The evening times., 1898-12-24

Thas Havana agreement
The American and Spanish Commission
els who have idled the months away in
Cuba, although charged with the duty Of
providing Tor the immediate evacuation
Of the island, have arranged gorgeous
program OF nonsense to mark the compile
ton OF the labors they did not perform.
As in everything that Sampson is connect
ed with. there is more hurrah business
than valuable results. If circumstance
by hich is meant the threatened revolt Of
the entire body Of Spanish regulars ana
an exhibition OF Presidential impatience
after four months of delay-had not iE-
terfered the surrender Of Cuba would not
have been effected before February. In
deed it is improbable that the greater
part of the Spanish troops viii set away
before that month. This is wha; the Com
missioners understood by immediate
evacuation.
The gorgeous ceremonies seem Il little
absurd 50 long after the conclusion of the
Hsr, and unnecessary in view Of the char
acter and conduct Of the Spanish army.
The most honorable soldiers OF q civilized
nation could not receive greater cons der
ation than We are to show to this murder
ous aggregation. These are the troops
that enforced with uncommon zeal the
policy Instituted by WeyIer ana continued
by Blarco. under which one-haIf tha ro.u-
lati0n Of Cuba has been killed or starved
To death. They are the troops that have
Uerrorizod Havana. assauIting and killing
TIE helpless nCn-combatants OF the city.
They are without al the good qualities of
modern soldiers and in conflict with the
Cuban army have shown little Of the Cour-
ase Of which they have boasted. SUN. thn
Commissioners desired TO make the theo-
ret!cal evacuation memorable. and TO do
this the American soldiers are required
To show to these desperadoes the honors
due 10 valoroGs foe
But il is not at all necessary that the
Americans should surrender the right to
punish outrages committed by the Span
ish troops that are TO remain for an in
definite time. By a formal agreement the
Commissioners deprive the American nil
itary governor Of the only means to pre-
rye good order in the community. When
Tie aggressive, ibidinous Spanish sol
oIer, intent on his revenge on inoffensivc
citizens. ineults assaults and murders
anybody. the American commander has
I'D authority 10 iufiict punishment The
Srsnish officers alone are charged with
liz power to investigate the crime. and
punish the criminal. What this means
~ know from the proclamation Of Cas-
teilanos, the Spanish governor, following
the recent riots, in which unarmed Gu
bans. including child. were killed. 1t
was known to everybody ard reported by
the American correspondents, that The
Spanish soldiers wantonly attacked the
CGbars, ard that 10 blame attached 10
the latter Yet the governor acquitted
his men Of all blame in a hiehfalutin
and bombasJic assertion Of their nobility
OF character, and wound UP by warning
the Cubans that if they did not want 10
be insuted they must keep out of the
way Of the brave Spaniards. The brutal
soldier who killed little child for sing
ing Cuban song was promptly acGuft-
ted and set at liberty.
With a fun knowledge of this. the
American Commissioners have made the
agreement by which only the Spanish Of
1icers shall even inquire into the circum-
stances Of crimes perpetrated by Span-
ish soldiers. The effect of this win be
10 continue the reign of terror that has
existed during the five months since the
signing OF the protocol and the four
months of the useless and humiliating
submission of the Commissioners 10
Spanish oppression. General Butler
alone has protested going so far as to
appeal TO Washington, but he has been
ignored. Knowing that the Americans
are without authority and knowing. from
experience, how lenient toward Offenders
and revengeful toward Cubans the Span
ish officers are, the savage soldiers will
continue their IawIessness and murder
Even crimes against property are not to
be investigated by the American authori-
ties. The victims may appeal to Spain
We have only to consider in order to
forecast the situation, that there are
many thousands Of unpaid. desperate
mutinous and riotoUs Spanish soldiers
full of hatred of the People and the
Americans, which is shared by their Off
GERS. occupying camps over which the
only authority is Spanish. any crimes
they may commit are to be exempt from
Investigation by anybody nut TIER SYM
pathetic officers. The American COVER
nor who is responsible for the peace of
the community will have no easy task.
since he cannot touch the worst class Of
offenders. The Commissioners have been
a good deal worse than useless hitherto
but their last act is vastly more serious
than the submission to Blanco.
Wicked System.
In this season of holiday giving it may
be well to say a word or tIvo ahou+ . 80.