The Politics of Intervention

Restoration and Withdrawal 261

progressive, and dedicated to service in the cause of national

regeneration," Magoon paved the way for the politicos final

conquest of the Republic of Cuba. After 1909, "administrative

corruption, violence and incapacity" increasingly dominated

Cuban government and were an insurmountable barrier

to reform.^59

A perceptive contemporary assessment of the American

occupation came from Dr. Juan Guiteras in a letter to Major

Jefferson R. Kean. The United States, Doctor Guiteras wrote,

had the best intentions and Cuba was grateful to be rescued

from the violence of 1906. The problem was that American

policy-makers failed to use their power to provide for the

long range conditions which would insure the United States

security and trade and Cuba's development. The expedient

acts of the occupation brought only temporary improvement:

A rather remarkable group of well-meaning, intelligent men, with

a great power behind them, have come down here, and with much tact,

hard work, self sacrifice and kindness, have managed things very well.

They have maintained peace and order, and have much improved the

administration; they have opened up new lines in the way of progress;

but that they have made us better fit for self-government, I cannot

believe.

... In Cuba there are no parties, and the Intervention has done

nothing towards teaching us to construct and maintain two great po­

litical parties. It has, on the contrary, fostered our natural bent for

individual or boss following. When this second Intervention came upon

the scene the people appeared to be divided into two great political

parties... worthy rivals to contend for the control of the future

Republic. But the conglomerate that made up the so-called parties

began to disgregate [sic], and the Government proceeded to cultivate

the several factions into which they divided. The result was a most

luxurious multiplication of parties, in the shape of three or more inde­

pendent followings in every Province, and perhaps in every municipality.

This is exactly what was done in the days of the Republic and the

procedure must likewise lead to revolution so soon as you withdraw the

big stick of Uncle Sam that makes everything go.^60

Fearing a costly and politically unjustifiable war, the
Roosevelt administration reluctantly assumed the responsibility
of governing Cuba in 1906. Caught between its hesitancy to
incur domestic criticism and its sensitivity to Cuban resistance,