New-York tribune., 1900-01-21

wholly suppressed. but the epidemic OF last July.
Which ordinarily would have hundreds OF lives
Cughness WIN re'iiaF i'-Oie iAei'' anu
Brgandage too, ceased to exist in the interior
American occupation. The creation OF a disciplined
troublesome natives on needed public works quick
y made lie and property safe in region which
had oeen overrun tor generations by guerillas and
bandits Careful management Of the departments
-ananSes - nag not not only met all the extraordinary
provements and other public works. but BY Janu-
diverted monthly to the lnsular treasury Ha-
, vaIa. from absolute material prostration the
province mad risen TO state OF comparative COM
fort and self-suPport. Agriculture was far from
almost as forward as the other provinces which
had experienced little nothing OF the rigors OF
INFLUENCE ON SANTIAGO PROVINCE.
Even more notable. however. were the political
results or General Woods administration. While
| In Western Cuba American rule sJill accepted
with distrust and friction. IN Santiago It's beneh-
cence was cordially acknowledged and its continu
ance eagerly demanded by public sentiment. While
General Brooke contending in Havana with
the refractory Military Assembly and tediously
ranging for the disarmament OF the insurgent
forces. the Cuban leaders in Santiago were freely
cooperating restore public tranquility. and the
Cuban soldiers had voluntarily abandoned their
military organization. General Woods road build
ing enterprises had given many of the rank and
file employment. and his decision to put only
native CuDans in the civil offices conciliated en-
tirely that element which in the other provinces
kept vigorously protesting against the shifting OF
eept in the postal service American was al
toMs1 TI 70 I1 R0ao once and tnIs & eS
oSIicnI IulAns nad an carry erect n quleIlns sus
picion that American occupation would lead
ers of the political emoluments so long enjoyed
and abused by ofhce holders from Spain.
Of American aims inspired general desire for
choice been possible there is little question that
a year ago Santiago Province would gladly have
VOleo 70 separate from the rest orsCuba, and be-
come at once Territory dependency of the
United States. Whether such a choice would be
made not entirely clear But Santiago re-
mains the only Cuban department in which political
occupation favored immediate absorption by the
If success in interpreting and administering the
Nations policy in Cuba to determine promo
ton General woods advancement to the military
governorship CT the island might long ago have
e oeen anuclpated. @ questions of rank and prec-
but could not Illustrate II. Entering the Governor
ence in Santiago behind him, and fortified for his
targS[ Gues Gy ths gooaWlIi OF Cuban as well as
largest measure of progress toward the true goal
Of American trusteeshp-an orderly stable local
General Woods policy in Havana will doubtless
Santiago AT the same time il viii be guided by
generally imputed to his predecessor If 55tlrlI
Brooke failed 10 attract the support Of any con
sTrrou1ding bi1seIF 1i+b oh,at % L s ensss,
narrow circle Of Havana lawyers and politicians
he allowed his views be colored and his course
TO be guided too much by their personal interests
avoiding any extensive contact with Cuban life. the
first American Governor became more and more
dependent on the special agents who furnished him
advice and information. With the Cuban army his
medium OF negotiation was General Gomez: with the
planters, who were pushing for extension o
mortgages, his eX-AutOnOmist Secretary
among the radical Cuba Libre patriots he had no
spokesman OF any kind, while for the provinces
side Havana he could rely only the reports Of
the American military commanders.
II General Wood believes in any one thing, IL Is
IN the efficacy OF personal interest and personal
knowledge in solving the problems which Cuban
administration has TO offer, and IL IS safe TO
that he Will not be satisfied 10 act parTlal OF
halfway intelligence. in the Cabinet which he has
appointed the number Of posts has already been
enlarged and not Havana alone but the outside
provinces nave been called on to furnish Cabinet
Ministers. As Governor Of the island General
Wood will visit many possible Of its towns
and villages. and see for himself the condition
and needs Of the agricultural population, whose
rea bsorpuon in productive industry Cuban pros
pertty now so largely depends. The first year OF
the American occupation devOted-and
sonably enough-to the revival of business and
order in the cities But the cities except for sani
ever able TO shift sor themselves. The real cause
of Cuban prostration Is to be sought in the aban-
doned sugar fields. and until the cultivation of the
soil begins again. political stability and commercial
realiZable dream
HIS POLICY AND PROGRAMME.
Friendly recognition of all political elements and
classes in Cuba viii be, then, the chief feature OF
General Woods policy as Governor General In ad-
dition, he VII probably try to carry through for
the Island a whole the programme OF public i'm
provements which did so much TO revive normal
conditions IN Santiago. It IS General Woods belief
that the Cuban customs revenues should be applied