The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-18
THE CUBAN ISLAND TO-DAY
rHE CONDITION. THdr EXISTS hF'H"
YEAR or iMERICdN RUIZ

the Present GOvernm"nt- f'h'e'"' wv
seter Of the 'ubnus ff"pI'"'H INV
Cnmr IN aud Were solved N"'"nstr"c-
,iou of IN. Industrial Life Of the isIhhu'
HAVANA Feb, L. A brief rcyicw OF mo
salIsnt points Of tho Cuban fItnat'"h hit',
more than n full year Of the occupation hN'
direction 81 tho island by tnl'eh N'at's
authority mny not 10 devoid " interest nv mo
present I%unc'ufc. Confusion worsr cohlouhu'a
w,s tho order OF the day when SPANS domin-
ION wa, finally relinqu,# h"l on Jan. l. lS'"'
II VIVA necessary 20 create m aIfiibl-'T''l"h
after what hal practically been m interregnum
of government for nearly nNe months -the
perloj elarsIng between the signing OF the
psacs protocol, on Aug J.. ~, and mo
Iral evacuation Of tho island hY mo
Spanish %or1ciais al the clos" 81 IN yrhr' mo
United States officers 10 whom the task was
ccnnded Of establishing n systematic plan ~
administration for cuba were without any
practical experience OF the work they were
suddenly called upon to perform.
Many Of the IN 'als nominated to important
posts possessed experience In the manage
ment OF large affairs In civil HE, ana thl'
knowledge undoubtedly stood them In good
stead in tho rols they were now caIlet
upon 10 play: but very many others
MRIt Olltfl1 " Wv '~N
had seldom been asked to discharge
other duties than those pertaining to the ordi-
nary routine Of a military career. These men
were suddenly placed IN a foreign country.
among a people whose language and customs
were strange to thepi. and whose Latin chhr-
acter was excitahle and susceptible TO lmagin-
ary insult Mt every turn. The rnncorous feel
Ing existing be'wrcn Cuhans and Spahlarls
ner,ssitntad tie exercise Of Il strict confront
protection for life and lrnp'rb was urgently
reauircd, and for this rll IN" formation
OF reliable police force 'mperatiIeiy hc'a'd,
the financial department oi tho is'aha
demanded instant attention IN order
TINT q revenue might %" coil '"tri ~ mcc' cur
rent expenses: ard. finally, ia" reconstruction
OF the economi' and industrial lie OF the IN
habitahts oa4cI for energetic action AMI the
employment Of a very great deal oil tact u
dealing with a difficult and often extremely
disagrccallc subject.
Tint mi~takr- we're ma O. In treating the work
confronting 'ho representatives Of the United
States wa. rue in many instances, IL !" only
10 be cNI actr,l that such should occur,
On the whole. however. thu Aiministra-
tion in Washington has every reason to
be satisfied with the main result OF
the efforts OF tho United States officials
assigned To day In Cuba during the past
twelve months. Chaos has given place 20
order; all sections Of he population are living
In greater tranquility than was ever before
known in this country outragos against life
AMI property are less common than in many a
community nominatly mucn more civilized
the revenues show n substantial surplus over
the expenditure; the industrial life Of tho
island has made such progress AZ 10 Iromisc an
era OF most solid material prosperity in
the near future. II Is only necessary TO
watch for n moment the look Of con'ent-
ment on the faces Of the vast majority
OF Cuhans and compare their undtsguised
happiness with the SlO0my aud tcrror-strlcken
appearance of these people "A couple OF years
sgO. to rea lie the .ool work that has been
done. Nor should the part PLAYED by the
Cubans in the terrible time Of suffering Inn
mediately following the cessation OF hosti'ities
be allowed to go unnoriCed. Thousands OF
men had arms in their hands; they were hun
cry AMI naked; Tor months there was no rc-
s~training fore to prevent outraees occurring:
and yet in the TRYING time Just before the stars
and Stripes were hoistrd over Cuba and tho
military OCCUPATION began. hardly n serious
crime was committed. and theft 10 satisfy the
craving Of hungry stomach seldom took pace.
The stories so Professionally circu a'ed N the
United States in regard to conditions Of I'M
.asiross ondi rs,,n,,tv in cpha A. the prpsant
$50, ann or,r 4, ,h,r,.tor. y,J n, ina MAJ.
~, ,a,or;n,, 81 dg,,r,o1 im,,i,,tiop
paa,ra ui,h , o,,,roo,,l r,,,,,I r,rsn.c,ica
w. nossinIv mi.tnLo 1.-Two r.ry b,r,,I e.s cI,,k.
ing of a bunch Of noisy and irresponsible
en- ssolors % ro,ro.,,,r, n 1'erar ~,
Cuban ,o.l,uo. other r,rs,,s from scurrilons
motives 70 snIt i,JivIl,ol enIa exnarl ,bo
o,orlir,s ~, ,nosn email Gro, rs NJ would.h s
noliticInns mt, n s,rtnu. r'ouar. =, tho nuhIic
3d. yo,llr, = mr,Lor ,,,m IN, ,rna
.,,,, ~ ,b, c,so ,h,r D., eu,r,s. tb,, ,b,ra
80 t,II,v - r'oI ,i,oa.r 81 dte,n,lo,..,
=, srno,o,,l, cro,, ,h,roo,cr 90, tom
ora,iIv ~ aroo, nrh,io seo,rit, in ,his ,s,arl
!, sn ~, ha a,,,,,an ,ha, ,La Cnhona ,,a
"a.au.. 49,. ~ =. IL, '.,a,onlu
.sh,aaI 60 go t,,anao,, arraI
~, nu -.
w. in. n"' =, , , -
~ = 10 'n" ."'t -
u : ~ w. 80"
vent u" !" '"''''o NV" u W .''
"V''"'
soo, J." - ,,. wv,
,e"'' ~ " v. y ,."'','.., 80 '''
hHe.'"'',H ~ "'"' 0'u'' '''"7 Nv
'aa' WY, "
Our VI ~ W. .''"' W ;" W.
u "" ~ W %"
ac' Wv " " =" -" "u'