CUBA LIBRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12533, 21 June 1901, Page 4

CUBA LIBRE.

Cuba has accepted the "terms" imposed by her great neighbour, and in accordance with the decision of Congress the American troops will be withdrawn from the island, and the government turned' over to the Cuban Republic. Thus has America adhered to the famous resolution of Congress of April 20, 1898: That the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right ought to be, free and independent; That the United' States hereby disclaims any •disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty,.jurisdiction or control over the said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when this is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people. A couple of months ago, Congress announced to the Cuba National Convention, then in session at Havana, that the withdrawal of troops would be proceeded with provided the Constitution finally* adopted by the people of Cuba should reserve to the United' States the right to irit;erfere at any time in the affairs of the island for the maintenance of order and the preservation of stable government. Cuba was also to bind herself not to create an excessive debt, and not to alienate any portion. of her territory to any foreign Power except the United States. No one seriously questions the wisdom of these safeguards, for it would be absolute folly for the United States, after tawing intervened to put an end to an intolerable situation, to leave room now for a recurrence of anarchy in the island. If Mr M'Kinley had listened to some members of his party the resolution of 1898 would have been ignored, and now the Democrats deolare that even the moderate terms imposed are a violation of the letter of that undertaking. The Cubans themselves have adopted a very bitter tone.. Susceptible and hofc-headed,' they clamour for an ideal freedom. " Cuba Libre," to them'; means a Cuba absolutely unrestrained 1 , free to indulge at will in revolution and anarchy, to drift into national bankruptcy, to court political disaster and to work out her destiny, if need be, under a succession of military despotisms. They desire to repeat the history of all Central and South American republics, and they would throw aside their chances of peace and prosperity under American protection for the name of liberty. When the delegates to the National Constitutional Convention were elected to arrange for the future. government of the island, they took an oath, solemnly renouncing "any fealty to, or compact with, any other State or nation," swearing loyalty to " the free and independent people," and binding themselves to obey the Constitution adopted 6y the Convention. We can sympathise with the Cubans in their aspirations, but our sympathy must not lead us to ignore the American side of the,question. Having intervened in the cause of peace and good government, the United States owes it to its own people not to relinquish its hold on tho island until Cuba has demonstrated its ability to conduct its own affairs satisfactorily. If the Cubans were really as enlightened and civilised as their champions declare, this question would be of less importance. But the National Convention has already displayed its ineptitude. The whole country is less than three times the size of Switzerland, and has only half its population, and yet the Convention seriously considered a proposal to moke each of the six provinces a separate State, with a Legislature and Administration of its own, and in alii probability the Constitution will ultimately provide for a federation of three States, each having its own laws. This cumbersome and expensive form of Government seems to be designed solely in the interests of the office-seekers. Cuba, indeed, as sorely in need of a strong guiding hand. Among all her patriots there is not on« man capable of leading a nation. Of the four figures in the revolt against Spain, Maria, Maceo, Garcia and Gomez, only Gomez survives, and he has lived his life. The Nationalists of the island have declared that they will fight America as they fought Spain, but they know that the struggle would be a vain one; and we niay hope that when the people have settled down to govern themselves they will realise the truth of the maxim that if they are to have freedom they must first deserve it.