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Show CUBA LIBRA. Havana was decked gloriously in flags and flowers, and a delirium of joy took possession pos-session of the people when it was made sure that faith was to be kept, that the beautiful island was to be given up to the rule of her own people. Still, we fancy that the thoughtful men and women of the fair city had some gloomy forebodings when they saw the flag of the great republic run down, when the big ships firing farewell salutes steamed out of the harbor. 1 Free government is a boon to those who I have the wisdom, the patriotism, the self- restraint and courage necessary to guard the I gift. 1 The masses of the people of Cuba are 1 ignorant, they know nothing of self-disci- I pline; they have an exagerated idea that m with freedom everything they want will be I given them ; not many of them have the slight- est conception of the duties that free gov- B ernment imposes upon every citizen. jfl Let us all hope that there are enough men H there who possess the needed qualifications H to hold the masses steady and to insure H progress. Many people say that the United H States ought to own the island, but in our judgment, if the people there can govern ml themselves and enforce sanitary laws, it is H much better that they own and control the island, for they are Latins, absolutely dis- I tinct in spirit and thought from our people, and it will be much better if they can man- H age their own affairs. |
