The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-26
PROBLEMS IN CUBA
Are Serious Enough But by
No Means Hopeless.
Discomfort AND CRIME
But Political Significance Is to
be Imputed Charity,

| New York, Jan. 25.-The Havana carre-
spondent of the Evening Post says: 1t is
as evident as it is natural that Cuba is TO
pass through a period of reconstruction,
and that her rehabilitation is 10 proceed
by degrees and ont by bounds 1t is wholly
certain that this period will be, and can
be, no other than a time of more or less
serious disturbance. There will be uncer-
tainty and uneasiness, and there will be
both accurate and greatly exaggerated re-
ports of crime and disorder. There will
also be many rumors of depreciation and
mischief, having no other basis than the
imaginings of minds in which the state of
the times breeds an alert suspicion, and a
tendency to turn an animated discussion
into a general riot.
While this may seem a rather sombre
view of the coming months in Cuba, it
cannot be classed as pessimistic, and 1t is
but the logic of the situation. Going no
further back in history than the last six
months both Santiago and Porto Rico may
be cited as precedents. At these points,
the conditions were even much less COM
pick than they are in the western part of
Cuba. Yet even from Porto Rico, where
the situation is infinitely more simple than
it is in the vicinity Of Havana, there still
come occasional stories and rumors of dis
content and petty troubles. In Cuba to-
day apprehensive minds are filed with
anxiety for both present and future. Re-
ports Of an eminently serious character are
of constant appearance in the local news
papers. Many Of these are repeated in
news messages to the United States, where
it is even more difficult than it is here to
measure them at thar actual value. Some
are quite true some are wholly false, and
some are molehiILs turned into mountains
1t is not wise to brush all these aside, to
regard them as idle and petty, nor is it
right to regard the island of Cuba as the
scene of a smoking social volcano, which
may, at any time break forth in active
eruption Elements of danger are unques-
tionably here. A firm, wise and tactful
administration should hold every serious
menace well in hand. 1t will be impossible
to suit all, and even at this early stage
many mutterings of discomfort are heard.
The Cuban protests against the retention
Of old Spanish officials and against any
selection from the ranks of Spanish appli-
cants for any position whatever. The
Spaniards, who constitute a very impor-
tant part of the social commercial, and
financial life of this district, very naturely
feel that they are clearly entitled to an ac-
tive voice and representation in the new
order of things. They distrust the Cubans
md o~fr n Of
against the Spanish element in the COM
munity.
Local civil officials contend that they are
overlooked and disregarded by the military
government. Steps are often taken by the
military authorities without consultation
with or reference IL the local men to whose
different departments certain work may
may belong. The civil governor Of the pro-
vince, the Alcalde OF the city, and the
chiefs of departments are said to feel thas
they are being ignored and overridden by
the military officials. Then follows an I'M
dercurrent of resentment, which can be
expressed only in private. For the time,
this means unavoidable. There is work to
be done which admits of no delay, and
there is certainly enough Ted-tape in the
normal proceedings of a military admins
tration, without complicating it with all
the forms and ceremonies of Spanish Off
cialdom.
The Cuban army IS an element which
some Of the fearful regard as one of men,
ace. This may or may not be a far-fetch-
ed bugaboo. 1t is not easy to say just
what might be done by g. people who have
spent a large share of their lives in fight
ing for a cause which is dear to them, and
who now see well defined indications THAI
their purpose will find fits termination in di-
erctions which, though an Improvement up
on the former state, are yet not those Of
their desire. Their somewhat inSistant at
titude regarding payment for past services
is not particularly credtable to them as
patriots, perhaps, but it is quite natural.
There have been instances in our OVID
country in which the flag was loved very
much for what there was in il.
The entire Cuban situation undoubtedly
bristles with social and political compli-
cations which can only be smothed down
and Strengthened out by tact, patience and
time Friction is as in evitiable as sun
rise. The problem OF annexation gives rise
to opinions which may be grouped into
three fairly distinct classes, which inter-
mediate variations. These are the annex
alton party, which is strongly represented
among the prOperty-owners and the mer-
chants; the Cuba Libre party. which finds
it's greatest strength among those TO whom
the idea of freedom for the island has been
an issue for which they have labored.
fought and suffered; and, third. a less
definite party. which holds the question in
obeyance to await developments. Prob
ably there are few Spaniards who belieye
in any plans of independence. but there
are many Cubans who favor annexation.
some desire that the matter DE submitted
TO the vote of the people at a time in The
early future. Others would prefer that
such a course be deferred until matters
become far more settled than they are at
all likely 20 he for many months.
Beyond, and really more immediately Sc
Tious than these purely political questions.
there are others which have TO do with =
dangerous criminal element Of a consider
= AZURE GRAPE CREAM Or 7ssrAH ,ewora