The times., 1898-07-22
CUBA'S GOLDEN FUTURE.
1t VIII Flo1rish Under Old Glory
for n Lang TYme

iibap 1obd
The American flag will fly over every
city as it Is captured American officers
| and men will garrison tho forts. Ameri-
can laws will apply and be enforced.
1t may be announced, on the best au-
thorty, that the Administration has de-
cfded to establish n strong military gov
ernment in Cuba. and that there is little
prospect that the island will be given up
for indefinite time to come The
chances are that If the Republic of Cuba
| is recognized in the future 1t will be only
as a dependency of America. under its
strict tu.elage.
According TO talk in the Administration
circle, this decision has been reached by
President Mckinley only because, appar-
emily. there is no other feasible or pos
sible solution of the Cuban problem. The
President believes that this policy in no
way violates the spirit or the letter of
the resolutions of Congress or of his mes
sage pointing out the necessity of fore
ing Spain to evacuate He is as firm
In his determination that Cuba shall be
free as he was when he wrote his message.
but the events of the war have convinced
him that there will be more freedom in
the real sense of the word and more JUS
| tice and hope for civilization, under the
| rule OF America than can be possible un-
der any thinkable government by the
| present leaders Of the Cubans
The campaign against Santiago has been
the final cause of this conclusion. Not
| only has Gen. Shafter become convinced
| that the American government has been
| deceived as to the strength and character
of the Cuban army, but the War Depart
ment and the Administration as well have
| had their eyes opened TO several deplora-
bic facts The Cuban army that America
| was promised as an effective ally in its
inland campaign has failed to materialize.
| A few thousand weaponless and unframed
| men scattered III bands through the
mountains are all that have been found.
The character of the Cubans with whom
| ShafteT has come in contact is far from
| irreproachable. His reports, II is asserted
| at the department. show them 10 be
utterly worthless. to be skulkers and
| looters. He expresses the utmost dis
! gust for them.
| The President has been investigating
| the situation in other directions for two
months and had received reports from
| many sources. but these from Gen. Shat
| ter have been more convincing than any
| before. He has come to the conclusion.
! in a word, that If the Cubans who are
| lighting for their country are of such a
| character the Cubans who would attempt
| TO govern it must also be open TO a grave
| suspicion as to their ability if not their
| honesty.
The new American plan is already
| formed. and, IN fact in operation largely.
| A stable. sufficient, liberty giving, Ameri-
| can form of government, military in its
| nature, has been established in Santiago
| province. 1t will be extended TO the other
| parts of the island as fast as they come
under the flag. The Presidents open let
| ter to the Secretary of War defining the
form Of rule that the military governor
/ shall institute in Santiago tells the story
| fully and clearly.
Under this government modern civili-
| cation is 10 spring up. The old Spanish
| grinding taxes are TO be abandoned. Al
| ready they are being reformed. Low Gus
| toms duties are 10 invite the easy pur-
| chase of food and clothing TO relieve inn
| mediate necessities. Sanitary reforms are
| TO be enforced for the preservation of
| health and the prevention of yellow fever
| and smallpox And perhaps more impor-
| tant than ali this under wise restrictions
| American soldiery Is TO keep the peace
| between the warning elements of the pop
ulation until harmony is restored and
self-goyernment is possible.
The actual fact of the American pos
session and ownership in Cuba is shown
in almost a startling way by the Presi-
dents order yesterday establishing the
American postal system in the island. as
| fully described in another place in The
i
| miles in the interior will have Uncle
| Sans postofflces and all American facili-
| ties for sending and receiving letters ex-
| cept fast mail trains. These Will come
| later.
| The government telegraph lines have al
| ready been extended into Santiago, as
| stated heretofore. They will be pushed
| in various directions to connect the sew
eral garrisons in the larger towns and will
| be also open TO public use
The railroads already in existence, but
| largely out of service now, will be re-
| paired and extended by the Government.
| and will remain under its control but
| available to the people.
The future military plans for the ex-
| tension of American control in the island
| have not been made public entirely. It
| is believed, however, that in addition to
| thoroughly occupying the territory surren-
| UtEeu DS ATtll.. i OEatl, movements against
| the Spanish forces TO the north and west
of Santiago viii soon be under way. One
| statement by an army officer to Times
| reporter yesterday was to the effect that
| a great campaign pushing steadily west
| ward is under contemplation This plan
was foreshadowed in The Times TWO days
| after Santiago fell. If it is undertaken,
| all the troops now at Santiago, and per-
| haps more. to be sent later. will be
! utilized. 1t is stated that the interior
| of Cuba. especially in Santiago province,
| is healthy, even in the rainy season.
There is reason to believe that Hob
| guin and Manzanillo will be taken in any
event. Ho!guin is a large town, a hun
| dred miles northwest of Santiago. Ii is
| supposed to contain at least 10000 troops
under Gen. Luque.
The action OF Gen. Garcia, the Cuban
| leader in Withdrawing his forces from
the vicinity OF Santiago and from coop
| GRAFTON with Gen. Skaters army de-
scribed in dispatches to The Times yes
terday. caused no surprise at the War
| Department or to the Administration. II
is an additional proof to the President
| and his advisers that their course in de-
| termining to hold Cuba is the only posi-
| be one.
The whole line Of action Of the Cubans
since the landing of Gen. Shafters ar
| MY has SHoHi d LeeIiiS cA resentment,
| always very near the surface. The
| American officers analyze 1t as simply
the inherent jealousy and suspicion OF
| the Cubans, bred in them by long con-
tact with the treachery of Spain. They
state that the treatment of the Cubans
in front of Santiago has been only such
as was absolutely necessary to the cam
paign.
An officer said to reporter for The
| Times this morning:
| Gen. Shafter went to Santiago to take