The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-20
THE NEW CUBA.
IL the Island Government in Danger {.

| as sell governing natlOn the ldeallSt may
find much to criticize and the pessimist
much to condemn. The same is equally
true Of all governments, and there is no
reason for insistence that Cuba should be
any better than the average. But weak
spots in long established political institu-
lions are OF less serious moment than are
defects In the foundations of newly Gre
ated government, and Cuba is showing
several defects which threaten her with
disaster. 1t is difficult to state her case
without danger Of being misunderstood by
those who wish to mlsunderstand- There
Is in the United States a considerable num-
Der Of those to whom Cuba's failure as a
government would be cause OF satisfac-
ton and by whom every opportunity to
attack her stability is seized While the
truth compels admission that these people
may yet have their opportunity to chuokle,
the following observations are made more
particularly for another class Of citizens.
1t is nonsense to say that Cubans are in
capable Of self-government Their expe-
rience thus far certainly places them on no
lower plane in that respect than that occu-
pied by the people of Philadelphia, Chicago
and perhaps few other American COM
munities. But the fact must be faced that
in that experience there have appeared
mistakes 80 serious in their nature that
unless they be soon corrected Cuba may
have to clean her slate and begin all over
again Her glazing error ia the substitu-
ton of a game of politics for the serious
work of government
Cuba is too young to make specially
of mere politics, too young for conflict for
party supremacy and individual prefer
ment. Her need is a wise, conservative
and economical administration, attended
by such legislation as may be necessary in
the laying of strong and enduring founda-
ton for the structure which should be built
upon it. Unfortunately, little Of this appears
in her recent record, while there has been
surfeit of politics, simply as such, which
threatens a serious attack OF national in
digestion in the near future. For the first
two years or 50 her sins of commission were
few and her sins of omission were pardon
able. In her more recent experience there
has been little that is at all commendable.
Her Congress sits in an interminable session,
in which quorum is 30 infrequent as to
excite surprise when it does occur The
greater part Of its time is devoted to
wranging consideration of measures which
are of importance to individuals rather
than to the nation, and little or no heed is
paid to measures which are almost vital.
Patriotism ia subordinated to politics. and
Cuba is riding for heavy fall unless she
changes her tactics. 1t ia probable that
trouble would have come ere this had 1t not
been for the prevalent industrial prosperity
of the people. Cuba can stand good deal
when she can sell million or more tons OF
sugar at good prices and can maintain
her tobacco output.
All this is matter for sincere regret rather
than for criticism or reproach. Until their
own standards of political life reach higher
plane Americans may not with justice
throw stones at the Cubans for their follies
and shortcomings. While the American
Congress dalles with important measures
affecting the nation as whole Americans
cannot with any fairness condemn the
Cubans for similar conduct. But the results
in Cuba are more serious than they are in
the United States.
Two matters may be used as illustrations
of Cuba's neglect of that which demanded
and should have received almost imme-
diate attention. These concern the estab-
lshment of the municipalities Of the island
and the proper regulation of the judiciary.
Presumably, both Of these depa rtments
were duly and properly provided for un-
der the rule Of Spain and also under the
American government Of intervention.
But such provisions as were made under
those forms of government were in their
nature temporary and not necessarily we'll
adapted TO an autonomous republic with
a constitutional government
Article LXXXI of the Cuban Constitution
/ -, ;,li al shal Ina
vested in a Supreme Court of Justice and
in such other courts as may be established
by law. The said law will regulate their
respective organization and powers, the
manner Of exercising the same, &c. Cuba
has courts and court system, but no law
has been provided for their establishment
and regulation in accordance with the terms
Of the Constitution. A nations courts
should be courts dc jure and not merely
de fac,o, particularly when the law under
which they were established and under
which, failing other provision, they must
be conducted is not always in entire har-
mony with the principles Of constitutional
republicanism
| The Constitution also provides for the
establishment Of municipalities and their
government, AS mag be provided by law
NO such nnnlCpal law mas Deen pTONlOet,
and there have been no municipal elections
since 1901, when they were held under Amer
! lean auspices, The present officials are
either "hold-overs" or appontees. Some
! Of the laws under which they act, and under
which they must act, are at variance with,
/ if they are not in violation of, the provisions
of the Federal Constitution. Under the
system now in operation the supreme
power is thrown into the hands of the CEN
trail Federal authority. A parallel would
lie in a suppostion that there was no legal
provision for calling an election in the city
| of New York and that the acts of that city,
| in all matters, must be approved first by
the Governor of the State and finally by
the President. 1t must also be supposed
that the Governor, by virtue of his position,
and the President, by virtue of his, held the
power of remova. Of any American Mayor.
This same Capitalization of power was
one of the provoking causes of discomfort
which ripened into instruction. While
the difference between Palma and Poa-
rieja or Tacon is obvious, the system
remains open to abuse, and is abused.