Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-12
Protectorate or Annexation Will
Come if Next Attempt at
Home Rule Fails H.
WILL HAVE A TRY
cubans Deficient in Understanding Of
Democratic Government-Prefer BuI.
let's to BalIots-ldeas Very Limited
and Government Problems Are Too
Deep for Natives. ..a

Washington, April lever since
the Palma government in Cuba broke
down last fall extraordinary influences
have been brought to bear to induce the
United States to take possession OF the
island or at least to declare ana en-
force a practical and almost pei maneni
protectorate.
These influences have continued tt
grow, not only in the United States
but in Cuba as well, and it is extreme
ly significant that in spite of all the
arguments which have been brought te
bear. president Roosevelt has positive
ly decided that the Cubans are entitled
to another chance.
Secretary Taft spoke by the card
when he announced in Havana Monday
night that the United States govern
frent would not be swerved from lts
purpose of creating new and lnde-
pendent republic on the island of Cuba.
1t will take time to bring 1t about, but
the secretary OF war has by authority
pledged the Roosevelt administration
to steer clear both of annexation and
of a protectorate.
The informal pledge made to the
Cubans. when the Palma government
broke down, that the liberals should
have a chance to demonstrate their
capacity for self-government, IL they
have any will be rigidly kept, and soon-
,er or later, if conditions in the island
permit of it, an independent republican
form OF government will be established,
and the Cubans will be given one more
chance to go it alone.
If they fail an American protectorate
or annexation will be inevitable.
When Secretary Taft went to Cuba
last fall as the personal representative
Of President Roosevelt, he realized the
great difficulties in the way of the re-
establishment Of q democratic form of
government.
Those difficulties, instead OF appear
ing to grow less, have apparently ex-
panded from day to day. The more the
situation has been studied by American
experts, the more 1t became evident
that the Cubans had only the most
rudimentary ideas of the real theory Of
popular government.
There was no election system calcu-
lated to guarantee the safety of the
ballot
1t became evident that almost the
first duty of the provisional govern :
ment would be to create an electoral
system suitable to the needs of the Is
land A commission was appointed,
made up OF local. officials, with a
sprinklng of Americans, and they be-
gan their work some time ago. 1t was,
of course found that the American
system, which is well adapted to a pop
ulation of the highest average of in
telligence, could not be transported
bodily to Cuba.
The people there are not only de-
ficient in the intellectual capacity
which distinguishes the humblest Am
erican citizen, but they were brought
up under the colonial system which
absolutely prevented their understand
ing that an election is intended to be
determined by majority of the votes
east. The average Cuban has the no.
ton that an election is some sort of
ceremony and he expects
to see the result decided, not by the
ballot, but by the musket