The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-15
THE REGULARS CALLED OUT.

1t is apparent that tact, judgment and
frmness are needed in dealing with the
situation in Cuba. The slightest mistake
might provoke trouble which would cost
hundreds, and probably thousands of lives.
For instance. a collision between the peo-
pie and the police was barely averted in
Havana on Monday. The different civil or
ganizatio arranged to parade in honor
Of Gen. Gomez, and to visit him at his
house and express TO him their approval
of his course in accepting the proposition
of our government to disband the Cuban
army The civil governor of the city, Fred
eric Mora, thought h would be inadvisa-
Bile to permit the parade, and so he is
sued orders forbidding il. An appeal was
made by the societies to Gen. Ludlow, the
military governor of the city, to revoke
the order of the civil governor. He refus-
ed 70 do so, and then an appeal was made
to Gen. Brooke, the governor general of the
island. He said he could not see any OBJ
lection to an orderly parade, and he sent
word 10 Gen. Ludlow TO that effect. In
the meantim the civil organizations had
begun to move through the streets towards
the residence of Gen. Gomez. The police
under the orders of the civil governor, IN
dertook to prevent the parade. A collision
between the police and the organizations
was imminent Acts of violence had al
ready been committed when a regiment of
United States regulars was sent TO the
scene of the disturbance and cleared the
streets. If the regulars had not arrived
promptly it is almost certain that a num-
Der Of people would have been killed and
a period of bad feeling between the people
and the civil authorities would have been
inaugurated.
There was no reason. as far as we can
see, against permitting the civil organi-
cations TO parade the streets and to visit
Gen Gomez, but there ought to have been
a very clear understanding about the mat
ter before the announcement of the parade.
If Gen. Brooke is the supreme authority
on the island he should require all mat
tiers about which there is likely to be a
difference between the civil and military
authorities to be referred to him before
any chance for trouble arises
Mondays incident is likely to be produc-
tive of bad feeling between the civil gov
ernor of Havana and the governor general
of the island. The civil governor feels no
doubt that he has been Inundated in the
eyes of the people of the city, and will not
be disposed 10 work in harmony with the
military authorities. If there had been a
rule requiring all such matters TO be re-
ferred to the governor general, Monday S
incident would not have occurred. The
civil governor would have understood that
he was not at liberty to prevent the pa
rade and he would have had no grlev-
ance. Or, if the governor general had
agreed with him, the parade would have
been prevented without the risk of Great
ing a riot.
A very little mistake-a mistake easily
averted-rnay in the present temper of the
Cuban people be the cause of trouble SC
serious as to set back the establishment
Of a stable government a long time and
greatly interfere with the work of restor-
ing the island to prosperity 1t is important
therefore that the President should see tC
it that those occupying places of response.
bility in the island are men of ability, tact
judgment and firmness. Men possessing al
of these qualities are not plentiful, but
they can be found