The record-union., 1898-08-20

! to accept to provide the means of pre-
| serving order where the withdrawal OF
| the Spanish forces might otherwise lead
| to riot and pillage.
| There is still among the Administra-
| ton the opinion that by the time the
| Spanish control is withdrawn there will
| be a large body of Cubans, not ali IN
| surgents, that will be ready to give the
| soldiers of the United States something
| like the welcome that has been extend
| ed to them in Porto Rico, thus simpli-
/ flying the task of the United States in
| changing rule for the inhabitants.
The Commissioners expect to give at
tention to much more important mat
ters than the mere Indication of ports
| at which Blanco and his men shall en-
| bark. They Will look into the condition
/ of society in Cuba, test the feelings
/ of the people in the cities as to the in
| PRODUCTION of United States officers to
| take temporary charge of some of the
| functions of the Government, and upon
their report will depend greatly the
| succeeding movements of the United
| States.
| A very early attempt will be made to
secure conferences with Generals Co
mez, Garcia, President Masso and other
leading Cubans, to assure them that the
| policy marked out in the order of Pres
| ident Mckinley to General Lawton
| must be adhered to in justice to the
| whole people of Cuba. 1t is expect
| ed that these leaders may be induced
| to take a calm view of the situation,
| and accept the full responsibility for
| securing cordial Cuban cooperation on
| a plan intended TO be just to all Cubans,
| whether native or Spanish, in order
/ that there shall be no interference of
| the progress that is felt to be in store
for Cuba when the island is once free
| from Spanish control. A comparison
of information obtained will very like
| ly be made by the Cuba-Porto Rico
Commissioners before any plan is deter
mined upon. But it is expected that
the main points will be clear to both
commissions at an early stage in the
inquiry that they will make.
The advice of conservative men in
Cuba will be solicited, and wherever
possible adopted, in order to make the
transition from the old Government to
the new as free from irritating features
as possible. There will be a thorough
effort to get rid of the most notorious
practices under Spanish rule at once,
the belief being that Spanish and Gu
bans alike will gladly aid in abolishing
the old processes that have been legit-
| imized, although they increase the
wealth of the officers and keep the un-
official class miserably poor.
1t does not appear that the Military
Commission will be expected to look
| after the commercial interests except
as they are involved in the MAIN
tenance of peace The Treasury De-
partment will provide the changes that
are to be introduced in free Cuba, and
they will favor the utmost activity on
the part of every man who can pro-
duce something or contribute to it's dis
| tribution to those countries of the
world that may need Cuban products
/ The treasury will, of course, have to
maintain revenue cutters about Cuba
as long as any import tariff is main
tanned, and to do the work properly
Secretary Gage may have to send five
or six revenue cutters to Cuba and
perhaps two or three to Porto Rico.
If SO many vessels of the fleet are
needed in the West Indies Congress
will be obliged to increase the fleet
above the present number, thirty-six.
/ Hawaii will need one or two cutters,
and if the Philippines are held there
will be business for several others, and
perhaps an increased number of reve-
nue. cutter officers.
Whatever the plan may be for the
pacification of Cuba, the President is
sure the United States can prevail upon
the people of both islands hitherto held
by Spain to get along without blood
| she'd Occasional outbreaks may not
| be avoided but there is strong hope
of maintaining substantial peace with
| the help of the former insurgents.