THE CUBA REVIEW. 



15 



UNITED STATES NEWSPAPER COMMENT 



On the Withdrawal of American Troops from Cuba, and the Coming Elections. 



American Supervision at all Elections. 



"If the unwise policy of establishing 

 an independent Cuban government 

 should be adhered to the first elections 

 undoubtedly would be honestly con- 

 ducted, for they would be under Amer- 

 ican supervision. But how as to subse- 

 quent elections? There could be no as- 

 surance of their fairness. The election 

 at which Palma was chosen the second 

 time was not honestly conducted. If 

 another Cuban government is set up 

 there should be provision for American 

 supervision of all presidential elections, 

 so that there may be no cheating and 

 no excuse for revolution." — Chicago Tri- 

 bune. 



American Forces Assure Tranquillity. 



"Evidence from natives and Americans 

 has been to the effect that tranquillity 

 and stability of government were only 

 assured so long as American authority 

 prevailed in the island, and as long as 

 that authority upheld the rather trans- 

 parent farce of local self-government. 



"The Cubans have yet to give satis- 

 factory demonstration of their ability to 

 refrain from squabbling and factionalism, 

 heretofore so fatal to the preservation of 

 law and order. Superficiallly, they have 

 advanced in the art of self-government. 

 The moment the restraint of American 

 jurisdiction is removed they display ten- 

 dencies of reverting to their ancient and 

 demoralizing practices. 



"Will we ever leave Cuba?" — Atlanta 

 (Ga.) Constitution. 



Annexation Discouraged. 



"The good results which have flowed 

 from the presence of American troops 

 and the administration of the govern- 

 ment under the direction of this country 

 have encouraged the annexation senti- 

 ment, but the advocates of that policy 

 know that nothing of that kind would 

 receive encouragement in the United 

 States. This country intervened in Cu- 

 ban aflfairs solely for the purpose of re- 

 storing order and to enable the Cubans 

 to elect a government of their own. That 

 government will be inaugurated next 

 February, and every one hopes that it 

 will be wise, stable and progressive." — 

 Denver (Colo.) Republican. 



Cartridge Box vs. Bullet Box. 



The Cubans' idea of constitutional 

 liberty is somewhat hazy because they 

 have been brought up to fight for lib- 

 erty and, to use an old expression, know 

 more about the cartridge box than they 

 do about the ballot box. In another 



generation, perhaps, the Cubans will 

 settle down to enjoynient of an organ- 

 ized government that will be permanent 

 and not subject to the "under the sur- 

 face" attacks, the contemplation of which 

 makes the best element of the islanders 

 glad that the American troops will be 

 present during the coming elections. — ■ 

 Mobile (Ala.) Register. 



Greatest Service to Cuba. 



The very greatest service which the 

 United States at present, and for some 

 time to come, could render Cuba, is the 

 assurance of order, of justice through 

 the means of popular suffrage, and the 

 inevitable lesson in political develop- 

 ment, which teaches a people of popular 

 government to abide by the decision of 

 the majority. To permit Cuba to run 

 into the ruction of intestinal strife, revo- 

 lution, and political chaos, with each dis- 

 appointment in oiifice-seeking, would be 

 to permit ourselves to stand sponsor for 

 that deplorable state of government. 



Annexation Sentiment Increased. 



The Americans have insured to the 

 Cubans a stable government under which 

 the people have pursued their regular ac- 

 tivities unmolested by bushwhackers 

 from within. As a consequence busi- 

 ness has been active, and the people 

 have been prosperous. This change has 

 increased the strong annexation senti- 

 ment which existed in Cuba before our 

 latest intervention, and has aroused the 

 hope in the island that when we step 

 in next time we will remain in per- 

 manently. — St. Louis (Mo.) Globe-Dem- 

 ocrat. 



Magoon Can't be Spared. 



Just at present the United States is 

 getting ready to evacuate Cuba, and the 

 operation of withdrawing will be a deli- 

 cate one. "Governor Magoon," as an 

 administration official said to-day, "has 

 his fingers on all the strings down there, 

 and another man in his place would 

 have to learn a good deal in a short 

 time." 



Cuba in the Republican Party Platform. 



Much attention will be given to the 

 planks dealing with the Philippines and 

 Cuba. The pacific attitude of this coun- 

 try toward Cuba will be held to have 

 been demonstrated by the present rela- 

 tionship of the two countries and by 

 the generally known fact that, having 

 restored peace and order to that island, 

 the United States is now preparing to 

 bring its protectorate to an end and to 

 remove the evidences of its control. 



