New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-04
A TINE FOR PATIENCE.

The session of Congress is 10 be one Of many
responsibilities and unusual difficulties. 1t Is
the natural disposition Of members to apply
themselves as early rs they can to the relations
of the United States with the properties Of
which 1t has Just taken possession. Yet n
glance at the real situation in those properties
will suffice to satisfy intelligent members that
the time has not come when any comprehensive
and permanent plan of treatment can be pro-
posed. and the President has submitted none
On the surface II appears that military rule and
no other is possible present and that too little
is known as yet of the inhabitants their tenn
per and divisions of sentiment. and their read-
ness for good civil government Of any sort, to
guide the framing Of any plan for such govern
ment. 1t is stated. perhaps with truth. that
the President will not have any plan Of action
ready for submission to Congress at this SEES
sion, but IL is already evident that some Oppo-
stion members instead of regarding this az an
indication Of sound judgment and conservatism
which they might wisely emulate. since II Is OBJ
viousy not possible for them TO be better in
formed than the President Is regarding the
actual conditions. will seize the opportunity to
urge some positive and binding action by Con.
gress in order to cmbarrass the Administration
The party responsible for the Government
will need during this session TO appreciate fully
that responsibility and especially the fact that
the Executive branch of the Government is at
present charged with difficult and delicate du-
ties which might easily be defeated or deprived
of good results for the country by action in
Congress necessarily based upon information
less complete than the Executive possesses
To uphold the President in the discharge Of hid
frst duty. which is TO establish the military
authority OF the United States fully and beyond
dispute In the new possessions, must be regard
ed as the highest duty Of Congress. Until he is
prepared to state that this work has been so
fsr performed that Congress can be invited to
act with safety. It Will be difficult TO attribute
entirely patriotic motives TO those who would
Interfere with his efforts.
No ono knows enough ne yet OF the state Of
Cuba or Porto Rico TO determine with sound
rca son what steps should be taken beyond the
establishment # military authority and good
order II men seriously consider how little
they really know about Cuba, how they have
been dependent upon Spanish journals. which
were generally disposed and even compelled to
give false views OF things; how the scattered
reports obtained through few American CORE
spondents necessarily much restricted in their
sources OF Information, have been found in
many instances misleading and sensational
AZ TO warn people against accepting such ac-
counts. and that even the military authorities
have as yet scarcely any means Of knowing
through personal intercourse or experience the
actual temper Of the Inhabitants. 1t must surely
Dc admitted that all action beyond the estab-
3ishment OF military authority would be unwise
until more light can be cast on the problem.
And II this 10 true Of the nearest and by far
A. t>.~< Lnoxvr NJ tbo~o novv Mammalian ios n
must be regarded as neither patriotic nor sensi-