The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-06
Blundering in Cuba

enthusiastic an Endorsement by Capt
John McOullagh, the quondam Chief Of
the New York Finest, we really
felt inclined to expect the very best re-
suits. OF course, we questioned the
wisdom Of policing the city with in
surgents, aud appointing as their COM
manding officer Cuban Major Gen
eral Of course we took gloomy view
Of any dispensation which put society
at the mercy Of its professional and
lifelong enemies but the experiment
was launched by Gen Ludlow. an Off
Ger Of great renown and presumably
high attainments, so we wrestled with
our apprehensiOns and fixed the future
with unwinking eye
1T seems probable, however. that
there is some foundation for the un-
pleasant reports that reach us from Ha
vana reports Of blackmail and cruelty
and oppression by the police. and Of
open and unblushing corruption on the
part Of the new judiciary. The press
reports in yesterday mornings papers
agree in picturing most abominable
condition of things in Havana Friyo-
lous arrests, attempted extortion Of
money, Il general revival # the incom.
municado system, once denounced by
ths insurgents as the most heinous fea-
ture Of Spanish tyranny-all these are
now said to form the policy Of the new
Havana police. and to constitute it,
most formidable and Characteristic ex-
preston. IL appears that not only Span
and sojOurneIs, are subjected daily 90
these infamous outrages. Men are
seized on the most frivolous pretexts
thrown into the most lOathsome pris-
ons, and there held secretly until they
paw money for their release, or the cap
tors. growing alarmed set them free
with a curse and threat In other
words, the insurgents now employed on
the Havana police force, through the
wisdom Of our official authorities in
the island, have resumed all the prac-
tices II spoliatiOn which they pursued
up to year ago in the character Of
Cuban patriots, and our farce cf restor-
ing law and order has reached its cul-
minatiOn.
" Those who had intelIgently watch
ed events in Cuba were fully prepared
for this consummation. The spectacle
Of our military chieftains anxiously
hobnobbing with the ridiculous Cuban
patriots, taking counsel with them, ap-
pointing them TO places Of authority
and power, recognizing them as the
legitimate representatives. Of the Cuban
people, and otherwise ignoring every
consideration OF common sense ana
probability-thatsp spectacle was enough
to discourage and disgust every rational
human being in the land 1t happened,
therefore that when they began to hear
unpleasant stories from Havana and
Santiago, they were not at all surprised.
Here, for instance, is a brief but sig
nihcCnt utterance in the Havana Times
of some weeks ago, which came to the
observant classes merely as conhrma-
ton:
g" We hear Of incidents almost every
day Of some Spaniard being insulted or
imposed upon by some Cuban or Oubans
in office, and from these cases OF iDJus-
tice one can easily judge the fate Of the
SpaniaId il the protecting hand OF the
United States government were once
Withdrawn.
4" AS for juctice in Cuba, we doubt
very much if there is. or ever has been,
such a thing on the island The Wash
ington Oafe incident presents glarng
example Of Cuban injustice. Several
weeks have now passed since this es-
tablishment was closed up and its pro-
prietors were arrested by decree Of the
Civil Governor as absolute as any ever
issued by the Gear of Russia. The al
legged misdemeanor of these men was
the placing Of a sign in their establish
ment, stating that they catered to white
people only. Since then these people
have been under bond to appear for
trial, and though both Judges and law
yers admit that they have violated no
I law, they have been forced out of bust
ness, and are still kept here virtually as
prisoners.
"Then came the attempted black
mailing of an American named Maurer,
who was arrested by three Of Gen. Lud
lows police because he took kokak snap
shots at one of our camps in the Havana
suburbs. These policemen were joined
by another Cuban Judge, who told the
victim that he could 90 free by simply
paying his captors 81 each. Next we
find published communication in the
same paper mentioned above. which
reads as follows:
ITO the Editor Times Of Cuba
1.-The undersigned would wish tc
know whether the United States autho
rites are aware Of the manner in which
Americans are treated by the Cuban
police.
II was myself a witness Of mos'
brutal act that ever saw. A man Car
American }, who was so helplessly drunk