Evening star., 1899-03-15
DisDerse the Assembly.

The time is at hand to deal properly,
which is to say severely, with the so-called
Cuban Assembly That body should be
dispersed a riotous and disturbance
creating gathering, ininical to the peace
of Cuba and a deterrent to the process of
effecting a stable government in the is
land. The United States is in Cuba for the
purpose of bringing order out of the chaos
wrought by Spanish misgovernment and
the war of liberation. 1t is as yet in su-
preme command. 1t can tolerate no di-
vided authority. While it stays, gradually
adjusting the relations of the people, It
must have free hand.
This assembly Is composed of men who
have been by one process and another dele
gated by the army 10 serve rs a sort OF
committee. 1t is, in fact as General Gomez
himself says, a creation of the veteran COM
manler of the forces. 1t has no legisla-
tive functions, no judicial Jurisdiction, no
civil or military authority. 1t is merely
collection of men supposed to represent the
army in the process of reorgan zaticn. That
it does not in fact represent the army is
shown by the manner in which its treat
ment of General Gomez has been received
by the soldiers and the people.
If this body be not dispersed now 1t will
surely give more trouble later even though
il may be considered as beyond any official
pale 1t Is even suspected that its chief
purpose at present rs to precipitate sufti-
cient trouble between the CubanS and their
lberators to warrant an armed revolt. II
this be the purpose the scattering of the
nest of conspirators cannot come too soon
The problem in Cuba is serious enough
without permitting this tester to remain on
the body polite of the forthcoming re-
public
General Gomez sees the affair now in its
proper light, according to late dispatches.
He says that he recognizes only the au-
thority of the United States, and in SO do
ing he adds to the fame which he has
earned in this country as a man of intelii-
gence and capacity. With Gomez pstri-
otism is a matter of discreet waiting for
events which are certain to develop II the
people Of Cuba will have patience. The
United States has declared that Cuba sh uld
become an independent power 1t has spe-
cificalIy resolved not to profit by the war
with Spain to the extent of taking sover-
eighty in the island. 1t has assumed the
role of Hberator and organizer, and when
this role was undertaken it was with the
consent and eager acceptance of the Cuban
people. army and ALL
The responsibility for the process of ad-
justment belongs to the United States. 1t
must answer to the world as well as to
Cuba for the condition in which it leaves
the island 1t must be permitted, there
fore. to adopt it's own methods, and 20 use
whatever agencies are at hand. If it SHOULD
choose to employ its military force cXclr-
sively 1t is entitled to do SO. II it should
prefer to employ both its soldiers and civil
ians it has a perfect right so to act. If it
should further decide to use not only its
civil and military agents but those of the
Cubans who have proved themselves capa-
BILE of performing administrative duties its
privilege cannot be questioned. And it is
authorized to sweep away all elements of
disturbance, to remove factors for delay,
TO scatter conspirators, to imprison them,
II necessary.
1t is, therefore, to be hoped that no pains
will be spared in the matter of cleaning out
this and all other bodies of malconteats
who seek 10 hinder the process of organi-
zation. if their performances tend to i'm
pede progress or to excite the passions OF
the people.