The times., 1899-05-20
Reforming Haxann

lHS Oh HAVANA mas Issued neCTeeS
against bare arms in the streets, doorways,
and public places of that city, and also
against smoking in street cars and omni-
buses. This indicates that the innocent
freedom of the Havanese is going to be
checked, and that the checking may be
process painful TO the victims
OF course. under American rule, it will
be necessary to restrict somewhat the un-
bridled liberty of West Indian population
in matters of dress and undress. The cos
tume Of the Garden of Eden viii go out of
fashion. even for young children. 1t will
become mark of distinction to wear as
many clothes as possible. This is all right
and proper enough. 1t is part of the inev-
liable progress of civilization.
But there is another side to this clothes
question, and it should not be forgotten.
because it has a sort of psychological re-
lation to other orders which have been is
sued in Havana, such as the Sunday clos
ing OF shops. 1t is not necessary to make
people uncomfortable in the name of law
and order. when there is no end of beauty,
decency, or health TO be served by such
course. II is not needful that the women
OF the West Indies should put on corsets
should adopt the derby hat and the tooth
pick shoe, and the high, starched collar.
So far as the native costume is comforta-
Bile, healthful, and proper, it should be pre-
served, for the good of everybody con-
eerned- There is no sense in transforming
picturesque, happy, contented native
West Indian into a hybrid American. He
can be quite as good, useful. and inteIli-
gent in his own way as in ours. and the
chances are that he never can be made
over so that he will amount to very much
as Yankee, while he is very useful in his
own particular line. 1t should be unneces-
ssry to say these things, but the tendency
of the Anglo-Saxon has always been to try
to make people over into his own image,
and very bad job he has made of II oc-
casionally. Some of our customs are
worthy of imitation, even enforced imita-
ton; there can be no question of the de-
STABILITY of health rather than disease, of
cleanliness rather than filth, of Justice
rather than irresponsible cruelty. of law
and order rather than the rule of brigands
or mobs So far as Anglo Saxon civiliza-
ton stands for these things it is good;
when it stands for rigidity in the matter
OF petty customs and unimportant social
laws it is unwise, and therefore bad.
The American, owing to his different
conditions. has learned something of
adaptability. When the English troops
were sent to fight in tropical countries.
clean -shaven, wearing a high stiff collar
and thick uniform, the authorities who sent
them out in that fashion proclaimed them
selves to be fools. 1t was simply repeti-
tion of the ignorance which sent the Cru
saders of the eleventh century into the
deserts of Palestine clad in heavy armor
which turned into fiery furnace under
the eastern sun. The American regular
wears soft hat and rough -and-ready
uniform, and rides in the easy western
fashion; he saves all his strength for ac-
tual work. and does not expend any OF
II on mere formaIities. If we are TO rule
successfully over Spanish-American COLO
nies we must adapt ourselves to the con-
| ditions. II will not do to carry the rest
less American spirit into the West Indies.
Thoroughness. determination, honesty.
courage. there must be; but the pace must
be slower and the patience greater. There
is no wisdom in trying to transform a
Spanish Negro-Indian population into the
machine-made factory-worker of Ameri-
can cities. These people should be en-
ployed at the work for which they are
adapted Much tine has been wasted in
trying to teach the Western Indian TO
make shoes and farming utensils. while
the old Industries of manufacturing blank
cts and beautiful pottery are falling into
disuse. There is no need Of repeating that
mistake with the Filipino or the Cuban or
the Porto Rican. Our profit will lie in
developing the people as they are. not in
trying to make them what they never can
| be.