The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-31
CUBA AND THE PHILIPPINES.

The news from Cuba and the Philippines
is indicative of trouble, but not more so
than we should have expected at the be-
ginning. Perhaps a partial exception should
be made in regard to the Philippines, be-
cause when we started in to expel the Span
iards from Cuba and to liberate the island
and establish stable government there we
had no idea Of becoming involved in the
Philippines. This involvement, however,
was unavoidable, forced UPON us by circum-
stances beyond our control, and we cannot
escape the responsibilities and duties of the
situation without display of national cow
ardice and dishonor which no American
should be willing to incur. However com
plicated or embarrassing the Philippines
situation may become, we must find bet
ter way out of it than the way of national
dishonor.
AS for the Cubans, everybody knew from
the beginning that we should have trouble
with them. Everybody felt that driving the
Spaniards out of the island would be COM
paratively easy though it was accomplished
quicker and with less expenditure of men
and money than anybody expected, but all
felt that when that was done our troubles
would have but just begun. 1t was felt
that the pacification of the island instilling
in the Cubans the sentiments of law and or
der and laying the foundations of stable
government would be a work of very great
difficulty, involving a large expenditure of
money and requiring time, patience, wisdom
and craftsmanship for it's accomplishment
Therefore we should not be surprised nor
discouraged by the current reports of
trouble. The Cubans are difficult people
to deal with-excitable, suspicious, vindictive
and almost totally ignorant of American
character and methods. The insurgents
have been under arms so long, following
their kind of guerrilla warfare, that they
are thoroughly imbued with lawlessness If
they were given loose rein during the last
days of Spanish rule in the island they
would probably loot Havana and rob and
murder the Spaniards right and left. The
Americans cannot afford to take any risk
of such an occurrence. The disgrace of it
would fall largely on them. The Cubans
could stand it well enough, but the Ameri-
cans could not. Circumstances have made
them in a sense conservators of the peace
in Cuba protectors of life and property,
and they must do their duty whether the
Cubans like it or not No doubt the order
of General Brooke forbidding the Cuban
insurgents to make any public demonstra-
ton on evacuation day is very irritating to
them, but it is not unreasonable. They did
not drive the Spaniards out of Cuba, and
never could have done so. The present sit
uation is of American making, and An Teri
cans should control it, at least to the ex-
tent of preventing the Cubans from bring
ing dshonor on the American name by in
augurating an era of lawlessness and blood
shed. Possibly Cuban demonstration in
Havana on Jan. 1 might not mean this, but
the danger that it would is great enough
to justify General Brooke's order unless
they can give assurances and guarantees
that will justify him in revoking the order.
They will soon discover that the Americans
are acting in good faith for the welfare of
all concerned and that the best thing they
can do is to make friends with the Ameri-
cans and help them in the restoration of
law and order, the reconstruction of gov
eminent and the rehabilitation of the island.
imposed upon us in Cuba and the Philip
pines and we must not try to evade it. We
cannot do so without virtually admitting
that we are unequal to it or that we are
afraid to undertake it's performance. AS
long as retreat is cowardly and dishonor-
abla thara is nothing left hut IN 90 forward