U.S. Foreign Affairs Since 1898

U.S. Foreign Affairs Since 1898

1898 Editorial: "Do not just remember the U.S.S. Maine -- remember your obligations as human beings and Americans" -- Regarding Senator Proctor's March 17th speech on conditions in Cuba

One of the driving goals of 19th century U.S. foreign policy has been to eradicate the oppressive influence of the European powers from the Western Hemisphere. This has been the objective of the United States not simply because of American security concerns. True, geography and proximity explains some of our understandable interest in the region. As President McKinley said in 1898, the United States has a special interest in the fate of the nations of Latin America, such as Cuba, because they are "right at our door." (Paterson, 1998, p.6) What affects and oppresses these nations may soon impact our own lives within our borders. As the world has become increasingly interconnected economically, the European powers have become more and more hungry to acquire colonial territories near to the shores of the United States. Although the United States strives to stand somewhat aloof in this quest for blind conquest, it cannot ignore its economic interests in the region, if Europe's quest for dominance grows overly strident and strives to smother the liberties of the nations Americans are in sympathy with, and in close proximity to, geographically. The U.S. is right to fear such vehement and blind European desires to threaten the liberties of other nations, for fear they may threaten our own liberties.

It is also in sympathy with the emerging movements for independence in the nations of this region that Cuba cries out for our aid. America supports the liberty and national self-determination of the nations of all of the Americas, as it too was once a colonial power, withering under the tyrannical policies of a European monarchical government. In light of its longstanding policy, its history, and the love of liberty in the "Spirit of 1776" within the hearts of its populace, the United States has been at the forefront of the Pan-American movement whose objective is to ensure that the European powers do not transgress the right of self-determination of other, independent nations or nations seeking their independence such as Cuba. (Paterson, 1998, p.6)

Cuba has suffered under the thumb of Spain for too long, much as America suffered under the heavy hand of the British. Like America during its colonial oppression, Cuban economic and political growth has been stifled by the unrepresentative Spanish adminstration and its blind insistence upon Cuban trade restrictions. Ever since the death of the Cuban patriot and advocate of independence Marti, Spain has been herding the indigenous Cuban population like cattle into towns where innocent persons are crushed together, in areas with little food, proper sanitation, or health care. While the Cuban populace cries out for democracy, Spain responds only with more harsh administration and a determination to erradicate the liberty of others.

Recent accusations of human rights abuses in Cuba have been derided as fabrications of the sensationalist press, or mere yellow journalism. Hopefully, this idea will be counteracted by the observations of the respected senator from Vermont, Senator Redfield Proctor. Proctor does not merely repeat of make empty allegations that horrific violations are occurring in Cuba upon the natives at the hands of the Spaniards. He has witnessed these abuses with is own eyes on an observational visit, where he went as a skeptic, with, in his own words, "a strong conviction that the picture had been overdrawn," regarding the terrible conditions of the Cuban populace. (Proctor, 1898)

Proctor came back to the United States convinced that, more so than the destruction of the Maine, the barbarities inflicted by the Spanish forces cry out for United States intervention. ("March 17, 1898: Senator Proctor's Visit to Cuba," 1999, Crucible of Empire: PBS Online) In his words, "if our people could see a small fraction of the need, they would pour more 'freely from their liberal store' than ever before for any cause." (Proctor, 1998)

The call of the advocates of intervention is often to remember the U.S.S. Maine -- but remember more than the Maine, remember our own history and our human rights obligation to other persons, located in this same region of the world as our own. Today, no longer a minor actor upon the world stage, we are a great power, with the awesome will and determination to make our ideological and moral influence felt upon the region. As such a power, as evidenced by the destroyed Maine, we are open to attacks from other powers jealous of our burgeoning influence. We also stand as rallying point for other nations of the area, as Cubans look to us for aid.