New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-26
pPOCPFSS or THE RIGHT SORT


Only one death in the Whole army in Cuba Is
remarkable record for September %. in the
season usually most dangerous for unacclimated
Northern troops. Nor is II a mere freak OF
fortune. for the death rate has been so low
during the entire summer as to excite surprise.
II Is the effect of civilized and scientific meth
DDS Of government which Cuba has never be-
fore known. and which prove daily blessing
10 the inhabitants even more than 10 the garr1-
sons General Ludlows report shows that the
death rate in June. July and August was below
the average for nine years, and the death rate
from yellow fever entirely unprecedented, prob
ably not half that Of the lowest previous year
since 1890 The labor of cleaning, purifying
and disinfecting. at first apparently so hopeless
for lack Of popular appreciation and support
has so quickly impressed the inhabitants with
q sense Of IFS usefulness 10 them that General
Ludlow testifes TO the great Improvement III
popular feeling and conduct giving the mill
tary administration a degree Of support and ala
which could hardly have been expected. and
securing measure Of success at first apparently
impossible.
Heroism under FIRE Is always hOnored. But
II Is not more honorable TO the Nation nor does
Il call for higher qualities OF manhood In the
Individual than the warfare against disease
and pestience in a city which had been neither
cleaned nor drained for centuries. The Ameri-
can who risks his life and spends nights and
DAYS in fighting to save O people from disease
NAV do more for his flag and his country than
one who only fights to kill. The glory which the
American Army is gaining in Cuba required,
first the heroism which destroyed the Spanish
feet and drove n Spanish army from the island,
but thatwould shine but family had not the same
American Army known how 10 deserve the con-
fidence and good will of the people by wisdom
and devotion to their welfare in the work Of
governing. If the record goes on as it has be
gun If Cuban Liberation is followed by Cuban
emancipation from the barharsm of past mis-
rule. the United States will have achieved
higher honor and a more complete conquest
than has been gained on any battlefield
There is already gratifying evidence that the
disposition Of the people toward the American
authorities is gradually changing, and more
generally than could have been expected. The
cleansing of cities has not been more important
to that end than the publication Of courts and
administrative offices. Here definite com
parsons are not possible. The death rate Of
Justice in Spanish Offices and courts is shown
by no statistics, hut some conception of it is
formed from the surprise which Spanlards and
Cuhans manifest when they see an Ameri-
can ousted and punished for fault. and find
that taxes lower than Spain ever levied yield
greater revenue by far than Spain was ever
able to get from the island. In some other re-
spects the Administration has been wise, es-
pecially in requiring American officials and en-
ployes to attain at once command Of the Span
ISL language as essential to their efficiency. It
was not TO he expected that the tremendous
task Of governing and reconstruction, I'm spite
Of differences Of speech. customs and race.
could he accomplished without some mistakes.
But II is the verdict Of opponents as well as
friends that American government in cuba has
on the whole thus far been most honorable to
the United States.