Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-01

{ PARTIES IN cUHA.
New York Tribune.l

~
PARTIES IN cUHA.
New York Tribune
81 Party government is to prevail In Cue
ba. SO much seems to be practically aet-
tied. There have been political parties
in the island for many years. But un-l
der Spanish rule they were OF little real
Importance. Now. for the flrst time, 9
substantial degree of local autonomy Is
within the reach OF the Cubans. and now
their party lines are being redrawn and
strengthened for practical purposes. The
Australian'-if 1t be Australian-ballot
system which has been adopted makes
party organization for purposes of nom
ina tions almost necessity. The post
ponement of the date OF the election.
from May to June 16 gives time for
|perfecting such organization. And IN
the next six weeks we may expect to see
a vigorous partisan campaign conducted
all over the Ever Faithful Isle.
The old party lines have vanished. of
course, and the old party names are no
more. There are now three principal
parties, formed on issues subsequent to
the war. One is known as the democrat
ic union. and may be described as con-
servative. 1t Is composed chiefly of
white men, Creole and Spanish. who.
own property or are engaged In bust
ness. In its ranks may be found most of
the old "Autonomfst party. A second Is
knownsas the republican party, and may
be described as radical II comprises
most of the negroes and mulattoes, and.
has for Its leaders several prominent
lchieftains of the late war. The third ts
the nationalist party, Which IL made up
largely OF soldiers, or former soldiers.
who have in time OF peace exchanged.
fighting for politics.
"A correspondent of the Brooklyn
Eagle. who gives this description of the
parties, expects that in Santiago de Cu-
ba province the republicans Will be
largely successful, owing to the division
OF the white vote between the other two
parties. In the adjoining province of
Porto Principe, on the other hand, the
radical element is inconsiderable, and
the fight lies between the democratic
union and the national parties. Again,
in the next province, Santa Clara, the
|nationalists are nil. and the only con-
|testants are democratic union and re-
publican parties, with the chances fav-s
oring the latter, for the reason that 1t
lis there composed not only Of the negro
and mulatto elements. but also of the
military element, which elsewhere forms
the national party. In Mantanzas the
division of the white vote may, as In
Santiago de Cuba. give the republicans
the victory, while Havana and Pima del
Rio are likely to be carried by the DEM
ocratic union party.
To what extent these predictions will
be verified we shall see. One thing is
certain, that with party lines thus un-
fortunately drawn the outlook for peace,
and order in Cuba, II the island We're
left without guardianship or control,
would be uncommonly poor. We say the
| lines are unfortunately drawn because,
as we have hitherto explained, 1t iss
deplorab BILE to have race arrayed against
race in politics. We have had enough
of II here, and can see enough of the
results OF IL in South Africa to make
us regard II as one of the most unhappy
arrangements possible. 1t is also bad
to have a military party, as any one
Twill testify who has carefully observed
the recent history of France and Spain
Questions of high public policy are those
on which party lines should be drawn.
mot race distinctions, nor caste, nor the
desire for selfish gain.
One feature OF the alignment OF par
tiles is. however. TO be regarded with
satisfaction. That Is that they are
Cuban parties. formed on Cuban lines,
and are not in any sense attempts at ex-
tension of United States party divisions
Ito the island. An attempt at the latter
was made in Porto Rico last year. and
was promptly and properly discouraged.
/ There could be no reasonable excuse for
lit in Cuba, and it is well that no such
lattempt has been made. Cuban politics
Inc matter What the status Of the island.
should be kept apart and distinct from
the politics Of the United States. At
Ipresent the island Is under United
Estates tutelage. IL hereafter it shall
become wholly autonomous its politics
will be, as asssuredly should be. gov
ierned by It's local needs and conditions.
Or II it shall at any time, as many of
Its people have desired. become an APP
3Ipanage of the United States. still will,
or should. its politics be Of local de-
Termination. National politics for the
|great continental nation and insular
politics for its insular possessions and
dependencies. That is the proper rule.
RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN