Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-12

controlled by emotions of sentiment.
Let's leave France to her own degrade
tion. but let's not make fools of our
selves because Of it.
AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION IN
CUBA.
1t is not often that one can find any
word of commentator or good cheer in
that long time-est journal, the
New York Nation, but when such does
occur the article is always sure to be
pithy and straight to the point. In
speaking of the work our army officers
are doing in governing Cuba the Nation
says:
"Our administration OF Cuba has so
far been, on the whole, highly success
full, and is as truly to be placed to the
credit of the army officers in charge as
would be a victorious military cam
paign. But this fact does not justify
misleading comparisons. One such is
the contrast drawn on the financial side
of the island. Our first six months
closed with a handsome balance in the
Cuban treasury; the Spanish deficits
We're notorious. But we have arrived at
a balance by striking off half the liza
bilities. Under Spain, Cuba had to pay
enormous charges on the public debt;
we have sponged those off the slate. The
Spanish military establishment in the
tislard had also to be supported by Gu
ban taxation; the United States pays
| its own officers and men. With two
such heavy items stricken out of the
obligations, even a Spanish governor
general might have shown a surplus.
The real triumph and superiority of
American occupation are revealed in
| the hygienic renovation and rescue of
Mistakes have been numerous, and in
many things Cubans feel themselves
outraged by the methods of American
officers; but the stamping out of yellow
fever, the greatly reduced death-rate,
| the general sanitary Improvement, the
lpublic works executed and planned, the
lessened burden of taxation-these are
the things which shut the mouths of
Those most disposed to complain, and
which Constitute for the American Off
cers in charge a distinction as bright
las any they could win on a stricken
held'
A CURE FOR CITY CORRUPTION.
The Literary Digest tersely comments
| in the following words.
4 The ever-present problem of politi-
cal corruption is treated from a novel
standpoint by j. w. Martin, a member
4 of the executive committee of the Lon.
a don Fabian Society, who recently lee.
d tured in this country. Like De Tocque
vile, who once said that the cure fol
the evils of democracy is more democ
racy, Mr.. Martin contends that the cure
for municipal corruption is a further
extension of municipal enterprise. Writ
l
ing in Harper's Monthly. he says:
:" In every city, however mixed its
4 population and shameful its record
there is a preponderating class of work.
people who have passed through the
public. schools, who read the newspa-
pers and discuss political matters
acutelv. They should form the back.
bone of a reform party. Without then
an.
4 not long be delayed They can be wor
only by the adoption of a broad socia
program. They suspect a person VIII,
breaches honest government With tn,
restriction of its function to the mar
rowest possible limits. To this timit
advocate they reply: If you have SO lit
: tile confidence in your own government
as to be afraid to use it for big purpos
es. we don't see why VIZ should get en-
Z thusiastic about il. Those who can
trust themselves must not ask other
!. TO trust them.
MIR. Martin especially urges the re
II form element in American politics t
concentrate its influence on the publ
ownership of city franchises. Every
r where he says, the appreciation of tn
: value of city franchises is growing. CHI
j zens are fast learning that large reve
nues may be got from them for expendi
ture on parks and open spaces, publ
baths, better schools, free lectures an
: libraries, concerts and gymnasiums.
He claims that a forward policy in tn
direction of municipal ownership ha
d been emnently successful in England
7 and cites as striking object lesson
Il London, Birmingham and Glasgow
. three of the best governed cities in tn
world. Until recent years all thes
= cities We're in the hands of corrupt off
n Gals, but a bold municipal policy an
s the extension of public functions hav
a resulted in much greater political hon
esty and considerable reduction in tax
: es. For example:
IS prior to 1870 Birmingham and ii
I, government We're in foul condition
% The inhabitants had no municipf
{, ideals; aspirations and performance
= were alike mean. About 1870 there cam
: to few young men the revelat ton, TIL
t. town will be reformed only by giving
) something worthy to do and under tn
leadership of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlai
a new period was inaugurated. 500
20 the conditions changed. Municipal az
= tivity for social alienation succeede
to the monotonous effort to secure hor
!. esty simply for honesty's sake. For ii
= larger duties came forward larger me-