The times., 1898-12-31
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1898.
American Duty in Cuba.

American Duty in Cuba.
II is not unreasonable to think that
greater tact might have been exercised IN
refusing to the Cubans the privilege of
turning next Sunday into a day of jubilee.
Whether it would have made a difference
in their feelings we can only guess. Cen
eral Wood, at Santiago has been firm
with them, but at the same time has Won
their confidence and even affection. They
seem TO accept his judgment as that OF
a wise friend. Generals Brooke and Lud-
low are simple soldiers without the tact
of General Wood. They do not discrim-
mate between the immature, long-sup-
pressed Cubans and soldiers of the regular
army. expecting instant and unquestioning
obedience from one as from the other
Perhaps they were not the best men who
could have been selected for place where
not only sternness is required, but also AN
appearance of paternal kindness. How
ever that may be, there is reason to COM
plain of the Cubans. 1t was stupid in them
to suppose that the formal process of
Spanish surrender and American installa-
ton at Havana-foolish, as much of the
programme is-could be allowed to be dis
turbed by parade of a Cuban army with
guns.
No reasonable person blames the Gu
bans for their hatred of Spain and of the
Spanish residents of Havana, who have
invented many of the worst forms of cru
city the Spanish governors have inflicted.
They would be poor creatures, unworthy
of sympathy or respect, if they failed to
hold the most bitter memories of the un-
speakable Affections OF Spanish tyranny.
But the feeling is merely childish when 1t
awakens no more serious ambition than
TO parade the Havana streets and indulge
in a general spree TO annoy the remnant
of the Spanish army. Nothing has been
more discouraging to the friends of the
Cubans than the unworthy suspicious of
American sincerity and American friend
ship which they have received from the
junta in this country, and the puerile con-
duct of some of the more prominent
among the Cubans in Havana on being
refused permission to make holiday when
it would certainly create a riot. We can
be Indifferent to the lack of gratitude
for American services and TO the protes-
taticns Of the junta that Cuba owes moth
ing to this nation for freedom; but the
triyialty of the Cuban character is re-
vealed in depressing light when Cubans
become the easy tools of few ambitious
demagogues and insist on an immediate
degree CT personal liberty that would have
the most tragic results. The worst fears
Of what would follow the loss of General
Garcia seem destined TO be realized.
The duty Of this country in Cuba and
in the Philippines is plain. Having as
sumed responsibility for the peace of the
islands, we are bound to establish and
maintain it. Every demonstration of
childish ignorance on the part of the ma
tives can only postpone the day of their
government. Our duty TO civilization,
to the natives and to ourselves compels
us TO exercise force until the people prove
themselves capable of living without it.
1t should not require high order of in
telligence to understand that We cannot
place the rule of territory in which citi-
Zens Of ether nations have vested rights
in the hands Of people who cannot control
their own impulses TO persecute other
classes of Inhabitants and who refuse to
submit to the simplest conditions of an
orderly life. In our own country, when
parade threatens to cause a riot, the mu-
nicipal authorities prohibit it and revoke
the right of public meeting. In most cities
in America there has been a time when a
demonstration wholly unobjectionable in
itself has had to be prevented by the po-
lice in order TO preserve the peace. Our
citizens acquiesce without murmur rec
ognizing the superlative Importance of
public order. Yet for the same course of
the American authorities at Havana,
where the situation has been panicky for
months and where riot and murder have
been constant dangers, the Cubans have
torn down the American flag, threatened
TO drape their houses in black and have
appeared to be more concerned about a
petty triumph over the few remaining
Spaniards than about showing themselves
capable of aiding the Americans to pre-
serve The peace until the last Spaniard is
gone.
Those who have been most hopeful about
the Cubans and who noted the influence ol
the late General Garcia with pride, mus
be deeply chagrined by the readiness
with which they place themselves in the
hands of ambitious, self-seeking mischief
makers and turn their backs on the Amer
leans who have proved their friendship
il is obvious that unless another Garcia
arises the day of Cuban independence /.
remote. The people of the island have les
sons TO learn before they can be fit fol
self government and under their present
leaders they are not learning them.
This also is true of the Filipinos to {
degree, though it is still to be seen wheth-
er they are as childish and incapable a.
the Cubans seem to be. We have no doub
as to the final results of American rule
and influence. In spite of the temporary
success of shrewd demagogues, the lib
erty. security and prosperity that will fol
low our administration will teach the