The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-20
A GOOD WORD FOR THE cUBANs.

Following the close of the war the Cubans
received a great deal of abuse, some of
which may have been deserved though
Americans are not all models of thrift, in
dustry and virtue Some of them are lazy
and a few steal. Perhaps our people who
went to Cuba had formed too high an esti-
mate of those they went to liberate and
when they were disillusioned they went to
the other extreme. Our soldiers who came
in contact with the camp followers and
bushwhackers of the insurgent army found
them a bad lot, and they came home full of
contempt for and denunciation of all Cubans
Perhaps they were hasty, perhaps they were
not quite just.
After all the abuse of the Cubans it is
pleasant to find that they are not as bad
as they have been painted. Our officers now
there find many honorable, capable cultured
men among them, and that even the masses
are not utterly bad. In fact, the Americans
are already getting much assistance from
Cubans in the establishment of civil govern
ment. The greatest advance has been made
in Santiago, where General Wood has been
in command, and he has only kind words for
the Cubans. In a speech delivered at ban
quet in New York few nights ago, after
alluding to the peculiarities of the people
and the bad results of Spanish rule, he said
it was his experience that they fully appre-
ciate what the Americans are trying to do
for them and that their response to such lib
ortx a c hac beap praeaDted 70 thep, hos bean
very quick After relating some of his
methods in dealing with municipal affairs
and his success with Cuban officials, he said:
I found it of advantage to have the COM
mtttee-the nominating committee called it
changed often, suddenly that they
might not be.subject to corrupt influences,
and If there was a place to be filled we
every branch of life as nearly rs possible
and every branch of business, and these
men were asked to designate an individual
TO fill a certain office. 1t took ten days to do
it. Then we would send to the man. and
we reminded that man they SEM us tEat
we tested him, and if he did we'll he set
credit for it, and if he Jailed il was ch&rged
to his account. In other words. The people
were on probation as to THAR ..tness for self
government.
appointed. Civil government had entirely
ceased to exist The courts, with the eXcep-
ton of one district court in the city of San
were stopped all public works and public
functions had ceased. These men have filed
those offices. and they have filled them so
satisfactorily that up to to-day have not
had occasion TO remove a single person rec
commended.
This seems to be sort of kindergarten
school il sclf-eovenment but it is be-
ginning. and General Wood thinks it will
result in developing what capacity there is
in the Cubans for self-government and in
making them lasting friends of the United
States. whether they remain independent or
become. ultims tely, part Of the country.
Evidence in favor of the Cubans on an
other line comes from an unexpected quar-
ter After the surrender of Santiago General
shafter made very disparaging remarks
about the insurgents for letting Gem
eral Escario's force get into Santiago.
General Escario left Manzanillo on June p