New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-11
THE TWO ISLANDS.

The report OF the commission appointed u!
the President to investigate the state OF Things
in Porto Rico is not surprising. The same
Commission investigated affairs In portions OF
Cuba, and its conclusion IS the same regard
ing both slands-that they will not be prepared
for any high degree Of participation In their
government for some time to come. Such an
account will not in the least surprise those VINO
have watched the course Of events ana nave Cd
served how the inhabitants OF Cuba ana Porto
Rico have behaved in the presence or new OPP
portunties and responsibilities Probably not
one man In a hundred OF those who were talk
ing loudly eight months ago about the duty anu
wisdom Of giving self-goveInment to those ISL
ands would regret 1t II his speeches OF That SORT
could be entirely blotted from the record ana
the minds Of men. 1t seems to be true that
public opinion in this country has undergone
much change on the subject, largely because OF
the conduct of Cuban leaders and the strangely
childish appeals they and emlssaries from Porto
Rico have thought 1t worth while 10 submit In
nerson TO the authorities at Washington. II
these are the more prominent and active men Of
the two islands, what sort of government would
the people fashion for themselves?
II has often seemed questionable whether the
N''
places of responsibility under the military au-
thority was entirely wise. In number OF
cases the men chosen have been found unfit,
and in others incapable of enforcing law with
American strictness and fidelity and they have
been replaced by Americans. This Is one OF the
grounds of venomous complaint by the most OBJ
structive Of the Cuban politicians, bnt II none
but Americans had been selected to enforce the
American military authority they could not
have complained more loudly, nor claimed that
Americans were pushing Cubans out or posi-
tons that belonged to them. Yet 1t Is to be adj
mtted that the general results attained have
been far more satisfactory than could have been
expected. The report of General Wilson regard
ing the provinces under his charge, after a
thorough tour of inspection and personal OBJ
scrvation of all the officials selected in every
| place visited, is most encouraging as to the
character of persons selected and in regard to
the general Improvement attained.
The testimony accumulates that there Is left
scarcely any brgandage In Cuba, and this after
only four months of American authority, and
that life ana property are generally better pro-
tected than they ever were under Spanish rule
This appears on the best Of evidence fairly
established as to nearly all the wellsettled por-
tons Of Cuba, outside the immediate neighbor-
hood Of Havana. where the mischievous infu-
ence Of politicians has been especially disturb
ing. But even in and about Havana there is
far less trouble than there was during the first
| two or three months Of occupation The Span
| iards themselves realize the fact and begin to
show appreciation Not the least surprising
| thing to them Is that the American methods of
sanitation and cleansing have been so far ef
fective in that city and in others which are al
ways breeding holes Of yellow fever, in prevent
ing that disease. With the imperfect work that
has been possible 1t would be too much to ex-
pect entire freedom from pestllence, but the
| lowest death rate ever known for the season is
a tribute TO American authority which nobody
| can dispute.