Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-25
Our Cuban Allies,

between our American army in Cuba
and it's Cuban allies are very much
strained. The Cuban junta in this
country declares that all is harmo-
NOUS and lovely, but the dispatches of
General Shafteras well as of the cores
pondents at the front are of a very
different tone. They even assert that
the Cubans have been more of a
handicap than help in the recent
Santiago campaign. Their principal
activity has consisted of vigorous at
In the early skirmishes and as scouts
and guides they were of considerable
service, but in the heavy fighting and
in the necessary work of building
roads and trenches they We're abso-
lutely of no use. Guerrilla warfare and
the sacking of captured towns, as
Sibony and Ell Caney. seemed their
natural inclination, next to eating and
smoking in the shade. Now General
Garcia is deep in the sulks because he
was not given a prominent part in the
ceremony of accepting the surrender
of Santiago and because his army is
not allowed to loot and run the town.
He threatens, it is said, to disband his
forces or to engage in Independent
warfare.
No doubt, as a matter of fact, the
nor SO worthless as they have been
painted. Our government has acted
wisely in going ahead without count
ing greatly on their aid in expelling
the Spaniards. We can do no less than
supply them with food and arms when
necessary and possible. While among
them are doubtless many men of UNI
daunted bravery and devotion to the
cause they have fought for so many
years, the masses of the Cubans are
not as advanced in morale as the
American negroes before the war They
are merely what their Spanish masters
have made them, and too much should
not be expected of them. 1t would be
strange if after the treatment they
have received for centuries, they should
not be savage, merciless and revenge
full, and their principal idea of the
results of victory is the opportunity
for plumber, rapine and slaughter.
The order, the discipline. and routine
work of our army are not pleasing to
them, and they cannot understand our
mercy to the conquered foe.
But this condition of things does not
justify the feelings of those impulsive
persons who regret that the United
States ever undertook the work of hui
manity and freedom in Cuba. We
have not recognized Cuban republic.
Our task is TO free the island from
Spanish rule. 1t was a task that had
to be done for our own welfare and
the interests of civilization. This is
wen btSull anu VIII SODu pc dCCbIl-
plished. Then we are pledged to the
world to maintain order in the island
and regulate its affairs until it has a
stable government of its own. This
may be a matter of many years but
it will not be great undertaking. 1t
will require firmness and common
sense in dealing with our allies. They
will be given the responsibility of self
government as soon they are fitted for
it, but first they must be led gently
and gradually out of the atmosphere
of feudal despotism in which they
have existed all their lives, and in
structed in the ways of civilized de-
mocracy before they will be fitted to
hold the reins of government unaided.
The United States is responsible be-
fore the world for the establishment
of a stable government, and having
undertaken the task we must carry it
out in an enlightened and charitable
spirit