New-York tribune., 1899-07-24
THE CTR1N OUTLOOK.

There IL much sound sense In the utterances
of the Havana merchants published In The 1rlD-
une of Saturday concerning the present control
and future outlook Of Cuba. These men, repre-
sentative of the native Cuban, Spanish and
American clements in the industrial and COM
mercial life Of the island, are without exception
agreed that immediate withdrawal Of United
States military authority would be disastrous.
II would mean prostraton of business and
reign of brigandage They ask, therefore, mat
the military occupation and government of the
island be continued for at least two or three
years. BY the end of that period, they tninR'
business prosperity will be restored ana es'ao-
lshed on q secure basis, and Drlgandage VIII
be abolished partly through coercion ana part
ly. indeed chiefly, through the preferable proc
ess of putting idle men at work on much peeded
public improvements. These ideas are Identical
with those hitherto put forward in these col
umns. and are we believe entirely correct, In
both diagnosis and prognosis.
On one other point however, we are not so
sure these Cuban merchants are right. They say
the United States should not only announce
definite policy toward Cuba, but should also
announce the exact date on which it VIII With
draw from the island. The latter seems TO us
of doubtful expedency, and OF more than
doubtful practicability. The question involved
is not one Of months and years, but OF CUBAN
progress in prosperity and fitness for self gov
ernment These gentlemen admit that CUBA
is not now ready for independence. How can
they tell or how can we tell. when 1t VIII DE
ready? A doctor and nurse are engaged 10
care for an invalid not for so many days or
weeks but until he is well enough TO do with
ont them. SO the tutelary Power Is TO control
and assist the dependent until the latter Is able
and fit TO stand alone. How long that will be
no man can saw We might almost quote the
song 1T NAV be for years. and it may be for
ever" Only we would not want to intimate
that the Cubans will never be fit for self gov
ernment. The essential point, however, Is this:
That lust as the Cubans themselves would NOT
want to be kept under our control one year or
one day after they were fitted for self control,
60 we do not want and in justice and honor
cannot agree. to relinquish our control one year
or one day before Cuba is ready TO govern her
self in accordance with the American standard
of civilization.
So much for practicabilty. On the score OF
expedlency there is no more reason for setting
or for trying TO set a date. 1t Is not conceiv-
able that the setting OF date would in the
would more probably either delay II or make II
less thorough Some would say: 1--WE have so
"long In which to get ready. There Is no
"hurry" Others would say: "All we have to
"do Is TO remain on our good behavior for so
"long. Then we can do as we please Neither
OF those spirits is calculated to produce the
best results The man who is worthy TO be-
come a sovereign will strive to fit himself FOR
the work inst as thoroughly under the present
indefinite arrangement as though an exact
period Of five years were allotted him. and Just
as expeditiously as though he had only three
months in which to do 1t. The same point has
been brought up in Egypt again and again
There have been requests and demands that
Great Britain shall fix specific date for her
withdrawal from the country But these have
invariably been made by the enemies OF order
and of progress and Of those public benefits
which British rule has so abundantly conferred
upon the country. Whether consciously or not
those who agitate for n similar date setting in
Cuba will be agltating against the real welfare
Of the island and its people. The United states
will withdraw from Cuba Just as soon as it Is
satisfied and confident that Cuba Is able and
willing and ready TO govern herself in man
npr acceptable to this country. 1t will not with
draw sooner than that And when that will be
no one can tell.