The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-09-01
LIEUT.. GEN. MACIAS.
(The Last Spanish Captain General OF
Puerto Rico.)

Puerto RicO.)
lessly Cypress them, all the while de.
luding them with the belief that they
were governing themselves.
It was because President Mckinley
foresaw the danger of this probable
condition that he =xerted his powerful
influence and succeeded in preventing
the congress from recognizing the indie.
pendence of the Cuban republic. Since
our army and navy have subdued the
Spanish forces in eastern Cuba, if there
had been any actual government in ex.
istence, some manifestations of such
government would have been made,
But there is no capital, no presidential
headquarters, no congress, no depart.
ment of state; in fact, nothing to indi.
cate that the Cuban republic ever ha1
any existence.
Gen. Gomez, Gen. Garcia and the 9th.
ers who have armed followers are likely
to cause great deal of trouble for ou1
country in the efforts which will soon
be made to give stable government tc
the Cuban people. They have fought
for spoils, for their own enrichment
They will be satisfied with nothing else
They have already so indicated. Gen
Garcia, with his rag-tag and bob-tail
army left Santiago in high indignation
because Gen. Shafter would not PERM,
the pillage of Santiago.
It is the opinion of our best and
strongest statesmen that good govern.
ment can. esAgjyen to, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico with but little show Of
armed force. Those peoples do not re.
quire the argument of force. They are
tractable, and desire to do right. Al
the outset there must be force used al
Manila; probably for at least a full gen.
Grafton. But ripe craftsmanship will
be required to deal with the solution
of the problem of what will be the best
government for each of these posses.
sions.
The great and grave and vexed prob.
lem, however, confronts US in Cuba.
Senior Bartolome Masso, the head of the
so-called Cuban republic, has written
formal letter to President Mckinley,
claiming the right of immediate self
government for the Cubans. His letter
is interesting, we'll written, argumenta-
tive, plausible and we'll calculated to
create public impression in favor of
his proposition. He eulogizes the Gu
ban people for their courage, intelli-
gcnce, humane aspirations and lofty
Patriotism
But beside that letter our statesmen
will place the reports of Gen. Shafter
and his general officers, showing that
the intelligence of the Cuban insur-
gents amounts to but little more than
the intelligence of the Sioux Indians;
their humane aspirations" constitute
desire to 1nachete Spanish prisoners,
and their lofty patriotism was dis
played in running away from Pando's
army and in refusing to carry litters
for our wounded soldiers.
The Cuban republic will wait awhile.
The form of government will be die.
tated by this country. AS a result of
this war the United States is response.
BILE before the nations of the world fol-
the protection of the Cubans from their
own inherent enemies as we'll as from
foreign aggressors; and the good faith
OF the United States stands pledged to
give to Cuba stable government. This
problem cannot be solved at once. The
situation is grave, and it's gravity is
fully realized in the capital of this re.
public. SMITH D. FRY.