Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-07
rLAcATING TIE CuBANs.

Chicago Tribune; The distribution OF this
sum OF 900 by a Joint commission OF
Cubans and Americans, u rightly managed.
ought not only TO help set the Cubans on
their feet again, but also to bring the
Cubans and Americans into closer relation
ship than they have before enjoyed.
Kansas City Star: Practically speaking
the success OF Mr.. Porters mission means
that it is cheaper wiser and better to pay
s3.OOO,OO0 more than to risk the danger OF
a period OF bandtt. 1t is safe to say that
the American people expect in return the
respect and trust OF the Cubans and not
cent in tribute.
st. Louis Republic: 1t is to be hoped that
the results urged in justification of the pro-
ceeding will follow; that the Cuban officers
and privates will roll up their sleeves and
work earnestly to support themselves and
build up the Industries Of their island, II
they do, one OF the biggest obstacles in the
way Of rehabilitation will be removed and
a generous people will not begrudse the
SS,000.000 invested in Cuban disbandment,
Detroit Free Press; OF course this is dirt
cheap. The friendship of Gomez and his
10000 patriots who have been fighting the
Spaniards so long with the sole purpose OF
winning for themselves and their country
men the priceless boon OF liberty Is rare
bargain at S3OO0,00O. These patriotic gentle
men who have seen the soil OF their country
drenched with American blood shed for
their sake, are truly appreciatve and mag
nanimous
New York Mail and Express: The patriot
troops have an unquestioned claim upon the
revenues of their country but that claim
must be limited by reason. Freed Cuba
does not mean life of Incidence for the
men who welded the machete against Spain.
We have liberated them and we have fed
their poor for months. 1t is now time, when
there Is no more fighting to be done, for the
Cuban troops to disband and grow crops.
1t is to be hoped that the rr'~s'nn of the
presidents emissary to Gomez may be Sue
cessful.
Baltimore American: The manner in
which General Gomez accepted the offer of
the United States Is characteristic. He
asked that S3,O00,000 be paid to General
Brooke for disbursement. He was willing
to aid in the distribution and he hoped IL
would be expansive, like the loayes and
fishes, but he did not wish the responsibility
OF taking care of the money. This removes
the last obstacle to the peaceful administra-
ton or the island. II Cuba succeeds in
establishing government of its own Cen
eral Maxine Gomez should have an exalted
place in it.
Boston Transcript The transaction Is not
bribe, for the Cubans have a very fair
claim to some assistance in starting civil
careers after almost four years of fighting
Wh1ch has devastated their country and re-
uuced the mass of the rural population to
want. cuba belongs to the Cubans. Had we
not intervened, had Gomez and his associ-
ates conquered the freedom of the island
without aid from us nobody could have
questioned their right to pay themselves for
their services. We, however, have stepped
In and are now administering Cuba.
new york Times: On our part this
measure OF relief to the Cubans solves prob
lels that 1t might cost us many times three
millions to dispose of in other ways. 70
dlsperse this Cuban army and secure -b,
friendship and cooperation of Gomez is a
great stroke of policy. The opinion of the
delegation from the Cuban Assembly that
S5i 100000 would be about right If we were
lhinklng or paying off the insurgent forces
gives us an inkling of the troubles and en-
oarrassments we might have drifted into
nad we not found General Gomez in such q
and business-like mood. while
the Cuban army kept its organization and
It's rifles we could never measure the diff
culties in our path. AS soon as these men
ABANDON the mountains and the business of
lnsurrectlon for the sugar and tobacco
plantations and productive toll the outlooL
Tor the Cuban people will visibly brighten
and our task of administration will be freed
from a multitude of perplexities.
Springfield Republican,: The administra-
lion merits approval and praise, which all
Oh It's critics will award for its successful
handling thus far of the Cuban reconstruc
lion problem. 1t was a graceful and shrewd
act TO send special commissioner like Rob
ert r. Porter to visit General Maximo
Gomez and secure his personal co-operation
IN bringing order and prosperity out of
chaos. At one time there was danger that
me one man in Cuba most capable of mis-
chief would be ignored by General Brooke
but that danger is now happily ayerted
General Gomez has met Mr. Porter's ad-
Vances In the proper spirit as he was sure
10 If treated well. The decision to nav off
Inc CUBAN army Is another wise step on
The part of our gossrnment The money is
To be advanced ostensibly as an aid in get
ting the people to work and can be charged
against the custom house receipts of the
Island. Back of all this success thus far in
cuba, however, is the promise not to annex
tue island. Were that pledge to be re-
pudiated tomorrow Gomez and his army
would be in the hills defying American an
thority by the first of next week