New-York tribune., 1902-02-10

made. The Spanish army was returned to
Spain. The insurgent army was disarmed and
disbanded. Millions of rations were issued to
the reconcentrados and $3.O00.0OO was distrib-
uted among the insurgent troops War gave
place TO place. destruction gave place to recon
struction, and the island assisted to its
feet. During the entire period of American
intervention public order has been excellent.
Municipal Congress and Presidential elections
have been held with no more excitement or
trouble than obtains under similar conditions in
the United States
The Improved sanitary condition OF the island
is one of the marked scientific triumphs OF the
decade. Havana. in place Of being OF the
most unhealthy cities Of the world, has been
converted into one Of the most salubrous and
healthy. Vaccination has been general and sys-
tematic; malaria has been robbed Of it's victims
lepers have been gathered into hospitals. and
yellow fever has been met and conquered on its
own ground. Charitable institutions, such
hospitals and asylums have been modernized.
cleansed well administered and supplied with
all necessary appliances, and are not the least
among the benehcent results Of American ad-
minstration.
GOOD WORK MAY BE OVERTHROWN
Public works have received more attention
during the three years of American intervention
than during the last thirty years of Spanish
IT,
been paved. ports have been improved. light
houses have been established and the govern
ment has been engaged in all sorts of legitimate
public improvements. The customs have been
administered with marked ability and success,
and high standard of efficiency and integrity
has been established for the successors of the
present corps OF officers. With a tariff much
lower than that which Spain imposed and after
the devastation caused by the war; the customs
have supplied funds sufficient to carry the
improvements both municipal and national, that
have been made. one hundred and eighty thou
sand pupils have been enrolled in the public
schools under the care of $500 teachers, and the
school system embraces all departments of work
from the kindergarten to the University of Ha-
Vana. Modern furniture has been introduced.
buildings have been erected, and normal train
ing has secured a place in the school system.
II is, the whole record TO which the
United States point with commendable
pride, and yet all this work which has cost so
many lives and so much treasure is in imminent
danger of being destroyed. and the fair islands
future condition bids fair to be worse than her
sad estate prior to the
The Cuban question is the sugar question
When sugar finds market Cuba can be pros
porous and happy, and can pursue the lines
marked out with such skill by the intervening
government but with sugar at a price below the
cost of production Cuba Will be ruined
INGRATITUDE NOT SURPRISING.
It is surprising that there is a manifest
lack of gratitude on the part OF Cubans toward
neighbor embarrassed with an overlooking
treasury. banshing yellow fever with hand
and holding up a tariff wall with the other.
which destroys their chief industry and will
soon oblige the labOring class to starve or beg
for lack of work. They cannot understand the
craftsmanship. 10 say nothing of the broad
charity. of the great for the oppressed. which
pairs highways and city streets and yet main
tains a tariff which makes it impossible for the
traffic of the island to move along those newly
constructed roads. They are not profoundly
grateful to the United States for having pre-
pared the way for the establishment Of an inde-
pendent government. and yet by 100 per cent
duty Cuban products fOredoom the govern
ment to failure owing to lack of means for car
rying on the ordinary and current functions of
government.
There is little TO choose between general bank
ruptcy and revolution. and the hearings had be-
f5re the Ways and Means Committee have
demonstrated that Cuba cannot live without a
better market for her sugar than she now en-
Joys and there is market in all the wide
of the officers who have administered Cuban
affairs is about done, and 1t has been we'll done
but it will come to naught unless Congress af-
fords relief. They have done their outy. They
can do no more. and should the next page of
Cuban history be dark and even bloody the
blame therefor will lie at the door of those who
have been deaf to the councils of Mckinley the
advice of the President and the earnest recon-
n nendations Of all officers who are conveTsant
with Cuban affairs.