THE CUBA REVIEW 



U 



THE PRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The Annexation of Cuba. 



The ultimate annexation of Cuba is em- 

 bodied in a resolution introduced in the 

 House of Representatives April 20 by Rep- 

 resentative Helm of Kentucky. It provides 

 that whenever a majority of the voters of 

 the island shall vote in favor of annexa- 

 tion to the United States the island shall 

 be annexed on such terms and conditions 

 as the proper authorities of both countries 

 may agree upon. 



Mr. Helm, in explanation of the resolu- 

 tion, said : 



"It is almost certain that the American 

 flag, if it ever goes up in Cuba again to in- 

 sure the stability of government guaranteed 

 by treaty, will be there to stay. This reso- 

 lution anticipates that event and indicates 

 the best, easiest and most democratic way 

 of preserving continued amicable relations." 

 "Of course, nothing will come of his reso- 

 lution at present," says the Hartford Cour- 

 ant. "For the present Cuba (with the Piatt 

 amendment attached) will be left to the en- 

 joyment of such independence as she has 

 and such self-government as she's equal to." 

 The Washington Star says : "There is no 

 impatience in this country to take over 

 Cuba. The hope rather is to see Cuba suc- 

 ceed with her present experiment. It would 

 be better for us. But should she fail, our 

 du'-y will be clear. There must be order in 

 the island. Annexation figures only as a 

 last resort." 



The Providence (R. I.) Tribune thinks 

 that the United States voters should have a 

 say in the matter. "The Cuban voice is not 

 the only voice to be consulted before annex- 

 ation is effected. There is a reasonable 

 understanding that the vote of the people 

 of the United States would be against any 

 such bargain. It is safe to say that the 

 majority of the citizens of this country do 

 not desire the annexation of Cuba." 



The Mobile Register inclines to the opin- 

 ion that before long the Americans will be 

 back "for keeps." It says: "The long 

 period of Spanish government has left its 

 mark on the Cubans; and there is the fur- 

 ther stumbling block to satisfactory estab- 

 lishment of a permanent government that 

 the fusion of whites and blacks has gone 

 on for many years, making impossible the 

 drawing of a color line. The strong hand 

 must accompany any form of government in 

 Cuba." 



Cuba's Coast Defences. 



The Providence (R. I.) Tribune asks re- 

 garding Cuba's proposed coast defenses : 

 "What possible use can there be for a chain 

 of forts along the coasts? It is impossible 

 to conceive any combination of circum- 

 stances hereafter that would lead anybody 

 to desire to attack Cuba from the outside. 

 All her troubles and perils are within, and 

 she had better turn her whole attention in 

 that direction." 



The Albany Journal thinks the coast de- 

 fence plans should not be taken seriously. 

 It says further : "Cuba has neither the 

 money for the construction of a string of 

 forts, and for equipping and garrisoning 

 them, nor the need of such protection. The 

 United States will have to see to it that she 

 doesn't, through her own fault, get into 

 serious trouble with other nations." 



Former Governor Magoon's high estimate 

 of the Cuban is not in accord with that gen- 

 erally held in this country by that large 

 class which has no practical knowledge of 

 conditions, says the Louisville Times. With 

 his contention that the United States can- 

 not, in good faith, again intervene, except 

 in answer to an appeal from Cuba, there 

 can be no quarrel. When he points out the 

 tremendous losses in revenue from tobacco, 

 sugar and other imports that would follow 

 the taking over of Cuba, his appeal for fair 

 play takes on a practical phase that can be 

 readilv understood. 



The more we hear from Mr. Gomez the 

 more are we convinced that he is the one 

 man needed in the crucial period in the life 

 of that little republic— Rochester (N. Y.) 

 Herald. 



A correspondent of the Dayton (O.) News 

 wants to know what it cost the United 

 States to intervene in Cuba and who is to 

 pay the expenses, to which the editor replies : 



■•It is as difficult to state what it cost as it is 

 to say who will pay the bill. It cost about six 

 million dollars up to the time the United States 

 withdrew from the island, but of course there will 

 continue to be expenses Incident to the occupa- 

 tion of the island for many years to come. Cuba 

 is supposed to pay the bill, but if anybody knows 

 whether Cuba will pay it or not, he is wise." 



The editor thinks it will be many years 

 before Cuba will have any money to spare 

 for the United States, but consoles himself 

 with the thought that the debt will be a use- 

 ful thing to this country in the event a con- 

 siderable annexation sentiment grows up in 

 this country. He says further: 



"Any time a majority of our people decide to 

 annex Cuba, they go down there and take the 

 island for the debt incurred when we intervened 

 and put the country in position to be worth an- 

 nexing." 



