The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-18

madc has boon OF tho very greatest Importance:
the further progress antici pated In the course
of he next two years may be sufficient to bring
the browning result within sight. Gen. WOOL
sums up the meaning Of stable conditions In
Cuba as n situation where money VIII be cheap
and mortgages easily effected on the security
81 real estate at n rate Of interest not exceed
Ing u per cent. per anhum. To arrive at such
conditions entails tho advent Of IA state OF
economic and industrial prosperity that Cuba
has never before known. but one that IL by no
means impossible. in view Of tho manner
affairs n the island are shaping to-day.
When the details OF the census recently
taken In Cuba are known. preparations will
be made for holding a seriss OF nun lcipal cleo
tons throughout the island. The authorities
consider that the probable date for these cleo
lions will not be later than May next. The
methods to be adoptol for voting In the
municipalities hayo not yet been formu-
lated. II IL only to be supposed. however.
that the principle Of universal suffrage
With a qualification OF residence will be
the foundation OF the municipal electoral
law. In view OF the fact that freedom Tor all
to vote under similar conditions was accorded
10y Spanish colonial law while Spanish
dominion still existed In Cuba. There Ia some
talk Of allowing a privileged vote not entailing
any restriction "a 10 resi- ,ence TO all those
men who fought in the ranks OF the insurrec-
ton but sucn a concession does not appear TO
be feasible or altogether Just in application.
The census gives the total population OF tho
island AS IL 5000 souls. In 1897 the number
was returned as 1881 .eS7. In 1885 the total
OF Inhabitants was estimated to be approx
mately 100000. These figures would seem
to show that the losses from one cause or an.
other between 1895 and the end Of 1898 were
~SUO.OOOmrn. women and children.
The ann Of occupation in Cuba Is now be.
tween ten thousand and eleven thousand Of
h'rrs and men. 1t is proposed to reduce the
strength to 5000 in the course OF the present
year. In 1891 it will be possible further to
dimini sh the number OF troops. In Havana
few American soldiers are seen beyond the
ordGrlies on duty. or the mon on guard at the
Governors palace and elsewhere. The pres
ence Of the troops in the island has undoubt-
cdly acted as a restraining element when any
inclination has been exhibited toward at
tempting to create serious disturbance but
the United States army In Cuba has now
served its purpose. and II caa be withdrawn
from the island without fcar ~ evil conse-
qucnces resulting, At the most a regiment at
Havana. another at Matdnzas, one each at
Clenfuegos AMI SANTIAGO do Cuba. Is all tho
force necessary for moral effect in supporting
the United States officials In the discharge OF
their duties in this country.
There are two most urgent and important
questions in Cuba demanding che careful at
tcntion Of the United States Government and
OF Gen. Wood. The one is tho aIminIstrat,on
Of justice the other. the establishment Of a
uniform and effective system OF primary edu-
cation. The understanding. at present at all
events, is that the Spanish civil AMI criminal
codes are 10 continue in force. Probably tbs
IL a wise decision, provided that certain neces-
sary notifications are introduced into this
legal machinery. Tho methods Of procedure.
however. require the most radical reform. The
diia'Ory and veXat.DuS customs hitherto
prevailing IN the courts must be- abolished II
satisfactory results are to be obtained, The
personnel of the judiciary and tli ranks OF all
the legal officials need a thorough purging 10
ri the system Of the abuses that have grown
UP under centuries Of corrupt ADMINISTRATION
Many OF the most Objectionable features II
the Spanish regime have survived the abolition
OF Spanish rule. IL Is only how. a GER more
than one year since the United States ssunad
the direct control Of Cuban a~tTai,1. that tho
cases of prisoners condemned under Span
ish a1ministratio are being made the subject
OF inquiry. Some o. the men confined are
found 70 be undergoing long sentences for
political offences in connection with the iusur-
~rectiOn. and no shadow Of excuse existed any
longer for their detention after The
Spanish flag was hauled down. The female
prison was describe iby Gen. Wood as a scandal
to civilization when an inspection OF it vas re-
Gently made. Bribery and corrupt practices in
the civil courts continue unchecked, md legal
process is as expensive TO-DAY as II was when
Spanish officials came to Cuba with the avowrd
purpose OF nmassing a fortune in a limited
space Of time and when their nominal salaries
were placed az few hUulred dollars per an-
mum. Until the administration u justice Is on
a sound basis the United states Government
cannot consider that the solution OF the Cuban
problem is within reasonable distance. The
task IL difficult. but not IN possibls.
The educational question Is one that the
United States Government Ia prominently
fitted to deal with efficiently and promptly.
Primary instruc,io n must be placed within tho
easy reach of all Cubans II the race Is to make
any solid progress in the path Of civilization.
The difficulty Of language may be a deterrent
w ''N - - ~ ~ t'tAA' - w. ~
the United states. bnt a great deal can be &c.
compIishel with the mate. ial ready to hand in
Cuba II proper methods are instilled into the
minds OF those elple 10 whom the charge Of
schools ia entrusted. Hitherto the system
Of primary education In vogue has given
only tho most unsatisfactory and
superficial. results. The Spanish authorities
set small store ON the subject. and were par
~ticularly careless as 10 the chill lren OF the
poorer classes Of tho community. Whore
money was formerly available II was chiefly
expended on secondary and higher education,
often allowing the families Of comparati yc'y
wealthy persons 10 Tass through school and
college at the public expense. Primary in
struction in Cuba not only -hould - COM
~pulsory, hut attendance also he strictly en-
forced am the parents punished II They neglect
10 send thc.r children 10 school IN conformity
with he law. It is n necessary measure.
Sugar production has been Tor many ypars
the ha ,k5one u Cuban industry. The work Of
growing the cane on tho plantations. the crush
Ing and manufacture Of tn" Juice into the nm
ished product at the central factories. and the
business o. sale an shipment gives employ
ment to fully one.half o. the population OF the
Island. No other crop circulates money
through all grades u the community to the
same extent a. this branch u. Industrial enter
prise. and II is natural, therefore, that people
IN Cuba should Judge the standard Of pros