The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-07
PRESIDENT PALMA's POLICY.

| The Cuban Congress is in session,
| and on the goth of this month Cuba will
! be turned over to the Cuban govern
ment Between the present time and
that date the Congress Will prepare for
the important event. There is a good
! deal of speculation as to how long the
new government will remain in exis-
tence. The opinions expressed by Gu
bans and officers of the American army
who have been in Cuba ever since the
| close of the Spanish American war diff
/ fer radically. Some think that the re-
public will not last six months; others
believe that it will have an existence of
ten years or more. These are the ex-
trerne views. Many careful observers
are satisfied that Cuba will be a state
of the American Union within five
years. 1t is evident, however, that
there is no one who is in a position
to make a prediction on this subject
that is worth much, for the reason that
| there is no reliable data on which to
base an opinion as to how the Cuban
people will bear the responsibilities of
seIf-g government. Much reliance is
placed upon President-elect Palma.
There is no doubt that it is his purpose
to do the best that can be done for
the new republic. No ambition he may
have will stand in the way of his do
ing what he believes to be for the best
interest of Cuba.
1t is safe to say that it will be his
policy to direct the attention of the
people to the fact that the hope of the
island is in agriculture. He has inti-
mated as much in the speeches he has
delivered since his arrival in Cuba, He
will do his utmost to encourage the
cultivation of sugar, coffee, tobacco,
fruits and vegetables. He was a resi-
dent of this country long enough to
convince him that it is to the interest
of the Cubans to produce everything
that can be grown on the island. 1t
may be expected therefore that he will
urge continually diversifcation of
crops. And it is believed that he will
do his utmost to limit the indebtedness
of the island to as small an amount
as possible. One Of the great troubles
! that he will encounter at the very be-
ginning of his administration is that
of keeping the republics obligations
within a reasonable limit. OF course
there will not be a rush to lend the
new government money. In fact, it
will not be able to borrow much until
it has clearly demonstrated that it is
likely to be permanent. Still, it will
not be difficult to find ways to make
| debt. There are ambitious men in Con-
gress, especially in. the Senate, and
some of them doubtless will seek to
| curry favor with the soldier element
by promising pensions and back pay
to veterans of the wars between Cuba
| and Spain.
Some of the American officers in
| Cuba are of the opinion that there will
be an exhibition of anti-American feel
ing as soon as our army is withdrawn.
1t is to be hoped that they are mis-
| taken. There are of course Cubans
who entertain a very bitter feeling to-
wards the Americans, but it is doubt
full if this feeling is at all general. In
deed, there are evidences that the de-
parture of the American military force
Will be very much regretted by large
| percentage of the people. But it would
not cause surprise if there should
be expressions of hostility from poll
ticians who have not been permitted to
do as they please since the occupation
of the island by our troops. The great
majority of the Cubans, however, I'M
derstand that the United States have
been the friend of Cuba; they have
made it possible for her to have her
own government and have made i'm
mense sacrifices in aiding her.