The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-05-27
EDITORIAL.
GENERAL WOOD ON CUBA.

After Ill, the Gomez incident is
apparently without significance as
the relations between the
United States and Cuba. He was
unable to effect the desired condit-
ion of confidence and amity be-
tween this Governments represen-
tatives and the self-constituted Gu
ban commission, and so concluded
to leave the matter entirely in the
hands of General Brooke. That
seems to be the view most plaus-
ible taken in connection with all
connecting circumstances.
Regarded in spirit of proper al
lowance for the volatile and errup.
tive temperament of the Latin
character, there is ever reason to
expect an early and entirely ami
cable adjustment of affairs in Cuba.
The guardian Government must
deal with this recently adopted
ward with kindly consideration as
well as firmness. The Cubans must
be treated much as stranger
child made suspicious of every one
by long continued abuse. Fist win
their confidence the other will be
easy.
In this matter of dealing with the
Cubans, the observation and exper-
fence OF General Leonard Wood in
his capacity as Military Governor
of Santiago Province is most val
liable. In the current number of
the North American Review Gen
eral Wood has an exceedingly we'll
considered article bearing directly
upon this subject. He prefaces his
letter with this paragraph;
What is needed in Cuba at pres
ent is a firm but liberal and just
government of the people, for the
people and by the people, under
american military supervision for
the time being; this supervision to
extend only to such time as the
civil government shall have be.
come fully established and running
smoothly. What is to be avoided
above all things is militarism, mili-
tary pedantry, unelastic methods
and any continuation of the old
Spanish system of multitudinous
office-holders filling unnecessary
Office and rendering practically no
return for the salaries paid tn EN-.
General Woods work in the city
and province of Santiago, the re-
suits he has accomplished and the
very high esteem in which he is
held by all classes give peculiar
value to his estimate of the Cuban
character, the Cuban needs and the
wisest course of conduct in bring
ing to them aid and succor in fra
ternal uplifting. He holds that
while, for time, it is needful to
have military law, the exercise of
it must be absolutely secondary to
that of civil government-merely
accessory thereto. In his opinion,
all that is needed is the moral effect
of a sustaining presence of Ameri-
can arms as a deterrent against the
possible expression of that degree
oflawless spirit natural following
so long an era of disturbed condit-
ions.
Having adjusted this matter by
complete civil government, with
just sufficient sOldiery to keep an
ever present reminder of this Gov
ernment supporting the native gov
eminent; he would have attention
turned to the vital task of rehabi.
Eating the island. General Wood
controverts most emphatically the
quite generally difused impression
that the Cuban is racially, lazy and
trifling. His experience has been
and yet is, that as rule the native
is anxious for work, and performs
it industriously and intelligently
He thinks the solution of the pres
ent state of unrest and disatisfac-
ton will be found in the greater
promptness with which the masses
are refurnished employment and a
means of earning subsistence. The
whole country is waste, and the
people ate distressingly poor. His
tn, Org is to utalize the revenues o
the island, for time, at least, il