Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-12
OUR ADMINISTRATIONS IN crsA


II was inevitable that American ad-
mnistration in Cuba wout be sub
jccted to some criticism. No rational
man expected that everybody would be
satisfied. As all know 1t is a difficult
and perplexing task, calling for the cX-
ercisc of wisdom, tact and patience.
Complaint has been heard, on the one
hand, that the administrative policy in
Cuba has not been sufficiently definite
and that there has been a lack of de-
cision and frmness. On the other hand
it has been urged that the military au-
thority has been too rigldly exercised.
The elements in Cuba that believe their
security lies in the military power de-
sire that everywhere that power shall
be vigorously exerted. Another consid-
cradle body of the people want less of
military rule and an extension of civil
authority-a more rapid advance toward
the replacement of military with civil
government.
According to the testimony of an
American officer in Cuba our military
occupation is source of irritation to
the people which becomes more intense
every day. He points out that our meth
DDS of thought, of speech, of action are
different from those of the Cubans and
that we offend them without suspecting
it. This creates resentment and whereas
at first the Americans were hailed as
deliverers our army has come to be
widely regarded as merely the success
sor of the Spanish army. an each
province" says this writer, "the civil
governor, and in each city, the mayor,
Is subordinate to the military COM
mander, who has usually large staff
Jealous for employment and the army
at his back. Starting with street clean
ing and the control of the police, one
by one all the functions of executive
government are likely to be teen up
and happy is the civil magistrate who
is not forced to acknowledge, as
mayor of an important town recently
claimed, that the civil government of
his city had become merely a bureau
of information for the military gov
ernor. Such is the tendency in all the
large cities; no matter how good the
civil government is, the military com
mander is in n position to deprive the
mayor of much of his authority This
condition is inseparable from military
rule, but the American officer expresses
the opinion that military interference in
the civil government is in majority
of cases entirely unnecessary and that
the best governed cities are likely to be
those where this interference is reduced
to a minimum That 1t should be n
source of friction and irritation it is easy
to understand.
There is not likely to be any material
change in the policy regarding Cuba
pending the meeting of congress. OF
course the military occupation will be
maintained and doubtless the general
methods of administration will continue
to be observed. Meanwhile the ques-
ton whether we should not soon with
draw from the island, pursuant to our
pledge to leave Cuba to the government
and control Of Its people when pacifica-
ton should be accomplished, is likely
to receive a great deal of public dis
cussion, so that when congress meets
1t will be able to judge pretty accurately
respecting the opinion Of the country on
this question. We are inclined to think
that If the popular judgment could be
ascertained it would be found largely
in favor of the earliest practicable fulfill
ment of our pledge to the Cuban people.