New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-26
THE SPANIARDS IN CUBA.

rbere Is much with which Americans ga"
.,.r,notb,ye IN the statement by Nicholas Rivera
rooord,ng the feelings of Spaniards IN Cuoa'
AZ d,rector ~ the Cuban journal most inhueh-
.i., With Snau,sh residents he may be presuheu
IN know their feelings well, and In saying tna'
,hav would unanimously prefer annexation u
o.tah,,shmont of an independent government ne
Ii, .1nresses what must obviously be the dis-
noet,on Of n wealthy and influential minority
exnosed TO the hostility Of the Cubans "he"
,s remembered what reasons the Cubans nave
Gov tbe,r hostility how they have been trea'eu
Gov roars and even for centuries, by the IoV-
orrmon, which the Spanish residents have up
hold and how they are deprived OF the SATISFY!
inc triumnb In war over their oppressors, no one
can believe that the feeling can DE less ih'en'e
than Mr.. Rivera represents, or that the hioie
unruly could be restrained from acts oi Nen
reance and violence II American authority were
withdrawn All this is so obvious that "ener"i
Gomez himself and also the National League
which has grown up in opposition 10 hih'' con
slider II essential that American occupation
should continue for time.
Rut the Spanish residents go further. They
urge that long term OF years VIII DE require"
10 prepare the island for any form OF orueri!
and peaceful sef-government. WINE 'ne!
would all prefer annexation, they desire as 'he
ro,t host thing an immediate declaration by the
I-n,,ed States Government that 1t finds in the
leland conditions which will Oblige II 10 retain
or,hortv for a definite number of years. SIX,
ton or twenty. during which military occupa-
ton will not cease This they urge Dec"uSe
without such assurance for the future cap'ai
and credit for the restoration OF Industry ana
business cannot be obtained. Yet IT Is evident
that the United States can hardly nnd Jus'ihca-
tion in the events Of less than four months since
its authority began for a declaration so Iar-
reaching Even If every officer OF the Govern
ment believed 1t. the statement would appear
10 DENY TO the Cubans n fair opportunity Oy
good conduct to show their illness TOT sell
government at an earlier date would kindle
antagonlsm among them, and thus would rem
der the task of pacfcaton and restoration
much more difficult.
The frank and truthful course. whatever its
disadvantages may be. is that which the Gov
ernment will doubtless adopt Ii means 10 give
and will give to the Cuban and the Spanish IN
habitants together full opportunity to snow
their fitness for governing responsibility. III
has reason to doubt whether the Cuban ele-
ments. which have not been able to agree in the
army. In the late Assembly, in expressions or
public opinion or even In suppression OF dls-
orders, will speedily show such unity In hon
orable purpose and self-restralnt as to warrant
full confidence; but the doubt hardly warrants
refusal of opportunity. How the Cubans VIII
treat the Spanish residents, whom they now
maltreat and Cypress not little In the country
districts where American authority Is not quick
ly felt according to Mr.. Rivera, is also an es-
senta part of their stage of probation. In pro-
portion as they establish and maintain justice
they will gain confidence, while the failure OF
individuals TO observe justice and of Cuban
communities TO restrain individuals will inevi-
tably impair confidence.
The Spanish residents, less than third Of
the inhabitants In number, have large part of
the wealth and control large part Of the
business, and are also peculiarly exposed and
liable to be obnoxious because they are cred
itors and hold mortgages on nearly all the
Cuban estates 1t is only too clear that In the
present temper of the Cubans there would be
small protection for their claims or their prop
erty If the authority were turned over to the
majority But since destruction or expulsion
of capital and credit and disruption Of business
would complete the ruin of the island, ntelli-
gent and reasonable Cubans know full well the
necessity of preparing their followers and as
sociates for a better course before American
authority can be withdrawn. Much will de-
pend upon such progress may be made In
that direction, and the Spanish residents them
selves will share the benefits if the desire to
attain independence soon leads the Cubans
to practise strict justice and fair dealing toward
those whose participation in the industrial res
toration of the island Is essential