The record-union., 1898-12-31
THE TROUBLES IN NEW POSSES
SIONS.

The Spanish forces in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines surrendered to
the American troops, not to Cubans or
insurgents. Very properly, therefore,
the Spanish resent interference on the
part of the Cubans in one instance, and
decline to surrender to the insurgents
in the other. But this leads to brawls
and riots in Cuba, and to assaults and
captures by the insurgents in the Phil
ippines. Spanish commanders look to
Americans to protect them and their
men, and we are bound to do it.
The President has issued his orders
to that effect, and has directed that the
insurgents in the Philippines be given
to understand that our domination
there must not be disputed The rebels
have taken Iloilo, and, it is said, are
dominant throughout the interior Of the
Island of Luzon. From this dominance
they must be called down. If they will
not treat with us, force and arms must
be employed. That is the long and
short of the whole business.
AS for the difficulty in Cuba, the
trouble seems to be that the Cuban SOL
diers desired to take an active part in
the formal ceremony of the transfer
by the Spanish to the Americans on the
1st Of January. This was very properly
denied them, for the Spanish do not
surrender to the Cubans, and would be
justly offended if the late insurgents
took part in the ceremonies. The Gu
bans then desired to compromise by
the I'd of January, and then continuing
a festival of rejoicing for one week.
An elaborate program had been plan
ned, and much expenses gone to to
carry it out. But General Brooke has
vetoed this proposition, on the ground
that in the present condition of Cuba
a crowd is danger and soon develops
into a riot where feeling runs high.
and a riot in Havana with armed Gu
ban soldiers by the thousands in the
streets would involve too serious con-
sequences to be risked.
The Cubans feel greatly outraged by
this decision, and are denouncing Cen
eral Brooke quite as freely as they
once mathematical Weyler. They ap-
pear to be unable to comprehend that
the Generals order is made in the in
terests of peace, the peoples lives and
the protection of the city from destruc-
fion, to say nothing of preventing pos
sible bloody conflicts This same re-
straint had to be put upon the people
IN Santiago it viii be remembe and
even Garcia and his men We're not per-
mitted to formally enter the city and
celebrate They were at first greatly
put out about it, but the outcome
proved the order to have been wise.
Perhaps we should expect these local
disturbance and friction. After such
scenes as have been witnessed in the
fated isle it is not surprising that a
feeling of exultation verging upon the
dangerous borders of revenge should
be manifest. But our commanders in
Cuba are not moved by sentiment. They
are stern military men, and will en-
force order and obedience If it be-
comes necessary they will employ force
and resist the brawlers with arms. AS
yet We have but a small body of SOL
diers in the island, but we are in a
position to land a sufficient force there
speedily, and the President announces
that it viii be done. In fact, troops
are constantly moving into Cuba now
In Porto Rico quiet appears to pre-
vail. There have been some few con-
fiicts, but nothing of a character to in
dicate any deep disturbance of the pub
lie mind. The American commander is
very successful in enforcing sanitary
regulations. in preserving order and in
placating those who are at all disaf-
fected. Our chief trouble resides in
the Philippines There our duty is
plain, namely, to make our title good.
What are the District Attorneys of
the counties for. if not to bring such
suits at, law or in equity as are neces-
cessary to preserve the county inter-
asts2 Why then enter into contracts