Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-01

the former war made up the volunteers
who a quarter of a century, ago demanded
the blood of the medical students and ter
rifiad the government into sacrificing those
innocents, are today conservative business
men of Havana. They are fntransigentes
full of loyal Spanish sentiment, but they do
not want to lose their money. Iney view
the impotency Of the authorities in prae-
teal light If the sovereignty OF the pen
insula cannot be restored, they 90 not
mean to have anarchy during the transi
ton period when the decision of what shall
take its place must be made. They have
helped to kill autonomy by passive oppo-
sition They will be active in helping to DE-
termine what system shall suppant II. 80
far as any influence can moderate the popu-
lace the influence of the Havana business
men will do 1t. In the country the efforts
of this property-holding class TO prevent
disorder will be even heartier than IN the
city. Peace without anarchy means every
thing to them.
Guerrillas and Half Bandits.
The most dangerous element In the is
land during the transition will be the local
suerrillas. They correspond in some re-
spects to the volunteers. All that is per-
nicious and brutal is gathered In their
ranks. They have been given standing as
part of the regular forces Of Spain. Muir
DER and pillage have been their pastime'
They have burned the cane or sugar plan
tations which they were detailed to protect.
Outra&eS winch cannot De deSCfipeu AdS .
been their work. The scum of degraded
humanity was SKINNED In organizing them
into a military force. They can be re-
pressed only by strong hand and a merci-
less power. With the knowledge that such
power exists they may be kept within
bounds.
An almost equally dangerous class on the
other side il already disfntegrating. These
Insurgents cause the cloak for their law
lessness. Until the policy of undermining
the insurrection by bribery was dehniteiy
entered upon as part OF the new regimen
of autonomy I never found the insurgent
leaders willing to concede that any OF the
,lawless elements of society had entered
their ranks. Since then, however, they
have admitted that among the men VINO
were accepting the offer Of autonomy were
some half-bandits and several horse
thieves. These presentadoes, as they are
called, are usually composed of small bands
who wished to roam at will through the Is
land and who defied all military authority
Gomez has disciplined and degraded their
chiefs. Some Of these have presented
themselves out Of revenge, but with the
majority the inducement has been money.
The result Is good. The rowing bands are
disarmed. They cannot take up arms
again, for If they do they are almost Ger,
tain to be caught by the insurgents ana
hung as deserters.
officers are probably the least prepared to
have opposed autonomy bitterly and effec-
lively. and while they hays seen no emo OF
the instruction In Sight, they have not
seriously considered 1.-THE possibility OF
sudden swapping of the bonds that nave
held the island to the peninsula. The dou-
BILE pay. the decorations, the pensions. the
perquisites have all made life IN Cupa
something more thap endurabis- 70 give
all these up. to retufh to Spain on peace
footing, il a prospect that will be bad
shock to the officers How they will take
1t may not be guessed, Their temper does
not promise well fQT preventing disorder
on the island. They may have become 50
fond of war that they VII rush their gov
ernrnent into a corfabafIfwithi. some other
country. The disposition they show with
reference to currentI happenings Will need
to be watched closely both from Madrid
and from Washington. Their Judgment is
not q calm one. Reflection does: not seem
to be part of their training. They are
brave. and they do not fear q combat.
The spanish soIdiery.
From the ranks nothing need be feared.
I have had occasion to write on the Spanish
soldiers 80 often that few words viii be
enough to describe their probable action.
Whatever comes. THAR loyalty to Spain
viii stand the test They win not mutiny.
But peace would be welcome to them.
They would be q prop against anarchy.
Many OF those who could get their dis
charges would DO glada to settle In Cuba.
They know from friends and relatives that
times arc very hard In Spain. with little
chance OF growing better. They could do
well IN this rich inland. They would help
to MI the labor vacuum caussd hy IT, W1p-