The evening times., 1898-07-19
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1898.
The Presiden,s Proclamation.

What will prove to be an historic doc
ument is the Presidents letter to the
Secretary of War in relation to the gov
ernment of Santiago. 1t is not merely
a series of rules for the guidance of
General Shafter, but also a proclama-
ton to the inhabitants of Cuba as to
the policy of the United States in the
administration of conquered territory.
While there is nothing in 1t that could
not have been anticipated by the people
of the United States, it must cause the
utmost astonishment, II not incredulity,
in Cuba. The people who have been
under Spanish military rule have been
taught that the Americans were entire
'self-seeking in their interference in
Cuban affairs, and wholly regardless
of the interests of private citizens; that
they were undisciplined. cruel and in
different to the laws of civilized war
fare. In proof of this, Spanish officials
have asserted that the Americans have
employed explosives that are interdict-
ed by the laws of humanity and ths GUS
toms of nations: that they have basely
used the Spanish flag on their ships
of war to gain entrance to Spanish har-
bors, and the like.
ANY government that will recognize
the most common rights of civilians
and will undertake to secure to the
community form of self-rule under
the general direction of the military
governor; that will prevent outrage and
robbery by the soldiers and maintain
;,lI,
government that will undertake to en-
force sanitary regulations for the pro-
lection of people and soldiers, must be
so novel to a community that has been
under the military rule of the Span
iards as to excite distrust. We have
only to read the reports of the condition
Of the conquered city when the victors
entered to know a great deal about the
oppressive character of Spanish rule.
1t is certain that outrages by the troops
such as the world has not seen for a
century, except in the domestic wars of
Spain, were permitted by the COM
mander at Santiago; that citizens were
robbed. maltreated and murdered with
impunity: that the most ordinary m ans
of keeping offense and disease from
the presence of an army were neglect
ed. The vast military hospital and the
military prison are without any sys-
TEN of drainage. and the refuse was al
lowed to run down the streets. Civil
processes seem to have been entirely
suspended and the arbitrary arrest and
the punishment of citizens without
cause or justice were matters of course.
Nothing could be more generous and
at the same time more effective in
many directions than the formal rules
for the government of the conquered
territory laid down by the President.
The only possible source of uncertainty
is the habitual Spanish and Cuban dis
like of sanitary measures, for these are
among the first and most important of
the reforms to be instituted by the
United States. That our army is made
up of men who are not robbers and
brutes: that the civil authorities are
to be allowed all the power they
will exercise in the interest of the
people; that an amount fully equal to
the annual taxes is to be expended for
the renovation and restoration of the
city, must convince Cubans in every
province that the exchange of Spanish
for American military rule is great
blessing,