Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-23
The Future Of Cuba.

There seems TO be Senerdl Sratl1lcd-
ton both in this country and down in
Cuba at the announcement of Secretary
Taft that the American occupation of
the island viii cease in 1909, the troops
be withdrawn and the little is
for itself. Everybody hopes that
it will make a better success of
this second trial at self-gov-
ernment than It made of the first. The
promises of this country to make Cuba
an Independent country after it had
been freed from the curse Of Spanish
possession and occupation We're made
in good faith, although no doubt the
world at large had grave doubts as to
the sincerity of our intentions. But
now that peace and prosperity again
prevail in the island after the turbu
lence and tangle which followed Cuba's
first attenlpr t.; govern itself, the time
is drawing near, according to our pol
icy, for us to give the island another
chance to paddle its own CANOE OF
course il is as important that we should
not withdraw too soon as that VIC
should withdraw at all. The import
ant thing for this country to be sure OF
is that everything is in good order in
Cuba before it again surrenders the
reins to the CubanS. Although they
have not been showing any great I'M
patience of late, 1t is a cause of genuine
qualification among the Cubans and the
friends of Cuba that definite date has
been set for the American withdrawal.
Judging from the reports, things are
going very well with Cuba at the pres
ent time. Since the American uccupa-
tiCn her population has increased and
foreign industries have multiplied. The
crops have been good and there is 1t
These things ought to continue if the
Cubans will make an honest attempt
70 administer the affairs of the island
with an eye to its general welfare and
not merely for partisan advantage as
seems to have been the case during
the first trial. The Cubans must raise
more cane and less Cain if they expect
to tread the pathway of prosperity UNI
der self government. They will be al
lnWaI RI
any interference or suggestions from
this country. Uncle Sam has no fay-
orite in the matter The first president,
Palma. had lived long in this country
and perhaps there was q feeling among
the CubanS that he was more american
than of themselves. Anyway, his at
tempt at government was a failure. |
Ee Won no strength among his own
people, although he had the confidence
and support of Americans. Ii the |
second president for whatever reason. |
makes a similar failure, American oc-
cupation will have to follow as mat
ter of course since this country is re- |
sp0nsi5le to the world for the rnainten-
arce of law and order in Cuba. And |
if our troops and our flag have to 60
back to Cuba again after being with
drawn in 1909 it is altogether likely |
that they will have to stay there perm
anently. If Cuba cannot make a sue
ceSS of Self-goyernment at IFS nevt tr;a,
and American Intervention is made
necessary by its failure. Cuba as an
country will simply disap-
pear from the map. Cuba cannot fail
to understand this ard the world rec
oSnizes the fact. This country viii
IDEAL honestly with the island and give
1t every opportunity to make good as
an independent republic If it fails /,
VIII have nobody to blame but itself.