The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-02
Shows the Magnitude Of Work Done By
General Otis.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN CUBA
: ures Because of the Ref,s al of De-
feated Minority to Participate
Further in Government

washington, december I-Deallng as 1t
does with large questions of insular policy,
of army reorganization, of the future of
Cuba and of the campaign in the Philippines
the first annual report of Secretary Root
just made public, If of exceptional interest
The report begins with a recital of the pol
Icy followed in reorganization of the army
in accordance with the necessities arising
from the discharge of the state volunteers,
and of the men enlisted for the Spanish
American war, and gives statistics of the
past and present strength of the organiza-
tion, sovering in that respect matters dealt
with in the reports of the major-general
commanding the adjutant general.
1t is stated that at present all of the new
regiments of volunteers are in the Philip
pines or on their way there.
The operations in those islands are next
taken up and the report again points out
that the outbreak of last February was pro-
voked by the insurgents themselves and
from our standpoint unavoidable. Frequent
reference Is made to the report of General
Otis 10 show the magnitude of the task set
for him with inadequate forces at his COM
mand when the outbreak came and high
who in the face of great hardships volun-
tarily consented to forego an immediate re-
turn to their homes upon the expiration of
their terms of service.
The operations of the past season is
recounted and the secretary outlines the
plan Of the present campaign which began
in October This involved the movement
of three separate forces. One was to pro-
ceed UP the Rio Grande along the north
eastern borders of the plains and strike
across to the gulf of Lingayen. Another
was to land on the gulf shores by transports
and proceed along the coast road to
unite with the first force. third column
was to strike straight along the railroad to
Dagupan.
The secretary says the movements were
executed with energy, rapidity and sue
cess, notwithstanding deluges of rain. 1t
is said that whenever the permanent oc-
cupation of our troops has extended IN
the Philippines, civil law has been put in
operation, courts have been established,
and education introduced until at present
in Manila there are now better facilities
for primary education than ever before.
What Has Been Done in Cuba
A chapter tells of what has been done
in Cuba by the army during the past year.
Order has been ..aintained, social distress
has been. alleviated, sanitation has been
instituted and in all respects satisfactory
progress has been made. The part played
by our troops snow is but the restraining
of their presence. The promo
tfon OF Industry has been slow, although
gratifying progress is being made, and the
reconcentrados have returned to the cul-
tivation OF their lands.
He recalls the fact that the treaty of
Paris nlaces in the hands of congress alone
the determination of the civil rights and
the political status of the native inhabi-
tants OF the territories ceded to the United
States. He argues that this limitation
deprives these people of the
right to have the islands treated as sta tes
or territories previously acquired have been
treated, or even to assert a legal right un-
der the provisions of the constitution, which
was established 70 the people of the United
States themselves. Nevertheless, he as
sumes that the bntention is to give to them
,ne greatest possible extent of individual
freedom, self-government in accordance
with their capacity, just and equal laws,
an opportunity for education, for profitable
industry and for development and civiliza-
tdon.
He takes up Porto Rico first, presenting
the simplest problem, and after discussing
the present conditions there, emphasizing
the Ignorance of the people of any modern
system of government, he holds that they
should he provided with the kind of admin
istration to which We have been accus'tom-
ed and a remedy for their present one.
The secretary lays stress upon past
failures because of the refusal of defeat
ed minority to participate further in gov
which, he says, is precisely the
cause OF the continual revolutions In the
West Indies and Central America, and
marks rudfmentary stage of present devel-
opment.
Porto Ricans should be chosen for Of
fees they are able to fill. American Of
fcials should be limited in number to the
barest necessities, and should then be cho-
sen by civil service methods. Education
should be at the cost of the community,
betrayed from the insular treasury, and If
necessary assisted by the United States.
The Spanish civil code should be continued
In force, with such radical notifications
Is experience suggests. The secretary says
that the trouble has not been that the law
was defective or vicious, but that 1t was
never fairly and honestly administered.
Concerning Cuba the report says the con-
troll which we are exercising in trust for
the people of Cuba should not, and of
course will not, be continued any longer |
han is necessary to enable the people to
establish a suitable government, to which
The control shall be transferred, which
shall really represent the people of Cuba
and be able to maintain order and dis
charge internal obligations. The govern
nent when established must solve for Cuba |
he problems we are to solve as to Porto |
Rico. The conduct of the Cuban people is
laid to be admirable. There have been agi- |
.ators, but the substantial body of edu-
,ated Cuibans dhave shown themselves to be |
appreciative and helpful, while |
he great body of uneducated Cubans have |
,een patient and law-abiding. 1t is pointed |
nut that the inability of two-thirds of the |
people to read and write. their lack of ex- |
in government and the factional /
lAelinR lsft by bloody conflicts make 1t !.