The evening times., 1899-03-15
WEDNESDAY, MARCH Is, 1899.
,t.otish the Cuban Assembly.

II is apparent that the time has come
for the dissolution, the permanent aboii-
zion of the mischieyous Cuban Assembly.
In il are centered all the elements that are
calculated 10 interfere with the quiet and
successful administration OF the govern
ment 1t is not representative body and
il cares far less for the weil-being OF Gu
ba than for the personal welfare OF is
members. 1t has passed into the control
of the men who were from the very Erst
opposed 10 a temporary American rule. 1t
is easy TO understand their motives. In
nearly all the Central and South Ameri
can states we have had examples 1f what
the country would suffer under the!r
methods They knew that wnen this Gov
erament assumed authority it would be
impossible for them to carry out their
personal ambitions. They wanted to es-
tablish = republican form OF government
in order to afford them an opportunity 10
acquire power. with the ultimate purrose
OF d coup if their corruptions should make
their retention of Office difficult. With a
people new TO self government, mostly
uneducated amiable, excitable and easily
duped. they could reasonably hope 10 enl-
ploy The arts of the demagogue for their
own benefit.
All their schemes are frustrated by
American rule. 1t is Inevitable that by
the gradual training of the people IN lie
rights and duties of citizenship ana by
The appointment TO office OF trustworthy
patriots. the mere self-seeking politicians
must be prevented from achieving The
power they desire. They obtained control
OF the Assembly and counted on the sup
port Of the army for the purpose of ef-
fecting the early evacuation of the is and
by the American soldiers To insure the
favor Of the army. they insisted on 4 loan
of ten or twelve millions for the payment
of some forty-siX thousand men fo~ al
legged military services which a third. at
least had never rendered. 1t speaks well
for The patriotism and good sense of 4
majority of the soldiers that they refused
this bait and stood by Gomez and the
American Government in the plal TO dis
tribute three millions among the men who
had enlisted under the Cuban flag
Having failed in their purpose and hav-
AA5 NSAl4S ilAAO OpCH tDluiCL Nlil the
American authorities, they viii never rest
as long as there is the least hope of adding
10 the natural difficulties of administration
and Obstructing every scheme that can in
crease the popularity of this Government.
They have nothing to gain personally by
quiet submission. for they have disqualified
themselves for appointment TO Office. They
a, rba
unceasing agitation in favor of the imme-
diate independence of Cuba They have
a certain appearance of authority as the
Assembly and the favor of minority Of
army officers and soldiers. They can in
vent and eXaggerate causes of complaint
against the American officials and at times
create dissatisfaction TO the embarrassment
of the Government
Deprived of official standing by the abo-
lition OF The Assembly and prohibited from
misrepresenting the motives of this coun-
try they would be less able TO cause trou-
BILE. Their plots for revolution would be
personal. whereas. as the Assembly repre-
senting the people of Cuba, they would
appear 10 be patriotic. At this moment the
Assembly is eXecrated by an overwhelming
majority of the people. Every demonstra-
tion in honor of General Gomez is meant
10 be a condemnation and reputation Of
the Assembly. Its dissolution would meet
with the approval of the majority and at
once deprive the demagogues of their main
source of strength The Cubans are not
exactly stable people, and an injudicious
act on the part of an American official
might turn the tide of sentiment momenta-
rily ia favor of the mischief makers.
Therefore it would be mistake TO allow
this favorable opportunity to pass. 1t
would be in the interests of Cuba no less
than this country to have the Assembly
abolished