The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-15
A GOOD REGINNING N cuBA.


We are starting well in Cuba, and from
present indications it will not be long before
we shall have evolved fair degree of adj
mnistrative order out of the chaos that
prevailed at the close Of the war. That
there would be more or less turbulence dur
ing the period between the cessation of
hostilities and the departure of the Span
iards from the island was to be expected.
All things considered, the latter was
brought about as soon and with as little
friction as could have been expected. The
protocol which ended the war was signed
Aug. u, 1885, the American evacuation COM
missioners went to Cuba soon afterward,
and the Spanish evacuation of Havana was
practically completed by Jan. I. There are
still about 5000 Spanish troops in Matanzas
and Cienfuegos, who will have left by the
middle of February, but Havana province is
clear Considering the difficulties of the
situation, this was quick work. And it was
accomplished without much friction or any
serious disturbance The evacuation COM
missioners have returned to the United
States, and their report, if not in the hands
of the President already, will be in a few
days. Maj. Gen. NJ c. Butler, member
of the commission, was interviewed in
Charleston and while he declined to dis
close the contents of the report, he said:
1 can say, however, that the evacuation Of
the island has been very satisfactory, and
no disorders of any kind arose. The Span
iards accepted the situation gracefully, and
acted in accordance with the agreements
made between the two commissions. The
Cubans, too, conducted themselves in be-
coming manner Any disagreeable incidents
that occurred were of a purely personal ma
ture. 1t is probable that some rows and
fights took place between Cubans and Span
iards, but they were always the result of
drinking, and there was nothing like organ
lied violence by either faction. The Gu
bans are very much elated that the Span
iards were sent from their land, and jubila-
tiOnS were to be expected. The SpanlardS
were, on the other hand, crestfallen and
easily provoked but both natlonantles held
themselves we'll in check, and are to be con-
graduated on their behavior in trying times
The evacuation could not have been accom-
plshed with more expedition or satisfaction,
and the commission is well pleased with It's
work, and hopes it will meet with the APP
prevail of the administration ana the people
at large.
General Butler speaks very kindly of the
Cubans, and says the sweeping denuncia-
tons of them are very unjust. AS to
whether they are capable of self-govern-
ment or not, he says as they have never
been tried they should not be convicted be-
fore they have had a chance. AT present
they are thoroughly demoralized as the re-
suit of a weakening and devastating war,
and they need time for recuperation and to
adjust themselves to the conditions of peace.
General Butler thinks the outlook is en-
couraging. He says:
There are many different opinions among
the leading Cubans to what the ultimate
form of government should be- Some FAVOR
annexation to the United States, others
want a kind of colonial government, and
still others clamor for absolute independence
and self-government. Time alone can de-
velop how these different contentious Will
result The majority of the CubanS want
a stable government and peace-they want
it right away, too, so that they can go
to work with security and recoup the
losses occasioned by the war Good firm
government will work wonders on the pres
ent condition of the Cubans They are nat
urally well-disposed people, but are some
what distrustful as the outgrowth of years
of oppression Let them know that this
state of affairs is over for good. encourage
them to go back to their former pursuits,
educate the generations that are growing
and those to come and the HHeafl Oh the
Antilles will become q land OF progress,
happiness and culture.
General Wood reports a highly satisfac-
tory condition of things in Santiago, where
the better class of Cubans are cooperating
heartily with the Americans, and dispatches
from Havana Indicate that they are begin
ming to work together tremendously there.
General Ludlow, military governor of Ha-
vana, has appointed a large number of Gu
hans to responsible civil positions in that
city, and they assumed Office on Saturday.
Many other Cubans have been appointed to
local offices in other parts of the province.
and the work of organizing and establish
ing stable government is fairly under way.
We have made a good beginning, and it is
probable that from now on the difficulties of
the situation will decrease.