New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-07
FOR CUR4N REHA BILITATION.

"Raise more hogs and less hell" was the adj
vice given TO the people OF one or our o""
States. Conccdlng that 1t was appropriate W
their case, shall scarcely incur the reproach
OF undue consciousness If we suggest It's modl-
fled application to the island OF Cuba. We can
not wonder at II that men Of military rather
than civilian antecedents and Of political rather
than Industrial proclivitles are now at the fore
II Is one of the evil features of military revolu-
tlons. and indeed OF all wars II prolonged, that
they bring about lust such state OF affairs.
People get into military habit Of thought, just
as savages see red" The latent tiger Is aroused
in them by the taste of blood and II demands
more blood. 1t has become pr0verbial that III
this country every one Of our wars save the
last has been followed by the election OF ifs
military hero to the Presidency. What wonder
then, that the Cuban people, or the more visible
and audible part of them, having been accus-
toned to more or less of a state Of war for hair
n century, should cherish an admiring fondness
for their military chieftalns and that, having
for two generations thought and talked OF revo-
buttons, they should now be given largely to
restless and famboyant pOlltlcsi
Natural 1t is to a degree Commendable II IS
not for not In such matters can we truly say
that whatever is or whatever is natural Is right
The war in Cuba is ended. The revolution Is
successful. The need Of military operations or
leadership Is past. What is now mperatively
needed Is the restoration of the acts as well as
the fact Of peace. Ravaged plantations are 10
be restored Ruined mills are to be rebuilt.
Frustrated Industries are TO be revived and de-
veloped beyond their former compass. Impov-
erished people are to be made prosperous. In
dustry. commerce and finance are TO be put
upon a footing worthy Of that land Of inestlma-
bic resources. That Is the duty Of the hour,
above and before all else. II that is done every
thing else will come out all right II that Is not
done nothing else can make the condition or
Cuba creditablc or even tolerable. To a large
degree this work must be done by private enter
prise To some extent It may properly be pro-
NOTED by governmental action. To what extent
such governmental action should be taken Is
question that may well engage the most careful
thought Of those to whose tutclage the island Is
now committed
For such reasons We are inclined to regard as
auspclous such indications as are contained In
the address made to the President by represent
atives of the Planters and Farmers Association
OF Cuba, an abstract Of which we print else
where in today's Tribune. In this address Is
heard the voice, not of the soldiers and politi-
clans of Cuba nor of the restless semianarchic
radicals who would make the era Of revolution
perpetual. but of the conservative, industrious
men Of affairs who having been driven into OF
security and retreat by the stress OF war and
having been eclipsed by the late military
glamour and glitter, are now at last striving TO
make themselves serviceable for the reconstruc-
ton and rehabilitation of the island. They are
not clamoring for white mans country" nor
yet for the ostracsm Of all who have no tlnge
| of African blood Their minds are set upon
growing sugar and tobacco and opening mines
and building railroads, and increasing commerce
with the United States and getting the people Of
Cuba at work in profitable Industries
/ Theirs Is the voice that should be heard. for It
/ is the voice of the Cuba of the future, If ever
/ the island is TO have a future worthy of what
/ has been expended upon IT, The details of the
/ plans proposed-the agricultural banks, reel
procity and what nOt-wll require careful and
! expert consideration. But on the general prln-
cpe Of industry before politics these men are
/ right beyond all shadow of doubt. The Cuba
! for whose sake this Nation undertook a costly
foreign war must not be another Hayti nor such
n thing as Mexico was n couple of general Ons
ago II must not be the home either of chronic
Caucasian revolutions or Of African anarchy.
II must be orderly according TO United States
standards of order. And the surest way to
lowing the pithy and pertinent advice given to
one Of our own States. Less militarsm and
more industry; less politics and more sugar
those are the vital needs of Cuba
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