The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-11
OUR WORK AND DUTY IN CUBA.

The recent reports of military officers
In command in Cuba will furnish Congress
with valuable information regarding pres
ent conditicrs in the island and the best
lines for future action. The commanders
include Major General Brooke. military gov
ernor of the whole island, and six govern
ors OF provinces, among whom are Generals
Ludlow. Fitzhugh Lee and others of equal
experience. The reports all show that dur
ing the brief American occupation of the
islsnd wonderful progress has been made
in the restoration of peace and order and
preparing the way for stable government.
1t has been less than a year since the
Americans occupied the whole island. Ac-
cording to the original understanding the
Spaniards were to evacuate by Dec. /, 1898,
but the time was subsequently extended 70
Jan. j, 1899. Our occupation of Santiago
dates from July II, 1898, of the province of
Manzanillo from Oct. IL, of the province of
Puerto Principe from Dec. 5, of Pinar del
Rio from Dec. 10 and of Havana from Jan.
i, 1899. AT noon of the last named date the
Spanish flag was lowered everywhere in
the island and the stars and stripes raised
entire island therefore covers less than a
year. and 1t is no exaggeration to say that
never before I'm the history of the world
were more beneficial results accomplished
In the same length of time or greater
| progress made in bringing order out of
chaos and laying the foundations of stable
government where anarchy existed before.
If there We're any who thought that the
TASK of the United States was finished and
its duty done when the Spaniards were ex-
PEELED sfrom Cuba they were greatly mis-
| taken. That was comparatively an easy
task. but our real work, one of the most
| humane and at the same time one of the
most difficult ever undertaken by any ma
| ton, began after the Spanards had left
| This was to redeem the pledge of Congress
| to pacify the island. to restore order and TO
| start the Cubans i'm the way of self-gov-
| eminent. No nation ever undertook
nobler work than this or one more diff
| cult of accomplishment That so much
| progress has been made i'm so short time
| speaks volumes for the wisdom. tact pa
| triotism, singleness of purpose and execu-
| tive ability of the officers I'm command there.
| The splendid results accomplished in one
| year reflect great credit on them and on
| the American government and people. If
anything could add, ia the eyes of the civil
| lied world, to the brilliancy of our naval
and military achievements during the war
| ii would be the work since done in Cuba
and the promise ii affords of future results
| Great as was the prestige of the United
States at the close of the war il promises
| to be greatly heightened by the success Of
| its efforts for the rehabilitation of Cuba
| and the establishment of a new nation of
| self-governing people on the ruins of one
| that ever existed.
| 1t is to be hoped the Congress soon to
| meet will be wise enough to utilize the in
| formation afforded by the reports of our
military commanders in Cuba and provide
/ for extending and continuing the work
Our military occupation of Cuba should not
| be prolonged a day beyond what circum-
| stances require. but il should not cease
| until the Cubans can give satisfactory as
/ surances of maintaining the peace We have
| established and building on the foundations
| of free government which we have laid
| there. The honor and reputation of the
United States are involved in the success
| of the work begun there, and il cannot af-
| ford to withdraw entirely from the island
without satisfactory assurances that what
has been done will not be undone or thrown
away.