The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-30
TIE sITr,TIoN IN CuBA.


| The Cubans appear to be very well sat
ished with the military rule of the United
States They are making no protests
| against 1t. There does not appear to he
any trouble threatening either in Havana
or in the provinces. Gradually the Gu
bans are adjusting themselves TO the new
condition Of affairs. 1t is probable Chat
in the country districts they are doing such
work as they can find to do. just as The
working people in the cities are doing. No
| complaints are heard and, therefore, it is
to be presumed that the people. feeling
that they viii not be oppressed, and know
ing that they are free to do what seems
best TO them, and that they and their in
terest will be protected, are settling down
TO a quiet and contented life.
II may be that the Cubans are begin
ming to understand that there is something
for them to be grateful TO the Americans
for. If there are any of them who have
doubts on that point they ought to read
the report of Gen. Ludlow, commanding
the department of Havana, and military
governor of the city of Havana.
The report covers the period from the
time that Gen. Ludlow took charge of the
department up to Sept. 10 II is interesting
as showing the condition of Havana at
the time he became military governor of
it and its condition now. Even the CUE
bans must admit that vast Improvement
has been made. The Spaniards practically
looted the city before they left it, out of
all the public buildings except the gov
ernor generals palace. and even OUT of the
hospitals, they took everything of value.
According to Cen Ludlows report, they
even looted private residences. The
city was left in an indescribably filthy
condition and in deporabe state tinan-
cially. Fifth blocked the streets, starva-
ton was in many homes and disease and
death were almost constant visitors in
palace and howell.
Gen. Ludlow and his assistants have
wrought a remarkable change. The city
has been thoroughly cleaned, as far as it
is possible to clean it without a complete
system of sewers and house drainage, and
the death rate has been so reduced that
the citys health record compares favora-
bly, with that of cities of the same class
in this country. For the months of June,
July and August, the death rate was be-
low the average for those months for the
last nine years This is a record to be
proud Of and speaks well for the adj
ministrative ability of the military gov
ernor.
And the fact must be kept in mind that
the habits of the people are not such as
to promote the public health As far as
he has been able Gen. Ludlow has en-
deavored to induce the people TO take
more care of their premises and to assist in
every possible way to keep down disease.
That he has met with greater success than
he had reason to expect the health record
shows.
At the same time Gen. Ludlow has Civ
en- much care to the preservation of or
der and the UNFOLDING of the law. Ha-
vana is now very quiet and aw-abd
ing city. In fact, the change which has
been wrought in few months has been
remarkable The Cubans cannot help
making comparisons between American
methods in public matters and those OF
Spain, and they cannot help seeing how
vastly better off they are under American
rule than they were under the rule of
Spain. They will, of course, be given an
opportunity to try independence, but it is
certain that the longer they remain under
the American flag the fewer the number
viii be that will demand independence
when the time comes for deciding between
indepe Adence and annexation.