Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-15

When the United States drove Spain from
Cuba and undertook to guide the island into
th.. channels of self-government ii became
necessary to send there men chosen for the
purpose of administering the insular af-
fairs pending the organization of stable
government by the Cubans. These men
were selected presumably, with reference
chiefly to- their capacity to transact the
business of their offices. They were doubt
less vouched for by men of Judgment and
authority as being not only capable. but
honest. And Internationally those Vouch-
e5s wer" sincere and. far as possible.
WI! founded.
!; has transpired that some of these men
have. failed In their trust. that they have
yielded To temptation and have stolen from
tn. public funds The populations reach
considerable total. but the money loss Is
trfiing compared with the scandalous
abuse of power involved and the loss IN
the prestige of the United States with the
Cubans. A more regrettable incident could
not possibly have occurred in the whole
course Of the American guardianship over
the island
Thus far the administration has shown a
stern determination to root out the evils
ana to punish the offenders. regardless OF
their political personal connections ana
their former good conduct. This Is the
course Of wisdom and of policy. No means
should be neglected to remove as FAR as
possible the unfortunate impression which
these crimes have created among the is
Ia rderS. This country stands before the
world as "A trustee and 1t Is demanded by
every consideration of honor. safety and
seif-respect that these thieves be exposed
and punished just relentlessly as was
III, Spanish administration OF Cuba.
We owe il to ourselves well as to the
Cubans to set this matter straight. We
are entering upon a new experience with
ft--away possessions. What We do for the
CUbaus may be expected to do In
rnrasurc for ourselves in the same lines.
W. should even b. more considerable of the
cuban interests than of our own. And if
We permit stealing to go on in Cuba what
can u. expected Of our administrat tive eff
T iTtS elsewhere?
y national campaign is about to open.
The enemies Of the administration are
already exploiting this scandal for partisan
ends. upon the assumption that the crimes
of few underStrappers are TO be laid at
the doors of tn. highest officials of the gov
e-ument. This outrageous accusation will
% course be rejected by the mass of the
p..sple. but it is desirable that the govern
n.ent purge itself of every trace of this
disease and allow the country to enter the
campaign undisturbed by side issues or
f. shadows.
I; is not too late to correct the fault.
Indeed. the steps already taken have at
tested to the determination of the govern
lnrnt 10 do what is right. What the coun-
try will demand is not merely the correc-
tor Of the flaws in the Cuban service. the
= ppage of leaks. the restoration of the
stolen funds and the guarantee of an hon
est administration in the future. The peo-
p- viii look to see every official, superior
o. subordinate, who is touched by the
breath of this scandal pitilessly invest
gated and, if proven guilty of any degree of
fraud crime, punished to the full extent
ii the law. only by such means the
good name Of the United States be pre-
---ved and the guardianship over Cuba
..Scued from disgrace and shame