Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-11
1t Demands the Closest Study Of the
Administration.
PROGRESS TOWARD SELF GOVERNMENT
Regulation Of the Franchise and
Other Questions.
AIRING OF FACTION S


afforded by the small space now given in
the newspapers to Cuban affairs. The
Philippines are completely filling the stage.
A few months ago, during the war with
Spain, and for year two before that,
Cuba was the place outside our own
territorial limits to which the eyes of
Americans were principally turned. The
newspaper correspondents have practically
all deserted Havana. Cuba is almost an
old story except in administration circles.
The President and his advisers still find
in Cuban affairs great deal that demands
their closest study. The relation of the
United States to Cuba is almost without a
parallel in the history of dependent gov
ernments. The relation of England to
Egypt originally somewhat like our
present relation to Cuba, and perhaps our
relation may develop in the same way.
But at present the administration regards
Cuba as on totally different basis from
Porto Rico, Hawaii, or the philippines.
These are all dependencies. Cuba Is not.
This government is bound by the Teller
resolution and by the treaty of peace to es-
tGblSh an Independent government in
Cuba and then if the people of that island
of their own free will desire annexation to
the United States that is another matter
The American people might be asked TO
have something to say in regard to 1t. But
a. present Mr.. Mckinley feels that he is
not justified in assuming anything more
than that the American policy is to try TO
prepare Cuba for self government, and this
may be interpreted as including lndepend-
ence if the people of the island wanted II.
Proceeding With DeiiberatiOn.
While this is the fundamental theory
upon which the administration is act ng. it
is deeply impressed with the necessity of
proceeding with very great deliberation.
The task of setting up an Independent or
autonomous government in Cuba will not
be easy. This is quite apparent from the
reports coming in. The races there do not
mix well. The Spaniards hate me Cutans
and the CubanS the SpaniardS: the CubanS
are, moreover, divided between the autono-
miStS, those who were willing to accept
Blanco's autonomy scheme, and the radl-
Gals, whose sympathies were with the Gu
ban army Almost anything which the
United States might do now toward ad-
vancng local government there would be
interpreted benetitinG one race or tie
other in this struggle, and which Is con
stantly going on Ii Is hoped that in tine
the different elements of the population will
realize that they have a common interest,
be more easy to take care Of. Al
present the jealousieS and amino sites OF
The war are too fresh in the popular mind.
When the time comes to act, local Sotei n
ment will probably be introduced by de-
grees. Municipal autonomy, many of the
Presidents best advisers say, should
first. Self government might then. after it
has been found successful in the cities, be
made applicable to the provinceS-Some
provinces will be ready for it earlier than
others, perhaps-and lastly an autonomist
government might be given to the island at
large. That this will be the logical course
is indicated by the fact that most of The
culture and property interests are conferred
in the city. With suitable limitation of
the suffrage and "a pretty severe one, it
would be possible to get an electorate which
would be able to manage municipal affairs
pretty well.
The limitations of the suffrage. If adopted,
will doubtless be property and educational.
The property qualification, many persons
argue. should be based upon the possession
of land rather than the amount of income,
for Cuban incomes are likely to be pretty
small for many years to come. moder-
ate-eiZed one. however, might be offered
alternative in place of landed pos
sessions. Such restrictions, property and
educational. would leave within the limits
Of citizenship the better classes of Cubans
and Spaniards. They would shut out the
negroes and the lower grades of inhabi-
tants of the country. certain percentage
OF the Cuban army, perhaps one-fourth
upon a reasonable test, would come within
the suffrage lines. 1t is not the belief of
the Presidents advisers just now that 1T
would be safe to go much further than
this in extending the suffrage upon which
the gradual development Of the suffrage
is to rest. OF course, this same body of
voters would be the ones ultimately to
judge upon annexation, and the real in
terests of the islands, it is felt could not
with safety be committed to all it's inhabi-
tar 6.
Decentralization of Spanish Systems.
The President maintains, in the words of
his Boston speech, that our priceless prn-
ciples undergo no change under tropical
sky. This is theoretically true. Practi-
cally speaking, the administration realizes
that it would have to deal with people
who had been practically slaves for CEN
turtles. Cuban institutions are rocking with
official corruption. 1t is common saying
hat no. ,nly
coat is never punished for any crime. The
courts have been so venal that there is
element of truth in such charge. Span
ish systems of taxation have also been
D. moralizing to the Cuban conscience. The
closing up of the Reconcentrado, one Of the
Havana rs wspapers by General Ludlow a
lev weeks ago save an example OF certain
conditions on the island. The editors OF
this paper had long wanted office and
other concessions, and when they could
not get them said to have made them
selves very disaSreeable. At ali events,
several Of the Reconcentrado editors
now in Washington for the ostensibe pur-
pose. SO it is said. of getting aElages
against this government for the arbitrary
treatment they received at General Lud-
lows hands.
Trouble Over Gen. Brooke.
The President has difficult problem on
his hands of personal nature similar to
| that with Otis in the Philippines. Gen.
Brooke is said to be unsatisfactory to many
Cubans. while the men who are serving IN
der him, Gen. Wilson, Gen. Ludlow and
Gen. Wood, said to be popular. 1t is
rumored In Cuba that these three generals
purpose to send in their designations by
the LIST of January if Gen. Brooke has not
by that time been relieved. Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee will not join them in this move. Per-
haps Gen. Wilson may be indicted to re-
main, but the two younger men are quite
certain to demand change. They have
leave of absence due them and could with
proprety take advantage of it. The trouble
with Gen Brooke to be his DISPOSE
ton to annoy his subordinate officers with
petty complaints. ''Why is this curbstone
| laid here? WHAT is that street open there
| for? Why are you spending so much
money on so-and-so?' This is the attitude
| of the general toward the administrative
reforms of men like Ludlow and Wilson and
| Wood. Wood has the greatest reputation
| in the United States. but it is said on good
| authority that the other men excellent
| officers and as deserving he of high
| place In the regard of the American people.
| Gen. Lee is efficient officer. He has
| been criticised somewhat for catering too
much to the Cuban element
| Some misunderstanding exists to the
| extent to which the Cubans are now par
| ticipating in the government of the island.
| 1t has been said in criticism that the Ha-
Vana post office and custom house were