El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-09

months will tell whether or not II Is
able to avert a third American inter
vention. One does not have to go very
deep into the situation to discover that
the United States government does not
desire TO intervene, and that all that can
be done to avert such an event viii De
done by the authorities al W dSnlnB ton
President Taft and secretary Knox are
so DESTROYS to avoid another occupation
of Cuba that they have ADVISED with
the Cuban nation, several times puollc-
" and frequently In private, and nave
given every possible suggestion TO as
sist the maintenance of Cuba Tor the
Cubans" They are anxious to see the
work of American diplomacy succeed
and to afford the world in general, and
Latin America in particular. every pos
sible evidence Of the altruism OF the
United States
Therefore. II Cuba is not able to
avert Intervention il viii not be be-
cause the Washington government
has failed to do what il can to fore
warn of the rocks ahead and of the
danger TO the Cuban ship of state in
reckless navigation. Every reasOna-
bic excuse will be made for Cuba. and
there is one encouraging note to the
Cubaus I'm that on the other hand,
this is an element Of danger TO the
Cuban government and the Cuban peo-
pie. They rely on the desire of the
United states government to avert in
terventiOn and a guarantee against 1t
and hence are much inclined to ignore
Its representations to them. Cuba is
also inclined to resent the idea OF tho
American governments right 10 inter-
vene. II feels that IL has a right TO
manage its own affairs without let,
hindrance or suggestion from any
where.
Knox Warning to Cubans.
Another unfortunate factor in the
situation is that the Quarreling ele-
ments always take the word that
comes from Washington as applying 10
the other side and not TO themselves.
As an instance of this. one might mem
ton their reception OF the straight talk
handed them by secretary Knox on his
recent visit He told them that a peO-
pie liberated from oppressive tyranny
have not improved their situation II
unrestrained selfishness, which al
most Invariably leads TO anarchy is the
result He further warned them against
renting the destinies of their country
to the hands Of a few who. with every
thing to gain and nothing 10 lose, make
a business Of the politics Of their coun-
try.
After secretary Knox had thus spo-
ken. each faction straightway applied
the admOnittOn TO the other side. The
party in power took il as a powerful
arraignment Of its opponents and enc
mics. 1t formed a conspicuous text
from which every administra ton organ
in Cuba preached sermons by the col
umn against those opposed TO president
Gomez and his administration On the
other hand, the Conservatives saw In
the words of Mr.. Knox a shrewd casti-
cation of the rule OF president Gomez
One OF the Conservative organs said
the admOnitIOns applied most 10 the
very men who held the prominent seats
at the banquet table from which IT was
delivered and who have converted the
national politics into vile traffic. II
both sides took the warning home TO
themselves and acted accordingly they
- b. ~ % ID #naM HHn
tervention-
There are many elements in the pres
ent situation OF Cuba which might lead
10 another Intervention The Wash
ington government expects Cuba 70
need Its warnings against government
tai extravaganza. In point of fact, the
worst danger that now threatens the
island is bankruptcy one warning
after another has been brought TO the
government, but down TO date they
have availed but little. There is some
hope that the private conversations Of
secretary Knox with the officials Of
the Cuban government have awakened
them TO the fact that they must stop
their reckless use Of the public funds
and VII lead them 10 a saner financial
policy
American Residents Favor Intervention
There are many Americans in the
Island who would like to see interven-
ton Nor do they stand alone in this
regard. Most OF the property owning
Cubans woNd not be averse TO such
course on the part Of the United States.
They say IL would be best for Cuba in
the long run But the bulk of the Gu
ban population is proud Of the national
independence. and seem TO regard the
United States as waiting for an oppor-
tunity TO seize il out of their hands
The negro question Is one that may
have an important bearing on the tu-
ture OF Cuba A prominent American
who was born in Havana and who has
spent most OF his life there. declares
that the effect Of the Acknowledgement
OF the negro in Cuba was almost as bad
as in the reconstruction era In the
south, and that II has made political
issue I'm Cuba the end Of which cannot
be fOreseen. Some years ago a law
was enacted, with q negro as its patron,
providing that no race could hold po-
ttlcal meetings as race This was
intended TO hold in check the dangers
OF race war
More recently the negroes of Cuba
have come TO the conclusion that they
can secure their rights only by assert
ing them as a race. 50 they nave or
ganized what they call the "lndepen-
dent COlOred party They nave
sought 10 hold political meetings but
the government has reminded them Of
the existence Of the Morua law. ana
soldiers have been sent 10 prevent
them from holding meetings The ne
groes cast approximately oue-Iourth
OF the vote Of the island, and hold the
balance of power President Gomez
has promised them to work for the re-
peal OF the law. although some Of the
negroes doubt his sincerity The lead
err Of the negro party recently stated
that it was up TO the government to
find some means OF allowing the ne
grOes TO maintain a separate political
party. so that there might not be any
black clouds for the republic of Cuba
or clouds Of blood for the Independent
ColOred party" The negroes, while in
sisting upon the right Of using the
word "colored" in the designation Of
their party. have protested against
any race distinctions in the census re-
turns Of the island. They bitterly re-
sent the publication Of figures showing
the number Of negroes and white peO-
pie In the island
Veterans the Real Menace.
While the Independent COlored par
ty'' makes more noise than any other
movement in the island. IL probably is
not as much a menace to the continue
ton Of Cugan independence as is the
organization OF the Veterans OF the
War of Independence The veterans
are extremely radical I'm their demands
and II all Of these demands should be
recognized it Is impossible TO forecast
the result. In the first place. they
demand that the civil service laws OF
the island shall be suspended for a