The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-13

KATHERINE Ne" SOSD1hsVNss
The United states government has a
task on It's hands which In az difficult
O. the conduc. OF war. In the Philip
pines, in Cuba and In Porto Rico funda-
mental changes are taking place which
might easily create distrust and disaf-
lection II they were not directed by tact
and enforced with firmness.
The habits Of thought OF the people
must be changed. They have rebelled
against but have been compelled 10 sub
nit to q form Of government which was
not only oppressive, but Anticipated.
The Spanish oppressors sre rid OF, but
the human nature remains. and the new
officials are disposed to exercise some
OF the authority with which they asso-
ciate officialism- They are assuming
the arts to which they have so long
been subjected: but. even worse, they
are tenacious of customs and ways
which would leave the door open for
more Of the corruption and the favorit-
Ism which have been the bane Of all
fres colonies
But ills NOT only with the bumptious-
nesssof people freed from tyranny that
the United States authorities have 20
contend. Two other evils confront
them. One is that large population
which has been engaged in the war.
which has drifted away from it's home
moor1ngs and has become so much ac-
an insurgent soldier that ii cannot read
lily settle down and return to indus.
trtous habits. The third trouble Is that
the Cuean plantation owners are not en-
t.rely disirterested and unselfsh pa
triots. Much OF the injury done to the
plantations and outrages upon the
planters have been due less To a desire
for freedom from Spain than to indig-
nation at the treatment To which they
have been subjected by their employers
A display of force on the part of the
government will soon bring the restless
among the lower orders into a Whole
some subsection. and a few removals
will az readily teach aspirants To Of
nee that new order OF things has been
Instituted. The real difficulty win bs
In enforcing different methods upon the
wealthy and influential employers of
labor on large scale. They have car
ried things with high hand. aud have
had no fear OF the law SO long as they
could bride Spanish officials 10 refrain
from Interference. They are probably
no worse than employers In many other
places, but the conditions have been
more favorable for a qualification ~
their raracity. They have paid mere
p'ttanre to their laborers. and have then
robbed them at the company stores. 1t
seems that when the men became dcs-
pera'e and insisted upon their rights.
they were denounced rs rioters and the
military sent for 10 suppress them.
Now that the guards have beer with
drawn. the planters win be more like.
~ to treat their men fairly. and II they
do not they are dealing with a power
which viii protect the lahoter
In Porto Rico more speed is being
manifested than In either ~ the other
colonies. because the Americans are
there in permanent control. and their
authority Is more suhmisSlye;y res,,e-
nised. The military governor has ex-
ercised unusually good discretion and
made up for the ineUcieney II th, civil
governmcnt by prompt action IA deal.
Ing with bandits and thieves lie is
also bringing the municipalities into
harmony and establishing local govern
ments based upon The choice Of the pao.
pie. bat reseryirS 10 himself the rfrht
10 reject or confirm those selected. This
IS wise rreeautien. because SEINE Ct
the most energetic of The politicians nre
there, as elsewhere. The least desirable
Of officials They have had a certain
sway over the people who. unaecus.
toned to exercising an independent and
fearless snffrage. weuld be disposed "a
accept eoaap'aconi'y the eontlnaanre o,
an undesirable authority. Net only IN
Porto Rico. bat IN Santiago. Il has
nssn fcsra necessary ~ step in he