The Fragile Republic 47judgments on people and matters of loyalty, honor, duty, and
patriotism. He was extremely sensitive to personal criticism.
Although Estrada Palma valued democracy, he was a politi
cal and economic conservative. He was an advocate of bal
anced budgets, governmental austerity, and obedience to
authority. He believed Cuba's future was democratic, but it
would have to evolve from education and practice. As presi
dent he commented on Cuba's insufficient preparation in self-
government, stating that
... the efficacy of the democratic system resides precisely in this,
in being open in everything, in criticizing and discussing everything.
But from there (the ideal) to the highly personalized, angry attacks of
present day politics, there is a great abyss.
All defamatory statements deserve censure, but I have granted even
the most misguided of those who try me, benevolency and inexhaustible
leniency.
Many confuse, unfortunately, liberty with license. I, on the other
hand, have never used a single one of the thousand recourses power
offers me in order officially to quiet the defamers. This is the reason that
up to the gates of Havana, and even within the capital itself, the most
extreme and rabid opponents enjoy true immunity.
From such a chance I am demonstrating, religiously, respect for
liberty: acquiescent, tolerating the exaggerated, and at times hurt, feel
ing that the concept of liberty itself is attacked when my character is
questioned.
There are inevitable evils, and this is one of them. The great Wash
ington was bitterly attacked, with notorious injustice, and he was
Washington.
In Cuba we have a Republic, but there are no citizens. They will be
shaped as they become imbued with true democracy, which is sane
and disciplined.... Until now, our status as colonials has not allowed
us to educate ourselves politically. We must give ourselves a full trial.^49
A major factor in Estrada Palma's nomination was that his
long exile had freed him to a large degree from the bitter
factionalism within the revolutionary leadership in Cuba.
On the other hand, he was well known to the American
government and was highly regarded by the McKinley admin
istration. The United States government knew he was a firm
Cuban patriot, and a friend to private enterprise and the