The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-17
rnhnnr rhren1en 10 NInIe TronhIc.

CubanS Threaten TO Make Trouble.
Santiago dispatches show that Cuban
agitator there and elsewhere IN Cuba are
already al work trying to make trouble
between the Cuban people and this coun-
try. They are doubtless men who nave
nothing al stake and hope to gain some
thing for themselves by stirring % strife
and getting the people to take an attitude
hostile 10 the United States.
The suggestion is thrown out that the
soldiers in the armies of Generals Go
mez and Garcia must be placated before
there can be peace in Cuba. Satisfying
these men means paying them what they
claim is due them from the so-cailcd Gu
ban republic. Their claim amounts TO
about $l5.00000O Il a Santiago dispatch IS
TO be credited, ana It is said that at con
ference between the chief officers of the
American army and Of the Cuban army
in that city, it was agreed that this
amount should be paid on condition that
the Cuban army dlsbanded.
We DO not place mucn confidence in this
report for two reasons The first IS that
the President would hardly take such an
important step, involving the expenditure
of so large an amount OF money, With
out consulting Congress Another reason
is that paying the Cubans that amount
would be but little less than submitting
to blackman. 1t would, in effect, be
yielding to a threat that if that sum We're
not forthcoming the soldiers would con
tinue 10 destroy the property of those
who were Spanish sympathisers and keep
the island disturbed by their lawless acts
If these patriots composing the armies
of Generals Gomez and Garcia should
make a demand Ike this they would not
hesitate to make stl other demands
when they had spent the money given
them. They would nave to be bought
very often, or else they would not keep
the peace.
There is no reason why the United
States should pay the Cuban soldiers the
wages they claim are due them. They
have no claim on the United states. The
people would not sustain the government
in paying them cent Besides, there
is no way to determine how many Gu
bans have served as soldiers nor how
Iong each one has served. Once begin
paying Cubans for serving in the Cuban
army and a large percentage of the Gu
bans would become claimants for pay as
soldiers.
The only way to deal with the Gu
ban agitators and soldiers is to make It
clearly understood that the United States
will not be liable for any of the obi
cations which the so-called Cuban re-
public has incurred. The Cuban people
ought to be satisfied with what the
American people have done for them.
They are certainly ungrateful if they are
not Whether they are or not the United
States will go right ahead with their
plans for giving the island a stable and
liberal government; and they will take
an early opportunity to impress upon ell
of those inclined to make trouble that they
will brush aside all opposition to their
plans with the strong arm of force if at
becomes necessary to do so.
To agree to pay the Cuban soldiers
what they claim is due them would amount
to a recognition of the Cuban republic.
1t can be safely stated that the Presi-
dent is not likely to do anything that
would commit him to that position.