New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-13
HOW Ii GOES " CUBA.

Tho so-callod Cuhan Assembly has never dohc
o,,. o,bor ,vorl, en- important or effective, during
the whole course of It's existence as u u'u ~,
the impeachment and dismissal Oh "'n''"'
Gomez. 1t IS effective only for the overture"
of such influence as the socalled government
possessed. and important only pec''Se !"
enlirlItens both Cuban inhabitants ana inc peo-
nle of this country as TO the Rihd Oh IeS'''' -
he expected IT, without further delay ana eu"-
cation in rudimcntary ideas of freedom inc re-
snonsibilitv for affairs in the island Shouiu pe
turncd cNcr 10 that or any similar government
II is safe,to say that Gomez has more influence
with the people of Cuba who are not neic
cookers for Office than all the members OF the
Assembly nut together. But with men WHOSE
,,o.r;otisr, ,s q consuming hunger for places in
which they can live at others expense ana DC
supported by the labor of Others Gomez seems
10 be unpopular.
Tho root Of the trouble is that Gomez sought
to obtain for those who had been actual ngh'erS
nnder him as CommaEder-in-Chief some pa!
ment 10 enable them to make start III peaoe-
ful occupations 4 little with which TO Day
nu,le or a phough little for the purchase OF III
Moments or tools. something 10 provide 1ood loi
\ short time he urged was necessary III oruer
to give the men a fair chance 10 start as l'"Ve-
ful citizens The United States recognlzeu 'ne
good sense and patriotism of the proposal anu
consented to advance a sum when. III coHIol
once with Mr.. Porter as representative oi 'nc
President General Gomez agreed 10 rec'N''
Rut N once the rolls of the cuban force "eic
nadded by the addition of about as many gen
erals and colonies and other officers as tnelc
had been fighting men. and when ne sought ~
nrovidc for the actual fighters the Assembly
hogan 70 make trouble He had not consuHeu
;ts will had not obliged the President to recog
nizo the so-callcd Assembly, and had actually
declared that he would only respect It's orders
if he Thought them for the good of the people
Thus there is outbreak Of war between
two sets OF CubanS. which would result III
bloodshed at once except for the presence ana
authority of United States forces. How many
Tubans are disposed TO support the So-calied
Assembly cannot be known. but it presumably
has some support because even It's widest
members cannot be ignorant OF the personal
Influence and poJnlarity Of Gomez one would
sunnosc also that even the widest OF them
mnst realize that the attack upon him tends to
broak down all claims that the sO-called gov
ornment can have to be representative III char-
actor or TO have a right TO speak or act Tor
tho Cuban Deople If the first step toward
any nroctical action for the benefit of Cubans
results in impeachment and dismissal of the
one general who shows a desire TO accomplish
something. men are likely TO ask themselves
rather seriously what would become OF a couh-
fry under the rule of such persons.
II has been said repeatedly that the SUD-
stantial people of Cuba have never expressed
and have never had any chance to express, their
will by the election of anybody. The men
Gathered IN various camps did all the voting
that was done If there was any. Presumably
not caring what persons were selected TO wear
emptv honors and hold offices destitute OF
any pover they seem to have selected AFTER
some mode not clearly known the persons who
now imagine that they are to govern CuDa.
They certainly will not be in position TO eXer-
else such power. or any power. until the VIII
Of the inhabitants has been fairly and dis
tinctlv EXPRESSED Nor will they then. unless
their behavior gives more reason than they
have vet given TO expect that they can estab-
lsh and maintain a genuine FREE government,
faithful TO all international obligations. ana
both able and willing to give protection TO all
peaccahle citizens That state of things does
not vet seem TO be near at hand.