New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-01
THE CHANGE IN cuRA.
SosERNMENr wlIf. RR IN SKtArE 70 az
TURNED OVER To NEW RULERS
RETIREMENT or TROOPS


present Period is called. enc absorbing question:
dominates az discussion Ii is whether the gate
way OF reciprocity between the United States and
the new nation j. going he an open one.
whether high wall viii have 20 he sealed The
eee from the tide OF American tourists and noneyed
visitors. which has been continuous for months
Fast. has come, and Havana feels the effect It is
seeing something OF the dun times which have
affected the interior cities. and the loss Of few
thousand dollars daily from such a transient
as passing visitors is felt I'm the lull in its business
activities. So ts men Of commerce and trade begin
TO ask with more anxiety what is TO be done IN
Washington
II should not be supposed that the forthcoming
change IN government and the reflex Of the reports
from Washington do excite interest. They
cause the liveliest kind Of comment. and all the
details Of the transfer of authority scanned
critically. usual, and with disposition to find
fault. This faultfnding tendency is smothered to
great degree by the thoroughness Of Secretary
Roots order for the transfer. suggestion that
some American officials would remain few months
IN civil places. such as the postofice department
was met at once with protest. Cuba for the
Cubans,' was the cry raised. and this meant in
the present instance Cuban Offices for Cuban office
holders So few places in the Cuban public service
are flied by American civilians that keeping
them would be felt seriously; yet IT is COM
fort for those who want government places to
know that this is not to he done The more sweep
ing the withdrawal of the United States authority
in far places of honor and emolument go, the
more pronounced is the feeling of satisfaction
To say that the government will be in shape to
be turned 10 its rulers on May ~ is
simply to state that the American military au-
thority has been preparing for the change which 1t
was known would come The date fixed gives an
ample margin Of time for making necessary
changes. From II is probable that more
will be heard about the preparations for establish
ing the republic than the arrangements Tor
withdrs wing the American military forces. Army
officers who have been in doubt 10 their future
movements and the length of their probable stay
IN Cuba are relieved in their minds They can cali
culate within a weeks how long they viii re-
main.
ONLY ARTILLERY TO REMAIN
The news that the only troops 10 remain would
be the artillery force a surprise to the
Cuban public The belief had been held that both
cavalry and infantry also would be retained for an
uncertain period must be said that in the tudg-
rent Of those who have studied the situation care
fully the action taken by Secretary Root Is wise
Some Of the foreign residents are still little
doubtful. and many OF the subjects OF Spain VINO
have elected remain in the island begin to es-
press fears about their future. But this Is not
the generally accepted view. The evolution or the
American military authority has been a prepara-
ton for Cuban government 1t has smootheo out
many Of the troubles which would have followed If
the power had been placed in the hands OF the
Cubaus Immediately after the conclusion of the
war with Spain It also has been able to give
~rorae very practical lessons in self-government
AS 10 the Cubans and domestic politics. and the
talk which was once rife Of internal revolutions
common 10 Central and South American countries
that has spent itself Nc one has fears OF any up
rising against President Palma government or or
any disappointed political chief taking the field
Grave problems are ahead Of the new republic. and
some Inherent weaknesses may be discerned, but
they are not Of kind TO make the presence OF
five thousand American troops essential to 1air
trial OF the experiment which the Island is soon
10 enter
All mis- NAV he summed up in the language OF
one If the Havana apers-that the Platt law
is worth ten regiments. Without It there might
have been fears for the property, and possibly
though not probably. the lives of foreigners Ihere
might also have been fears of domestic turmoil
bordering on chaos If anarchy, With me
Flatt amendment these fears disappear Inc moran
influence Of the United States supplants the mofai
and -l,sjcal influence which has been exercised by
the presence Of American soldiers during the last
three and half years
REGARD FOR MATERIAL WELFARE
with these circumstances clearly understood
- -no-s than a paragraph is necessary with
-eeard TO the time and manner OF the withdrawal
NJ the American troops. The best time WITHOUT
1ohr for The frs1 ernbarka1ion would be following
1be enactment OF broad reciprocity legislation by
congress- If President Roosevelt has the oppor-
unity within the few weeks to put his sigma
rure TO a law embodying his own reconlie
the occasion would be good one Tor TWO OF tLiee
ta+ralions 10 be embarked from havana. 1hls
,,1s he the visible evidence that the American
military authority coming to an end uhoer
conditions which showed genuine regard TOT .ne
material welfare OF the new republic without inns
material welfare. it is useless 10 talk OF pocai
r,rogress There is the nutshel case Oh OuD" "
sts relation &c the United States
y.-,+t a, understanding of the sentimental bear
imp which circumstances apparently trivial IN thelh-
selves have on events in this country the olscus7
~ the mosaic questions OF trade relations Is re-
suned il is telling known truth 10 say 'lat
,ovcerfr1 financial influences which include all the
banking houses OF the island, and the great Span
ssh merchants who in their manner OF DONG ousi-
,ess are themselves bankers, are straining every
nerve 10 maintain financial stability because OF
re extraordinary conservativeness with which bus-
ness IN the island Is done, they may succeed But
they fee the advancing shadow CT dulness ana de-
uression which hangs so heavily over Matanzas'
ca-denas and other cities OF the interior that are
= lg~ge11, 5er4ndenf on the sugar industry
: year ago a political hue and cry would have
iaen raised that the financial clouds were lowering
facause Of the impending change in government
The crisis in the sugar industry has taken the force
from that cry, and while the change IN authority
irezitafiv will cause uncertainty and measurable
stsnension OF commercial activity. no one IN cuba
laws TO # the present tension The island merely
e saoe 70 face with industrial crisis, the delay In
relieving wl.ch both exasperating ana DANGEROUS
since the belief has obtained that the United
States Senate IS be the real means OF rehe1 ior
Cuba the discussion is now centred on the theory
Of giving the Senate information which may De OF
value TO legislators who want to De lhIorlheo aoou'
the merits of the question
SUGAR GROWERS SUFFER MOST
No one who has been out through the island ana
visited the sugar plantations doubts that the actual
s,g., -os,,oers-tf,at IS the cane growers and not
the r,i55levnen or refners-are those who are suf-
Fertng most The is simple one A very
large number Of cane growers in Cuba are what Is
known as -'colonos" tenants. though there are