The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-27
crR,S PUBIIe OPINION.

The report Of conditions in Cuba
brought back by Mayor Myers Is practi-
eaIly that of all other careful and intel
hgent observers who have visited the isl
land recently. Much progress has been
made under American domination. espe-
cially in the matter OF sanitation; Ha-
vana is now a comparatively clean and
healthy city; agriculture in the island is
being slowly revived; there is an atmos-
phere OF fresh paint. and reform in the
old capital, where formerly evidences OF
decay and official corruption were pienti-
full; building operations and many enter
prizes are quiescent, awaiting something
definite wiki respect TO the islands fu-
ture government As soon as it has been
settled what the political future Of Cuba
is TO be. If there IS an earnest OF sta
BILE and liberal government. many indus
tries and enterprises will be at once
brought into existence. There Is an
abundance Of money awaiting the oppor-
tunity for investment in Cuba.
The question of a stable and liberal
government, therefore. is the leading one
have or may have property interests at
stake Some Of the wealthy class Of Gu
bans" says Mayor Myers, ARE for an
nexation to the United states, but they
are decidedly in the minority. This policy
is countenanced by those among the most
highly educated in the island, but not
more than one-third Of the Cubans are
educated. The other two-thirds are to-
tally ignorant. In education they do not
occupy even so high position as the ne
groes of the South. Manifestly, 1T would
be impossible TO turn over absolute pow
er Of government to people of that char
acter until such time as they may have
become better capacitated to exercise it."
In connection with this Mr. Myers ex-
presses the opinion that this country will
have to exercise a general supervision
over Cuba for many years to come.
While it is no doubt true that the prop
erty owning and educated Cubaus fear
the experiment of an independent govern
ment for the island, on the ground that
the natives have not the capacity for self
government it is to be borne in mind that
these Cubans do not represent the ma
jorlty of Cuban public opinion. 1t Is,
furthermore, true that these rich Cuban
annexationists bore very little of the bur-
den Of the fight against Spain. They sup
ported the Spanish government as long
as they could do so; and when hostili-
ties became fierce many of them left the
island to escape the dangers of the fight.
Some came to this country, others went
TO South America and still others to Eu-
rope, where they remained until peace
was declared. When the war was ended
and the danger was past they returned
20 Cuba and lifted up their voices in ad-
vice with respect to the future.
The masses in Cuba fought their coun-
try's battles They wish to try self-gov-
eminent And the United States stand
pledged to afford them an opportunity to
do so. AS to their competency, that is
a question. Ex-Speaker Reed said the
other day, II think every people Is ca
pable of self-government. 1t may not
be the kind we have or want, but it is
the kind that is satisfactory and suffi-
able to govern their island as we would
govern it. If left entirely to them
selves they might do things which we
would regard as inimical to our public
health and safety. 1t is their proximity
to us that gives us an interest in their
affairs The Plat amendments are de-
signed to safeguard the interests of the
United States. There is every likelihood
that these amendments will be accepted
by the islanders. Meanwhile the great
majority of Cuban public opinion is OPP
posed to American annexation, or inter
ference on the part of this government.
And we shall accede to that public senti-
ment as far as we can in justice to our
selves. Our relations with Cuba have
now ceased to be wholly phlanthropic.