The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-24
A OmeEtion Rnised.


The letter Of Gen. Garcia 90 Gen. Shaft
er, in which the former complains that he
was ignored in the Santiago surrender
ceremonies and that the patriots compos-
ing his army were Inundated by being
refused permission TO enter that city, and
that the Cuban leaders were insulted by
being refused any voice in the
administration of the municipal affairs OF
Santiago, has raised up friends for the Gu
ban insurgents. It is said that even the
President thinks Gen. Shafter showed a
great lack of tact In dealing with Gen.
Garcia-that he should have treated him
and his ragged army as allies and given
him place of honor at the surrender.
We do not know whether the Washing
ton dispatches state the Presidents posi-
ton in this matter correctly or not. The
chances are they do, because the Presi-
dent is disposed to offend nobody if he can
help it. But, as a matter Of fact, is not
the course which Gen. Shafter has pur-
sued pretty nearly correct? 1t is true that
it would have been proper and wise to
have given Gen. Garcia a prominent place
In the procession on the day of Santiago's
surrender, and it wouldn't be surprising
if it should turn out that he received an
invitation to be present What Gen. Car
ca wanted, however, at least, what we
think he wanted, was a position which
would have involved the recognition of the
alleged Cuban republic by our govern
ment For instance, he thought that San
tiago ought to have been turned over to
the leaders of the Cuban republic to be
governed in accordance with their views.
That would have been an acknowledge
ment of the so-called republic.
Our government has pointedly refused
to admit that the alleged Cuban republic
has any existence. 1t has said to the
whole world that it proposed to drive the
Spaniards out of Cuba and give the Gu
bans a stable and liberal government of
their own. 1t could not carry out its
promises if 1t recognized the republic
which Gomez and Garcia represent
Our purpose is to establish a government
in Cuba which shall have the approval of
the whole people of that'island. The I'M
Outstanding is that the republic which
/ Gomez and Garcia are fighting for repre-
sents only small fraction Of the popula-
ton.
There were other reasons. probably, why
Gen. Shafter didn't want Gen. Garcia's
patriots to enter Santiago with his army.
One was that the patriots would have
wanted to cut the threats of the Span
iards. Gen. Garcia refers to that reason,
and Indignantly denies that his men would
have brought dlscredit upon the American
army which was responsible for the lives
and property of the people of Santiago
Still it is believed that Gen. Shafter acted
wisely in shutting the Cuban patriots out
of Santiago. They shot Spanish sailors
it is said, who were escaping from the
burning ships Of Admiral Cervera's squad
ron, and they might have wanted to shoot
Spanish soldiers who had surrendered.
Another reason was that Gen. Skaters
soldiers had no liking for Gen. Garcia's
soldiers, who, according to accounts,
| didn't either work or fight in the siege of
Santiago. They were fed by our govern
ment but they kept out of harms way.
Under the circumstances Gen. Shafter
acted wisely, in all probability, in prohib-
iting them from entering Santiago, though
he might have used more diplomacy in
carrying out his policy.
1t is highly probable that the insurgents
are going TO give us trouble, and a great
deal of it. From any point of view it is
better that they should understand clearly
in the beginning what our purpose is in
driving the spaniards out of Cuba. Gen.
| Shafter seems TO have made Gen. Garcia
understand that it is not to open the way
for the men at the head of the alleged
Cuban republic to take possession of the
| island.