political parties
The new party consists or the members
OF the old moderate party. the nationals and
many elements which have never been in
politics before, but have become confirmed
in the belief that the welfare Of Cuba re-
uuires that our relations with the United
States shall be definitely and permanently
settled.
their moral support-the English. the Ger
mans and the Spaniards. The members OF
the national-conservative party will be
practically all taxpayers and men OF large
interests = bankers. merchants. planters
manufacturers and professional men. who
have something at stake and something be-
sides office-seeking to think about"
How many OF the members OF the I'D
eral party are taxpayers! asked.
you could count them on your myers
The only ones I can remember onhand are
Alfredo Zayas who is an eminent lawyer,
a real estate owner and a man OF large af-
fairs, and Jose Miguel Gomez. who Is a
ranchman, Is interested in cattle and has
other leaders
Of that party are professional office seekers
who have abandoned their previous occupa-
lions and live on politics. Very few OF
whatever. Not 10 per cent of the entire
liberal party pay taxes, and II the island
should go up In CONFUSION they would
lose nothing: They have nothing whatever
pendence, with themselves in control Of
affairs"
The Proposed Protectorate.
s.Wfat is your idea of protectorate?"
I'VE are not yet ready to define it. That
ia a matter Of detail to be arranged be-
tween the diplomatic representatives Of the
two countries In the future. 1t might take
any one of several forms, and 1t would not
be judicious fof the conservative-na tional
party to devise any ideal or pledge itself to
any definite proposition. 1t Is enough to say
that we recognize the right of the govern
ment of the United States to intervene in
Cuban affairs under the Platt amendment.
but we think 1t is only just to the citizens
of Cuba to have that right definitely de-
scribed and to have complete understand
ing how II shall be exercised and what
reasons and considerations shall justify In
PREVENTION"
| In Justice to Secretary Taft 1t Is only fair
that he should be heard upon this question,
The members of the moderate party accuse
him of having established dangerous
precedent by recognizing the belaGerent