Before the Cubans had time to put their “opinion of what ought to be the relations” between the two countries into definite form, there was presented to them, in a manner as needless as it was tactless, a statement of what the American authorities thought those relations should be.  The Cubans, who were faithfully observing their earlier instructions, were deeply offended by this interference, and by the way in which the interference came.  The measures known as the Platt Amendment was submitted to the United States Senate, as an amendment to the Army Appropriation bill, on February 25, 1901 The Senate passed the bill, and the House concurred A storm of indignant protest swept over the island The Cubans believed, and not without reason, that the instrument abridged the independence of which they had been assured by those who now sought to limit that independence.  Public opinion in the United States was divided.  Some approved and some denounced the proceeding in bitter terms.  The division was not at all on party lines.  The situation in Cuba was entirely changed.  Instead of formulating an opinion in accordance with their earlier instructions, the members of the Convention were confronted by a choice of what they then regarded as evils, acceptance of unacceptable terms or an indefinite continuance of a military government then no less unacceptable.  A commission was sent to Washington to urge changes and modifications.  It was given dinners, lunches, and receptions, but nothing more.  At last the Cubans shrugged their shoulders.  The desire for an immediate withdrawal of American authority, and for Cuban assumption of the reins of government, outweighed the objection to the terms imposed.  A Cuban leader said:  “There is no use in objecting to the inevitable.  It is either annexation or a Republic with the Amendment.  I prefer the latter.”  After four months of stubborn opposition, the Cubans yielded, by a vote of sixteen to eleven, with four absentees.

In many ways, the Cuban Government is like our own.  The President and Vice-President are elected, through an electoral college, for a term of four years.  A “third term” is specifically prohibited by the Constitution.  Senators, four from each Province, are chosen, for a term of eight years, by an electoral board.  Elections for one half of the body occur every four years.  The House is chosen, by direct vote, for terms of four years, one half being elected every two years.  The Cabinet, selected and appointed by the President, consists of eight Secretaries of Departments as follows:  Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor; State; Government; Treasury (Hacienda); Public Instruction; Justice; Public Works; and Health and Charities.  There is a Supreme Court, and there are the usual minor courts.  The Constitution also makes provision for the organization and the powers of the Provincial and Municipal Governments.  To the Constitution, the Platt Amendment is attached as an appendix, by treaty arrangement.  As far as governmental system is concerned, Cuba is fairly well equipped; a possible source of danger is its over-equipment.  Its laws permit, rather than require, an overburden of officials, high and low.  But Cuba’s governmental problem is essentially one of administration.  Its particular obstacle in that department is professional politics.