Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-29
TIE CInAN PROBLEM.

Recently the negotiations OF ibe peace
commissioners at Paris and the Philip
nine issues have occupied public attention
10 the exclusion largely Of the CUBAN
problem. but now that problem Is again
forging to the front. We say Cuban
problem" for the situation on the island
shows that Il is yet a far cry to the ac-
complishment of the work We have IN
dertaken there. The forcing OF Spain to
rclnquish sovereignty over Cuba Is but
the beginning OF the END OF the task we
have assumed. and the road to the end Is
beset with many difficulties.
Soon after war was declared It vas
stated upon good authority that the Gu
ban patriots did lot relish the ilea OF
armed interference by this government IN
their behalf. The extent Of their desire
as TO aid from us, we were told. was that
we should supply them with arms ana
ammunition and provisions, leaving them
10 vanqush the Spaniards on their own
account. and thus become entitled to The
spoils Of victory i'm the shape of offices,
sc. or the correctness Of these state
ments abundant proof was afforded ty
the conduct OF our Cuban allies during
and Immediately following the operations
around Santiago. Since the protocol was
signed we have received occasional as
surances from ardent Cuban sympatbIzers
that the patriots were becoming recon
ciled," but these assurances, it would ap-
pear. were simply illustrations Of the
wish's being father to the thought
4 few days ago it was given out, or
leaked out. that Secretary-of-War Algcr
had been warned from Habana that if the
United States did not make some show
Of force in Cuba they would lose all pres
tige with the Cubans. This warning is
now emphasized by the New York Her
AIDS Habana correspondent. From
sources which he deems reliable. the
Heralds correspondent learns that
band of insurgents who were encamped
near Sagua have returned TO the hills
and served notice that they can live as
they have for three years. and that IL
American troops take charge of the
island they will harass them as long as
life is left The same correspondent says
that other insurgents are expected to
follow the band; that those in the neigh
borhood Of Habana are quiet but dissat-
isfied, and that Matanzas merchants com
plain of the lawless course of the insur-
gents. who still assert the right to levy
contributions from sugar estates. by
others than the Heralds correspondent
testimony is borne 10 the widespread
existence of an ugly spirit among the
insurgents In short, there is reason to
believe that in some parts of the island
the conditions are but little less turbu-
lent than when the rebellion was at its
| height and that the feeling Of the insur-
! gents against the Americans is almost
/ as bitter as it is against the Spaniards.
The United States have undertaken 10
| secure 10 the Cubans a stable and repre-
sentative government of their own, and
! the first step i'm order TO that is pacifica-
ton of the island. From present appear
ances. this latter work will involve the
putting down at many points in Cuba
| of iawlessness, if not the suppression Of
formidable outbreaks against our authOri-
| ty on the island. Verify, therefore, 1t
would seem that unless the complexion
| Of the Cuban problem changes greatly
we have enough amusement before us In
the matter of civlizing our Cuban
wards" without reaching out to the
| Philippines I'm search Of such diversion.
Verify, also, it would seem that the carry
| ing out OF the necessary programme in
! cuba Is likely TO cost US all we can afford
| TO pay I'm money, and. perhaps, In blood,
| for entertainment in the humanity"
| line.