New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-07

PRESIDENT PALMA IN CUBA
HIS KEEN INSIGHT INTO AFFAIRS
THERE-WILL BE RECEIVED WITH
GEATEST ENTHUSIASM.


teen years absence from the country might
cause him to be misled about a great many
things in the island. AS TO individuals. many of
whom grew up as revolutionists. or revolution
airy politicians after he went away, perhaps ne
has not the fullest knowledge. But he il getting
acquainted with them rapidly enough
Where the President-elect has shown the
keenest instinct is in not coming to Havana at
the outset His visit TO the scenes Of hts birth
in the province of Santiago will be we'll timed
Aside from the historical and sentimental asso-
Citations. it will put him in touch with the
Orient" as the eastern province of the island
is called, and will enable him to grasp some OF
the fundamental difficulties with which his adj
mnistra ton must contend. His candidacy was
supported with less earnestness there than In
any part of the island. except in Puerto Prin-
cipe where local conditions put his opponents IN
the saddle. Even General Maxine Gomez. dur
ing a visit a few weeks ago. found the old In
surgents, with whom so much of his life had
been spent somewhat cold and critical Seem
ingIy they feared that they were not to have
enough to say in the government
This jealousy of Santiago Province toward the
rest of the island always has been a disturbing
factor Isolation was the chief cause of the
jea lousy. The completion of the backbone
railway which SIR William Van Horne and his
Gus with the fnstaIla ton of the Cuban Repub-
lie In a little time 1t will serve to destroy the
isolation of Santiago. and will guarantee closer
political sympathy with Havana, well as
closer commercial relations. Yet for the pres
ent. there is still something of the feeling that
Santiago is a long distance off from the govern
ment which will be centred in Havana.
Mr. Palma's presence before he is inaugurated
will revive much of the feeling for independent
Cuba which has been so strong in Santiago 1t
will put the people there more in sympathy with
his administration. 1t also may put something
of check on the ultra radical tendencies of the
Santiago politicians. 1t is now clear that the
President ELECT is going to be received with
great enthusiasm and his Journey from Santiago
to Havana will be in the nature of a triumphant
one. The indications at this time are that 1T
will show he has the confidence and the good
will of the great mass of the Cubans. and is
not without the respect of the Spanish CONNER
cial classes. With this demonstration of popu-
lar strength the Palma administration will be
able to meet with fair prospect of success
some of the issues which confront It,
The western and central part of the Island
will send delegations to meet the President
elect on the part of some Of these delegations
there will be selfish purpose. Many of their
members want to get his before their rivals
get It. All of them have plenty of advice and
suggestions for him. Many are disappointed that
they were not called to Nev-York to consult
with the President elect But back Of these In
dividual instances Of selfish politics is genuine
popular sentiment
Cuban flags are beginning TO appear every
where and the customary notices and designs
and emb1ems which have Mr. Palma the CEN
trail figure In railway trip out from Havana
In any direction the Cuban flag will be seen In
.ba in homes,
neciaIIv of the poorer people. popular news
nsper subscription now is under way for the
flag which will fly from Moro Castle. In the
theatres greetings are extended to the repuoiIc'
In the cafes there is little Of the Intensity or
political discussion that was noticeable In the
early stages of the American military occupa-
ton. But CATS politics is not so intense as IL
will become later. Now the discussion is chiefly
,rterrogative Who will constitute the Cab
met? Who will be the government leaders In
the Congress and who will lead the opposition?
The Cubans fall into the Latin habit OF looking
on these matters as easily arranged They
think that the President will name the govern
rnAnt leader: that the opposition, when there
comes 70 he one will name its leader IN cour-
icons vsv and then that parliamentary govern
mant will be in function. That Is one OF the de-
lusions which will be cured by experience
Rut there are other question marks set up
&, \ column for the President-elect- VIII he De
able to secure real reciprocity for Cuba, or VIII
the present funnel tariff law continue? The char-
actarization of the present tariff arrangement as
q funnel one is apt. 1t correctly describes tne
view of the Cubans. who have been watching
the sentiment in Congress. and who think that
under the military tariff the products and manu-
features of the United States have come into
Cuba through the big end of the funnel. while
Cuban products have gone into tho United Statas
through the small end. 1t Is another way OF
saving that they do not want tushandieo recl-
nrocitv. However. if the United States depends
on 20 per cent reduction on American products
imported into Cuba. as means OF onsettihs
German and English competition. IT is more
likely TO be the victim Of 5ughandled reciprocity
Twenty per cent for Cuban sugar and to-
Jacco. while not enough, will have an appreci-
a BILE effect in the island. Twenty per cent on
some American manufactures will not be felt
annreciabiv by the American manufacturers
who want Il secure market
These views are brought out clearly in the dis
cussion of the ma terial future OF Cuba IN Wnlcn
the more serious newspapers are engaged at
the present time 1t is strange the way some
of them draw the line and distinguish between
The material future and the political future
This distinction put In blunt way oy a
country correspondent who stated that the peo-
pIe i'm his locality wanted to hear more ABOUT
ploughs than about destinos' or poIticai Joos-
In the cafes the talk is not so much about reel
proCty and the tariff as about naval ana coai
ing stations and the Isle of Pines and kindred
topics Here the interrogatories are shoWereo
mon the President-eect thick and fast Hav-
ing objected TO a United States naval station IN
Havana will he consent to a coannS statlon
right in the harbor. as is proposed! WIN ne
meet all the wishes of the American navy ON
GERS who rave been taking soundings. and II ne
does will he have anybody left to support MS
administrations
II must be said for the navy officers that they
have laid more stress on strategic advantages
than Cuban sentiment. Ihey theHiseNes
troversy of the kind that often takes place pc
tween the army and navy was raised for Wniie
about the United States naval station. so called