New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
4 CUBAN VIEW.

II seems desirable to make brief reply 10
some points raised in a letter which we PRINT
This morning concerning the present situation
and future disposition of affairs in Cuba. 1he
letter is from a Cuban resident in this city, and
the author writes with natural warmth or feel
ing TO the general tone Of his communication
no objection can be made, and with some of his
statements we cordially agree. while others
aDppar to us unwarrantaDlc. lie alludcs, for
example to absurd rumOrs which iadvised
correspondents send from time 10 time III
is quite true that gross misrepresentation or
affairs in Cuba have been printed in this coun-
try during the last year, some of them TO the
advantage and some 10 the discredit of the
native population. and especially of the insur-
cents But It cannot be admitted that all or
most of the statements which have gone into
circulation here since the war began and which
have formed the basis Of the unfavorahlc oplll-
ion of the intelligence and character ana ca
pacty for self government of the CuDanS which
now does undoubtedly prevail to great eX-
tent in the United States. have been communi-
Gated to the American press by ignorant and
unprnclpled correspondents. Nearly all of our
own special information during the last two
months has been supplied by a sagaciouS. dis
all that he has described, who went to the isl
and with the expectation of finding far more
10 commend than TO condemn in the character
and conduct of the Cubans whom liz TO
meet and whose personal observation COM
pelled him to reverse his opinion. OF similarly
competent testimony there has been collected
and presented supply which we must regard
as ample TO justify the disappointment now
f..I. in I't,it oil
It needs to be said plainly that testimony on
the other side cannot be accepted with the
faith once given TO it. for the reason that IT
proceeds In great measure from sources which
have been greatly dscredited in the course Of
events Thus il is impossible TO yield implicit
belief TO assertions now made by those who
last winter were declaring in the most earnest
and decisive manner that throughout the east
ern part OF Cuba taxes were equitably and
Systematically levied and collected. that justice
was regularly administered. that n postal syS-
tenn was in full operation and that all the
processes of civilized government were going
on 10 the general satisfaction of a large popu-
lation Such representations We're deliberately
made. and they powerfully affected public opln-
ion In the United States. Indeed, they came
exceedingly near involving us in the monstrous
DlunQer OF recognizing tHt ' uDdH hcpuoi''
They are now known TO be essentially false.
Doubtless there has been misrepresentation Of
the opposite sort. and II is dlfficult-indeed I'M
possible at present-to reach just conclusions
| concerning many questions Of vital interest To
| both countries. It Is for this very reason that
| Judgment is reserved. We do not know that
the Cnbans are fit for self-gOvernmont. The
general belief indisputably is that they are IN
! ft Our hope is that they may swiftly sue
coed In cultivating the qualities essential 10 tie
management of their own affairs, if they can
not at once demonstrate their possession Of
those qualities.
In the mean time there is full sympathy here
with the Presidents determination that the
Cubans shall be treated Justly and literally"
That is their due, as it Is our obligation. Our
present duty Is clear, and 1t is being performed
so far as It Is possible to judge with frmness
and discretion. What the future may have IN
store no man can know safely predict.