Evening star., 1902-05-24
Appreciation of New Conditions.

Beneath the civic festivities already is
shown some appreciation of the new condi-
tons. The sensation of independent ma
tionality has no better illustration than in
the respect shown the president" |
watched closely during the ten davs he
lore Mr.. Palma's inauguration. Until he
came TO Havana he had been known IA
mlllarly as Don Tomas" and few of
his old friends continued to call him that
But IN his visits to the Spanish societies
has reception by the various Cuban clubs
and the calls made on him by the bankers
and merchants, it was the president who
always was in mind.
Some of the factions for selfish. purposes
wanted to monopolize the chief magistrate
They sought to call him ''our president
not in the sense of affection. which a whole
people might imply in using the term. but
in the sense that he had been their candi-
date, and therefore in the office of presi-
dent would be their instrument we
made him. was the claim of both fac
tons. Don Tomas quickly settled these
claims and nobody in Cuba now looks upon
MIN as the president of faction or a
party.
Americans, accustomed after a fierce no.
litical campaign to accept the results and
turn in cheerfully to show respect due to
the Office of president, would find differ
ent condition in Cuba. In the United
States II is at the inauguration of the Pres
ident that party differences are lost and
political distinctions are sunk. In Cuba
the inauguration or the frSt president is
the real beginning of political parties.
Until now there has been no chance for
them.
The first signs come in the cabinet
When it was named those who are salts
fed said the corner stone Of the republic
had been placed firmly. Those who We're
dissatisfied said it was badly placed and
would not hold.
These grumbings about the cabinet have
gathered force right in the midst of the
civic festivities. Latin respect for au-
thority Is so strong that at first hardly
murmur was heard. But within few
days the American habit of speaking out
has overcome the Latin custom of respect-
ing authority to the full degree of acuui-
escence, and now it is possible to get at the
real opinion.
have been badly treated. This means part
ly the military element, and partly the
civilian classes who showed an early adapt-
ability for political methods and started out
to build up an election machine.
Substance of Complaint.
In substance their complaint is that Pres
ident Palma has shown too much regard for
respectability. He has not ignored the BOYS
in the trenches, but he has not turned his
administration over to them. they
thought he would do. General Maxine Co
mez, it is said, is disgusted with the
selfshness and greedy ambition of some
OF his old compatriots that he has de-
clueu 10 keep aiOOl from actual politics,
That Is wise decision for the old general
While the revolutionary element and the
machine politicians are dissatisfied with
Palma in his makeup OF the cabinet, they
are not strong enough to embarrass his ad-
ministration seriously at the outset few
of their leaders admit that he has been
wiser than the yin leaning to conservatism
They have some grasp of the truth that
any government In order to be successful
must win and keep the confidence of the
conservative middle-class people. That is
infinitely more true in Cuba than In the
United States. President Palma has begun
by winning the confidence of this class
Whether he can keep 1t is the problem
which Is ahead of him.
On the non-poiitical side the cabinet gives