The age-herald., 1898-07-25
GOLDEN FUTURE OF
 THE LITTLE ISLAND
rom the Washington Times.

laws will apply and be enforced.
 It may be announced on the best authori- ty that the administration has decided to establish a strong military government in Cuba, and that there is little prospect that
 the island will be given up for an indefinite
 time to come. The chances are that if the
 republic of Cuba is recognized in the future
 it will be only as a dependency of America,
 under it's strict tutelage.
 According to talk in the administration
 circle, this decision has been reached by President Mckinley only because, appar-
 ently, there is no other feasible possi-
 ble solution of the Cuban problem. The
 president believes that this policy in no
 way violates the spirit the letter of the
 resolutions of congress or of his message
 pointing out the necessity of forcing Spain
 to eyacuate. He is as firm in his deter
 imitation that Cuba shall be free as he was
 when he wrote his message, but the events
 of the war have convinced him that there
 will be more freedom in the real sense of
 the word and more justice and hope for
 civilization under the rule of America than
 can be possible under any thinkable gov
 ernment by the present leaders of the Gu
 bans.
 The campaign against Santiago has been
 the final cause of this conclusion Not
 only has General Shafter become convinced
 that the American government has been
 deceived as to the strength and character
 of the Cuban army, but the war depart
 ment and the administration as well have
 had their eyes opened to several deplora-
 ble facts. The Cuban army that America was promised as an effective ally in it's inland campaign has failed to materialize. A few thousand weaponless ard untrained
 men scattered in bands through the noun
 tains are all that have been found.
 The character of the Cubans with whom
 Shafter has come in contact Is far from
 irreproachable His reports, it is asserted
 at the department. show them to be utter
 lv worthless to be skulkers and looters.
 He expresses the utmost disgust for them.
 The president has been Investigating the
 situation in other directions for two months
 and had received reports from many
 sources, but these from General Shafter
 have been more convincing than any be-
 fore He has come to the conclusion, in
 word, that if the Cubans who are fighting
 for their country are of such character
 the Cubans who would attempt to govern
 1t must also he open to a grave suspicion
 IS to their ability, if not their honesty.
 The new American plan is already formed
 and in fact in operation largely. A sta
 ble sufficient liberty giving American form
 of government, military in its nature has
 been established in Santiago province It
 will be extended to the other parts of the
 island as fast they come under the flag.
 The presidents open letter to the secre tary of war defining the form of rule that the military governor shall institute in San tiago tells the story fully and clearly. Under this government a modern civiliza- tion is to spring up. The old Spanish grind ing taxes are to be abandoned. Already they being reformed. Low customs du- ties are to invite the easy purchase of food and clothing to relieve immediate neeessi- ties Sanitary reforms are to be enforced for the preservation of health and the pre- vention of yellow fever and smallpox. And perhaps more important than all this, un- | der wise restrictions, American .soldiery is | to keep the peace between the warning ele- ments of the population until harmony Is restored and self-government is possible. The actual fact of the American possess ion and ownership in Cuba is shown fin al most a startling way by the presidents or der yesterday establishing the American postal system in the island, as fully de-
 scribed in another place in the Times. With in a few days towns many miles in the in teror will have Uncle Sans postofiices, and all American facilities for sending and receiving letters except fast mail trains. These will come later.
 The government telegraph lines have all | ready been extended into Santiago as stated | heretofore They will be pushed in various directions to connect the several garrisons 1 in the larger towns and will be also open | to public use.
 The railroads already in existence, but | largely out of service now, will be repaired | and extended by the government and will 1 remain under its control, but available to the people.
 The future military plans for the exten- | sion of American control in the island have | not been made public entirely. It is be- l heved, however, that, in addition to thor | oughly occupying the territory surrendered l by General Toral, movements against the | Spanish forces to the north and west of | Santiago will soon be under way. One statement by an army officer to a Times | reporter yesterday was to the effect that great campaign pushing steadily west ward is under contemplation. This plan was foreshadowed in the Times two days after Santiago fell If 1t Is undertaken all the troops now at Santiago. and perhaps more, to be sent later. will be utilized. It is stated that the interior of Cuba, especial ly in Santiago province. is healthy. even in the rainy season.
 There is reason to believe that Holguin and Manzanillo will be taken in any event Holguin is a large town, hundred miles northwest of Santiago. It is supposed to contain at least 10000 troops under General Luque. The action of General Garcia, the Cuban l leader in withdrawing his forces from the vicinity of Santiago, and from cooperation l with General Shafter's army, described in dispatches to the Times yesterday, caused no surprise at the war department or to the administration. It is an additional proof to the president and his advisers that their course in determining to hold Cuba is the only possible one.
 The whole line of action of the Cubans since the landing of General Shafters army has shown a feeling of resentment, always very near the surface The American of fcers analyze it as simply the inherent jealousy and suspicion of the Cubans bred in them by long contact with the treachery of Spain. They state that the treatment of the Cubans in front of Santiago has been only such as was absolutely necessary to the campaign.
 An officer said to a reporter for The Times this morning:
 General Shafter went to Sae t'ago to take Santiago and not to aid the Cubans in doing it. His campaign was absolutely in line with the whole policy of America in Cuba. The Cubans have prove n themsel, es unable to conquer Spain and America has