Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-05
CANNON DISCUSSES
DESTINY OF CUBA
Will Come in Time, the
Speaker Declares, if Her Peo-
pie Demand it.

ment or better defined dependence on some
power more capable of giving stability to
government. And all the time month after
month and year after year. Americans, ever
alert for the best opportunities of life as
offered by nature. are seeking homes and
investments in Cuba.
There will come a time when that rich
island will become American in spirit and
blood ties, even though the political con-
ditionS remain as they are.
1.-The fear of revolution and the dread OF
anarchy are the forces that keep American
men and American money out of Cuba and
other islands here in the West Indies.
Stable government Is the greatest boon to
any country or any people. promoting
prosperity and peace"
Annexation May Come.
do you think annexation will conner"
Annexation is a word that irritates.
Let's not use 1t. The United States Is
pledged not to annex the Island Of Cuba,
and the policy of the government has al
ways been opposed to annexation except
In response to the appeal of the people
who desire to come under the protection Of
the American flag. We were compelled to
take Porto Rico and the Philippines by
the fortunes Of war and to prevent them
from becoming apples of discord to the
nations of the world. We ANNEXED Texas
and Hawaii at the request Of the people
who were the dominant force In those ter
ritores. We shall follow the same policy
in regard to Cuba, and II 1t ever comes
under the flag perhaps in the future that
policy may apply to the other islands
here, forming a continuous chain from
the coast of Florida to the South American
continent
"And what about South American"
South America is great continent, the
home Of many republics modelled after our
own. AS I understand them on paper
these constitutions are as safe guarantees
of a broad-minded and liberal peoples gov
q limited States.
but paper constitutions do not make gov
ernments.
1.-THE constitutions of Mexico and vene-
zuela are as liberal aS-Our own, but the
governments are very much unlike ours.
Mexico has absOlutism and stability, be-
cause Of the conservatism, wisdom and
courage Of President Diaz. Venezuela has
revolution and her great resources are I'M
developed, because whatever confidence
there is in the policies of President Castro
is practically nullified by the uncertainty
Of his administration owing to the pre-
carious state Of his health.
Lesson in Venezuela.
Capital ready to make investment in
Venezuela Is holding back because there
is practical certainty of another revolu-
ton In the event of President Castro's
death.
This is in such marked contrast to the
quiet and natural transfer of the execu-
in the face of one of the most tragic In
terruptions Of government the world has
ever known, that it emphasizes the differ
ence between a government Of the people
in the United States and the governmnt
of Venezuela, which has constitution
modelled after our own.
1T emphasizes the fact that government.
after ALL rests directly on the people, and
until the people can govern themselves
constitutions and laws of little force.
1--WE may write constitutions and We
may legislate. but these fundamental and
statute laws will all be of the dead-letter
type unless they represent the spirit Of the
people.
South. America is striving to follow in
the footsteps of the United States, and 1
hope the republics there will be perma-
nent and become more and more like our
own. Pan-Americanism may help along
the development and bring all the Ameri-
cas- into the closer relationship which ma
ture suggests as desirable"
This has been Mr.. Cannon's first real
vacation. free from private or public bust
ness cares, in many years and he has been
enjoying 1t.
The governors of the islands have paid
him such honor as becomes a high official
of great government. He has been ban
quoted under the flags of Germany. France.
Venezuela and England, as well as under
the stars and stripes.