The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-20
OUR BENEVOLENT AssIMILAToRs.


The energy displayed by Mr.. McKinley's
trained bands of benevolent assimiators
in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Manila
is truly commendable. Not only has the
but also the poodles of etiquette While
the killing progresses favorably, our vigil
liant generals are seeing to it that deport-
ment goes hand in hand with effective
volleys from the firing line. Centuries of
pagan darkness must suddenly be illumi-
mated by the electric glare of civilization,
and civilization. too, as it Is understood
in American cities, along American boule-
wards and In the creme de la creme of
American society.
Cock fighting is not en- regle in the met
rorolitan cities of the United States.
Ladies and gentlemen affecting military
and naval circles do not indulge in cock
fighting a pastime. Ergo, cock fighting
in Manila must be suppressed. Off with
the wicked steel gaffs! Away to the dom
jon keep with the professional breeder of
game cocks Heightened Americans do
not stoop to cock fighting. Why should
Filipinos? If it were only a couple of
human pugs battering each other out of
all human resemblance, the sport might,
possibly. be tolerated by our vigilant and
benevolent assimilators But a bas cock
fighting! Down with the national sport
nj centuries i'm fha PhjIinniuaS
For hundreds of years bull fighting has
been as popular in Cuba as it has in Mexi-
co. But American society, especially
Washington society, does not go in for
bull fighting as fad Why, then, should
our vigilant generals tolerate it in Cuba ?
OF course Cuba w4s promised her indie
pendence, but is it not Our humane mis-
sion to first wean her from the pernicious
influence of the Sunday bull fight? Away
with the matador and banderillero! Upon
the ruins Of Its traditions only can a
stable government ever be established in
free and Independent Cuba
In the glow of early morning it has, for
hundreds of years, been customary for
the Havana business man to go about
his work with his short linen shirt out
side his trousers. In the interior of the
island the natives have continued in this
apparent deshabille throughout the day.
1t had been the experience of Cubans that
the attire was several degrees cooler than
the average costume of a Chicago COM
! mission man. But the aesthetic sensibili-
ties of Gen. Brooke have been shocked.
| There must be a radical change in the
native Cuban's toilet What was easier
! than to make the wearing of this garment
In Havana style disorderly conduct? Had
| not the city officials of Omaha prohibited
the MotherHubbard frock on the streets of
! that city? Certainly. Then away with the
| Iavanese costume Of centuries! 1t. had
become offensive in the eyes of the benevo-
lent assimiIator. Besides this nobody
| dressed that way in the military or naval
circles of Washington. No stable govern
ment could ever be satisfactorily estab-
lished by men wearing their shirts out
t side their trousers.
The free American who imagines that
| our benevolent assimilators are having
| an easy time, sinecure and snap in
| Cuba and Manila are following up a
wrong deduction. The annoyances which
| they daily encounter through the strange
perversity Of people who are not ION to-
our own national customs are enough to
| drive man distracted.