Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-20
QUESTION OF cIvtL GOVERNMENT.

QUESTION OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
II is said to be admitted by officials
Of the war department that il will
be a blessing to the people . Cuba and
Porto Rico and also Of tremendous adj
vantage to commercial interests of the
United States If capable civil govern
ments with Independent powers were
established in those islands. 1t is
pointed out that the affairs of the
islands as related to the United States
and the commerce of the outside world
in general are still in n very chaotic
condition. The War department Off
Gals have been doing their utmost,
under the military governments in Cuba
and Porto Rico, to improve trade condi-
lions and not without good results, as
shown by the increased imports and ex-
ports from these islands to the United
States since the new commercial rela-
tons were established last winter. But
at least with respect to Cuba industrial
and commercial development will be
slow until there is established in the
island civil government with independ-
ent powers.
AS the New York Journal of Com
merce says, the permanent regard of
Cubans and Porto Ricans for us will be
determined by the promptness and eff
cheney with which we transfer the con-
troll of their own internal affairs from
our soldiers to their citizens. The war
has been over for a year and it ought
not to be very long, observes that paper,
before the people of both islands are
permitted to try to exercise civil gov
eminent for themselves. A large meas
ure of local self government ought to be
possible at an early day in Porto Rico
and we are under n distinct pledge not
to annex Cuba. Perhaps 1t would be
no violation of this to maintain control
over the islands exterior relations for
some time, but the process Of setting
up local self-government should be
pushed as fast as possible. ,
There is reason to believe that Presi-
dent Mckinley takes this view and that
Secretary Root and probably all the
other members of the cabinet are in full
accord with the president. OF course
little can be done pending the meeting
of congress-, but it is likely that Mr..
Mckinley will have a well-defined plan
to recommend to that body. General
Brooke has been summoned to Wash
ington to confer with the secre-
tary of wal in regard to Cuban affairs.
At present, it appears, the government
is not fully Informed as to conditions
there and particularly to what extent
civil government is in operation, the gov
ernor general having, 1t seems, been
rather derelict in reporting on the state
Of affairs. Colonel Kennon, however,
who has been on duty at Havana, re-
Gently gave the president and secretary
of war a good deal of valuable informa-
ton, stating among other things that
the course which General Brooke was
pursuing met with general approval, be-
ing Of that careful and conservative ma
ture required by the conditions in the
island.
There should be no trouble in provid-
ing a civil government for Porto Rico,
but the question as to Cuba is not free
from difficulties. General Wood, one of
the most earnest advocates of giving
| that island civil government, a few
/ months ago said: "When l say that
the civil government should be estab-
lished as soon as possible, I do not wish
to be understood as recommending its
immediate establishment in all its
branches, but rather its gradual estab-
lishment, commencing at the bottom
and ending at the top. We must secure
good municipal government, good
schools, good courts, with many modif-
cations in the present methods of pro.
cedure, especially in criminal cases.
We must also establish good sanitary
regulations and be sure that the people
appreciate all these things before we
give up the control Of affairs and es,
tablish all the details of the civil gov
eminent upon an absolutely ~independ.
ent basis"