The evening times., 1899-01-02
The CuHans Free ut LaSt.

The most grateful news from Cuba
since the surrender of Toral is the an
nouncement that a, last. after nearly hve
months OF unnecessary delay. the AmeIi-
can flag has displaced the standard of
Spain at Havana. As a consequence of
the long posrponemeni of an event that
was provided for by the protocol. thou
sands Of Cubans have starved within
sight OF the great hotel occupied by the
American Commissioners; scores have
been kept in foul jails and hundreds have
died of disease due TO the unsanitary con
ditions that killed Colonel Warng; The
revenues Of the Cubans have been stolen
by Blanco; the banks robbed. business
prohibited. and the natives prevented
from going into the country TO work on
the farms. A great deal of public property
was sold by Blanco, and municipal privi-
ieges granted TO cause the future au-
thorities trouble. But at last il is AL
over and the Americans now have full
authority and absolute responsibility.
The American hemisphere dedicated 10
freedom. has seen the last of the barba-
rous Spaniard. who once held the greater
part in his selfish hands. Slavery has
been utterly abolished and the subjcction
% every people TO European monarchs
has vanished. From the frozen North TO
the uttermost South. the inhabitants of this
hemisphere are free. They are to work out
the highest human destiny. and their exam
pie Will free the oppressed of every nation.
There will be no tyranny when, in the
school OF experience, these people learn how
to govern themselves. The event at Ha-
vana is impressive chiefly because it re-
moved the last sign OF monarchical auIhori-
ty in this hemisphere.
Il is particularly gratifying to learn that
the good sense OF the American military
commanders there prevented the troubles
the schemes of the Commissioners threat
ened TO promote. Not only was there no
clash between Spaniards and Cubans. but
the latter were pacified by the participa-
tion of some of their representatives in the
ceremonies. II is more than ever apparent
that the people with whose welfare this ma
tion is charged are mere children, pecu-
liarly sensitive 10 kindness and making
more of trifes than of many important
matters. The concessions finally made
were effective, and although in their wrath
the Cubans had torn down the American
flags they became wildly enthusiastic when
Spanish colors were lowered and the Stars
and Stripes raised.
In spite of the Vaccinations of the mis-
chievous politicians among them, the Gu
bans viii be easily managed if men of wise
discretion are put in charge OF the govern
ment. Hitherto America has not been well
represented by the Evacuation Commission
ers. Ii is amusing in the light of their own
confessions of uselessness and failure to
read the Presidents message congratulating
them on the successful termination of their
mission. II took five months for them to
reach the results which the Porto Rico
Commissioners achieved in four weeks.
While the number of Spanish troops in
volved was much larger, the principles
they had 10 work out were exactly the
same. Happily that is all over though no
thanks are due TO them. They were will
ing TO wait until February at Blanco's or
der.
1t is probable there viii be little need OF