The Politics of Intervention

36 THE POLITICS OF INTERVENTION

a system opposed to general education and self government."
Yet to produce lasting change, the Cubans must change them­
selves; "it cannot be done by having outsiders preach at
them."^31 Although there were many traditional barriers to
change, the United States could, by its example and a liberal
economic policy, support those Cubans who would provide
"conservative and thoughtful control of Cuba."^32 Essentially
Root believed in the efficacy of law and constitutionalism, but
not in forced change or the radical transplantation of cultural
values. He doubted that either the Cubans or Americans
wanted annexation or that the two cultures could ever be
compatible politically.
During the fall of 1899, as a result of his own study of the
Cuban problem, Root announced that the United States would
grant Cuba independence as quickly as a Cuban government
could be formed. This decision was implicit in Root's order
to complete rapidly the Cuban census. Root then made a
clear statement of American policy in his annual report,
published December 1:

Our temporary occupation of the island of Cuba involves a very
simple plan of operation, with some difficulties in its application which
are apt to be overlooked by those who are impatient for immediate
results. The control which we are exercising in trust for the people of
Cuba should not be, and of course will not be, continued any longer
than is necessary to enable the people to establish a suitable govern­
ment.... Our present duty is limited to giving every assistance in
our power to the establishment of such a government and to maintaining
order and promoting the welfare of the people of Cuba during the
period necessarily required for that process.^33

With popular sentiment for Cuba's annexation dwindling
and the McKinley administration concerned with the Philip­
pine Insurrection and the political potency of anti-imperialism
at home, Root had received a mandate to work for Cuban
independence. Ironically, Root chose as his foremost instru­
ment of policy the champion of annexation, Leonard Wood.
On December 20, 1899, Wood replaced General Brooke
as military governor of Cuba.^34 He immediately began to