The times., 1898-08-13
The Armistice In Cuba

1t cannot be doubted that the prob
lem of the immediate future in CuDa
involves matter for careful thought
and intelligent treatment on the part
of the Government. AS far as cen
Germs the Spanish commanders and
troorTs who will, perforce, remain in
| the island for some weeks or even
months, we need not look for any par
! ticular trouble between them and our
| forces. But it may be possible that it
viii be more difficult to keep the psace
| between the Spaniards and the Cubans.
In view of this consideration it is
| encouraging to learn that the present
attitude of the chief revolutionary
leaders. Generals Gomez and Garcia, is
more satisfactory than was formerly
reported or than perhaps might have
been expected after the latter's mis-
understanding with General Shafter at
Santiago. 1t appears, however. that
the good sense of Ssnores Maso and Ca
pote, backed by urgent repre- resentations
from the Cuban Junta in this country,
has changed the aspect of the situation
and greatly for the better.
None of the chiefs of the Cuban
cause should be dense enough not to
see that, since the American Govern
ment has undertaken the task of free
ing the country from the ills and hor-
rors of Spanish rule. it must have a
completely free hand to finish the en-
terprise in it's own way and time The
ambitions of Cuban military or poIiti-
cal notables. and the aspirations they
and their people may have INDUCED,
of necessity must wait upon the solu-
ton which the United States will bring
about in due season.
In the interim, and while the Spanish
evacuation remains uncompleted, the
cessation of hCstilities must apply to
the Cubans as well as to their enemy,
and neither field nor guerrilla opera
tions, nor the private persecution of
Spanish denizens, by the native troops
or people of the island, are to be toler-
ated
After the Spaniards have left, a new
set of conditions VIII confront this ma
AApAi- w 0lAdtI-dheu 10 Tree
Cuba and to see that it has a stable
government. The law of seIf-preserya-
ton as we'll as cur duty to other ma
uons and to civilization, will compel us
to insist that it shall be one able to
maintain domestic peace and good or
der, to protect commerce and the legit-
innate interests of resident foreigners,
and to observe it's duties toward other
countries,
To translate a state of practical
anarchy into one OF orderly free gov
ernment is not an easy thing. nor is il
likely TO be accomplished in a day.
The American people are not greedy
of conquest They do not wish to rob
the Cuban people of their heritage, al
ways presuming them to be able and
willing to administer it without detrt-
ment to American interests or to the
dictates of international law and hu-
nianity. How far they are competent
to meet the reasonable requirements of
the situation, can be better judged in
the light of their conduct under the
military government of the United
States. which, for some time, must
precede any other form, and during
the continuance of which they viii be
given chance to prepare for a sys-
tenn of national or semi-national or
ganization to follow.
Exactly what that may be, we do not
believe the man lives who Is w.se
enough to saw at this moment IT is |
certain that an opportunity will be
given for perfectly free expression of
native opinion on the subject, but what
that will prove to be is open to much |
doubt. 1t is probable that a great
many of the educated class of Cubans |
are now favorable either to annexa-
ton. or to a less absolute connection
with the United States under a form |
of government similar to that which !
binds Canada to the British Empire |