New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-15
TIE HAVANA RIOTS.

Tho Cuban and Spanish roting In Havana IL
n yindication and a warning 1t Is Vihu'c"-
ton of the policy Of the United States IN reser'-
ING 70 itself in all places surrendered into our
hands sole authority and sole responsipili'! ior
rho maintenance OF law and order IL IL
warning both to Americans and Cupahs 'h"'
the danger OF friction between partisans OF 'ne
old and new regime is by no means endeo VIII"
the signing of the peace treaty, ana that power
must he kept in firm hands throughout the i''
.nd ond ON no account allowed to become the
instrument of any feud That Spanards ana
Cubans should have bitter feelings u NATURAL
but II is the work Of the United states 'o re-
strain any dsordery manifestation OF tha' p''-
terncss and bring Cuba as soon as posslpie ~
condition of order. prosperity ana coh'eh''iie"'
In which sll residents will share. TO 90 'h"t
Government. must be administered by men not
subject to the inevitable passions cngehuerc"
by civil war until those passions have hau
reasonable time to cool.
II was perhaps to be expected that the insur-
gents under General Garcia would feel some re-
sentiment ut being denied admission TO Sah'las'
when General Shafter took possession ne
Cubans cncamped outside Of Havana douDliess
have felt aggrieved over the refusal OF our Wv
eminent to permit them 10 enter the to"h al"
600 the Standards off, But the encounter De-
twoon .he departing troops and the Cubans AL
ready there fully justiies the precautlon when
keeps bitter enemies apart. The incident shouiu
convince The Cuban leaders that their own III
terest and reputation will be promoted by tenn
porary undisputed and undivided American
control Spark and finder inevitably make fire.
Standard and Cuban cannot just now be ex-
pected to dwell together in brotherly love; and
rs Spanish rule, with Its partlsanshlp' appears
to give inadequate protection to the late revolu-
tionists so Cuban rule with It's friendship
would probably have insufficient restraint on
the exutant or revengeful spirits OF newly llDer-
a,ed people Whether the Spaniards or the Gu
bans were At fault for any disorder under GU
ban rule, the result would be the same. DIS
credit would be cast on the new rulers. Inc
world would say that the CuDans were not ca
I,able Of self-government. An independent 'upa
to be success should start on favorable TERMS
and one Of the essentials OF favorable start Is
the avoidance of strife and riot such as can be
guaranteed only by the United States exercising
supreme authority until settled conditions are
restored The Cubans are naturally and par
donably eager 10 occupy the ground ana hold
the offices long in the possession or the Span
iards and to do It in the face Of their old enc
mics: but such Indulgence would hurt both
them and the country that went to war for their
sake.
The President has acted wisely in ordering
ships 10 Havana. and on all accounts it is desr-
able that the Spanish officials should turn over
the management of affairs to Americans at the
earliest possible moment. Perhaps they are In
40 way responsible for the disorders, hut GER
tainly they do not seem able to cope with them
wisely or effectively. When Spanish soldiers,
on the excuse of petty disturbance. are per-
mitted to fire promiscuously in all directions
and endanger the lives Of innocent people in
their hotels and houses. 1t makes little differ
ence whether their act Is due to a deliberate at
tempt of defeated and angry men to make
trouble or merely to incompetence In any case
the governing Power Is one to be quickly super
seeded. and II is we'll for the United States to
have naval force in the harbor sufficient to as
sumo effective control In case Of any future
failure of the present rulers to preserve order.