New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-27
THE TASK IN CUBA.
DIFFICULTIES FROM THE REGULARITY
OF THE CONDITIONS.
A CORRESPONDENTS VIEW or ERRORS COM
MTrED-rHE ADVISERS OF THE AMERr-

CAN OFFICIALS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The very interesting editorial article en-
titled The Nation as Trustee" which appears
in to-day's issue OF The Tribune has suggested
to me the following remarks. which nope are
rot entirely devoid OF interest. and for which
crave the hospitality OF the columns OF your
valued paper.
In estimating the value Of the work thus far
accomplished by the United States in Cuba, It
must be borne in mind that the task which the
American Government is attempting TO perform
there is by no means an easy one. Not that
the people are unruly. That is by means the
case. On the contrary the Cubans are OF
mild disposition and can be governed without
any difficulty Indeed If anything. they are too
submissive They grumble sometimes. but then
neople are apt 10 do that when they think that
they are ordered to do something which Is not
exactly fair and right This. after all. Is not
such a great fault To be sure. the Cuoans
NAV sometimes be mistaken No doubt they
often are Their experience in public matters
&c limited. they never had opportunities TO ac-
mira much Of IT, They may he unable 10 I'M
derstand the real purpose Of a measure; they
may think that 1t is unjust or ineXpedient and
they NAV complaint nevertheless they viii ac-
cant q and conform their conduct to IT, But
the measure Is really beneficial they will not be
icp1 IN discovering II and In awaiting themselves
~ its advantages II the great majority Of
then, are illlterate, all OF them are intelligent
The real difficulties with which the Americans
have IN contend in Cuba do not arise from the
temner Of the people They arise from the dif-
farenca If conditions Those existing In the
United States and those existing In Cuba ara
almost as wide apart as the poles Fully de-
veloned Anglo-Saxon institutions and fully de-
ve,oned Latin institutions differ greatly; on
roarv noints fundamentally. What difference
,hsrefore must there not be between the Latin
r,edipvaI institutions Of Cuba and those Of tho
1-rite6 States? For an American unfamiliar
with the language who has never resided In
our island many things there are entirely IN
corpnrebensible The laws, both substantive
and adjective. the organization Of the judiciary,
the economic arrangements. the commercial
usages the social customs the political prac-
tioes tho manners the feelings, the prejudices.
oil that Is for Americans new and strange YET
those are important factors in the life or the
neonle One must be familiar with their re-
snective values in order TO deal with them sue
cessf,llly. And that familiarity is not acquired
overnight II takes time, and while IL Is not
acquired the liability to make mistakes Is
great A measure which In the United states
will no productive of most benecia results IN
Cuba NAV prove to be just the reverse.
DIVERSITY OF METHODS.
That has been the cause Of many Of the errors
which have been committed But in spite OF
oil some good work has already been done.
Not as much perhaps as it would have oeen
nossible to accomplish IL a different plan had
been adopted, for in my opinion. the one foi-
lowed IL not. under the circumstances. the most
adeouate An attempt is being made n raise
tho structure before the necessary foundatlons
have been provided for it, On the other naho'
,bere ,s too much diversity OF views ana OF
methods Each Military Governor OF a prov
| ,nce has his own. thinks them TO be the oesI
and naturally applies them AS a consequences
,bere are not two provinces whose temporary
organization has been effected on the same
hssis In one the members OF the munlcipH
! CORPORATION have been appointed by the MIL
| tary Governor and in another by the polil'ca.
| Governor; In some way they have been eiec'eo
nv qualified and in others by popular Suffrage
Some OF those corporations have very ca
tensive powers, others none at all ihe seA.e
| is true of the Mayors of cities IN fac'' iiiuiii'
nal and provincial organization. so far Is very
unsatisfactory It is nothing but curious
mosaic. .
uovever excellent work has been done IN
| tmproving the eanitary condition or Cities ino'
OF Havana especially. is now % per cent De,.
| .or than s,x months ago. Public order is well
| preserved. and the statistics OF crime At iees'
! IN tho capital OF the island. show great oe
! c,ease Roth the persons and the property OK
the Inhabitants are we'll protected from the az
+acks Of the criminal classes. This means
good deal. and is fully appreciated
/ II "a said In your editorial that the COM
r,aints of Cuban politicians have been generahy
! Ignored by the United States" Such. no douo''
has been the intention; but. unfortunately
owing TO the lack OF knowledge or the persons
and their records. II is not the fact' Inc AZ
visers of the United States officials now al 'h'
nresent moment and since January last. are ioui
politicians. They are the leaders OF s"'s'
but compact clique. They represent nooou'
but themselves and their heelers 1t is puo'e
secret In Havana and all over the islano 'ha'
they are working for their own personal e"aS
What suits them and their friends is recon-
mended, however injurious It may be 10 .he
rest of the country They are responsive io'
30 per cent Of the mistakes that nave oeeN
made To them was due the order suspendins
, the collection Of all debts. whether secured OF
unsecured which has already caused 80 mue-
/. T. mischief and which threatened universal rum
It was recommended. solicited and oota'heu :"
the Interest OF a few Of their friends anu -
CARELESS Of the consequences which II MS"
have in the present and future OF the couh''
And some Of those friends. certainly. are NJ
DISTINGUISHED by their honesty. Nor are u"
Cuban secretaries, for those are the ADVISERS
, whom l refer. distinguished for their aoii''
,, One OF them is considered to be good pr
fessor Of criminal law: that and no more -.
others were simply lawyers serving as cierA' '
other lawyers Even in their profession 'he'
Z had no standing. The Secretary OF lnan "a
for instance has never offered any othel !,
Y denca of his knowledge OF the subject than .