The Washington herald., 1912-05-24
Cuba.

The latest disquieting adviees from
Cuba show plainly that the color line
there is drawn as indefinitely as the
edges of the Gulf Stream. 1t is not 50
much the desire of the Latin-Americans
for government by revolution that once
more is n1anifesting itself in the Pearl
of the Antilles as tits the outcropping Of
the fact that the land which, politically
speaking, Is proposed to be held in the
firm grip Of the white element, while,
as is well known, the colored race pre-
dominates. There is perfect equality
socially in Cuba among the races, the
black and the mestizzo, the offspring of
the ancient Spanish settlers and the
pure African blood. The latter are
politically the logical bosses. They have
fought the revolutions, they are the
real patriots, and yet are denied an ade-
quate share in the triumph by the
whites.
In Panama our assistance was ten
dered in the form of United States
troops guarding the election polls to
insure pure ballots, but our attitude
was one of indifference as to who pre-
dominated politically. If it is our de-
sire. to prop up the republic of Cuba
any longer upon its insecure legs, why
not tender the same assistance to both
the Gomez man and his political op-
ponents:
When the United States undertook
the task of establishing the republic of
Cuba it was plain even to those with
but a superficial knowledge of Latin
American affairs that a condition was
imposed upon the new republic to main
tain a status of civilization equal to
that of the advanced nations, and that
we did not intend to interfere in their
internal affairs regardless whether the
colored element would be kept out of
public Offices or not
The cause of the constant public rest
lessness in Cuba may be summed up in
a few words: Although the eolored ele-
ment predominates, the idea appears TO
be to reserve the public Offices for the
whittier element.
Our State Department is well aware
of the fact that there is little in the
negro of the eastern end of Cuba to
make him respect the Cuban govern
ment. Most of these eastern" negroes
are from the nearby republic of Haiti,
and as much French is spoken there as.
Spanish. They all are of course against
white rule. They have imbibed this
sentiment at home
That Cuba, despite the double lesson
received from us in the orderly admin
istration of her affairs, has failed so
signally goes 70 prove our assertion.
The negro element on the island is
bound to grasp the reins of government
sooner or later. II is but a question of
time. The colored element predomi-
mates, and it cannot forever be kept
out OF Office, especially when it is taken
into consideration that the negroes and
mestizzoes are cultured and far more
advanced race than we here are apt
to give them credit for Neither the
Gomez nor any other white administra-
ton can count upon steady, orderly
rule as long as the colored patriots are
Disseminated against Hence, the issue
suggests one of two courses. Either the
United States should annex Cuba but
right, or send troops to guard the polls
in order to insure for them pure bal
lot
Which would be the better policy?
To allow the present differences in
Cuban politics to reach a stage when
nothing short of permanent intervention
can prevent a fratricidal warfare, or to
promptly offer to guarantee fair cleo.
ton, regardless of which element may
triumph?