The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-13
/ can war. What would the British have
done without the Americans mule2
rHE CUBAN cHILDREN.

THE CUBAN CHILDREN.
In the consideration of the future of the
Cuban people, the attention OF the people
Of the United States has naturally re-
NAMED concentrated on the political prob
lens alone which confront American au-
thority In the island. Yet passing events
are daily showing that the Cuban prob
lem Is, In a far greater measure a social
rather than q political problem
1t appears on Its face an astounding
children in Cuba, and that the facilities
for the care of these young people bear
no relation whatever to their actual needs
Yet the statement is substantially true
More than this, it is a fact that there Is
not and never has been on the entire. ISL
and single institution established for
the care. Of defective children. The deaf
or blind, the imbecile or the mentally de-
ficient child, as well as the child which
is refractory without being bad, does not
enter into the consideration of the state
in any degree whatever
The settlement of the social problem in
Cuba offers an exceptional field for the
energies of the philanthropic people of
this country 1t is true, Of course, that
public agencies, when they have been in
healthful operation for reasonable pc
riod, must necessarily operate for the i'm
provement of social conditions. and that
as Cuban political society approaches.
normal condition moneys will be avail
able, through taxation, for the accom-
plishment Of most of these objects. But
for present purposes the needed work
must be done through Individual effort.
There is already in existence among
Americans organization which charges
itself with aiding the children Of Cuba
the Cuban Orphan Society of New York
The Episcopal church has also proved to
be valuable agency in the same direc-
ton During the last summer regular
settlement work was inaugurated In a.
little country town thirteen miles from
Havana. which had been a famous health
resort, but in which disease, starvation
and despair had worked a terrible trans
formation. There were found there whole
families OF children without g. single adult
relative. trying to, get a living from the
soil without any of the most needfuI agrt-
cultural implements Under the changed
conditions produced by American. good
ness all these things have become chang
ed and employment and training have.
been furnished to the healthful children,
and medical aid and thoughtful care
placed at the disposal of the sick. In one
or two other instances equally good work
has. been done. But the work is still sub
stantially In its Infancy and. remains In
the bulk still to be done.
AS Gen. Leonard Wood has pointed, out
with his usual thoughtfulness and fore
sight 1t is not charity which. the Cuban
people need. He Is opposed to. charity and
urges that the right thing to do is, here
and there, and wherever such a course
Is possible, to build and equip a school, a
hospital or asylum, which, when the time
is ripe. should be turned over without re-
striction to the-local Cuban authorities, to
be supported and administered solely by
them in the interest of the people.
With beginnings. along such lines, en-
bracing provision for the Industrial train
ing and education of the growing orphan
boys of the island, American intervention
will in time prove to- be indeed a blessing
for the Cuban people In more directions
than one. Meanwhile the field offers to
the humane and phIlanthropic men and
women of America who have the time
and the means for benehcent work op-
portunittes such as do, not present them
selves elsewhere on this continent