Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-26
PEACE At THE LAST
End of Secretary Taft's Mission
in Cuba.
NIGHTS OF THANKLESS Toll
Native Heroes Still Strut on the
Prado.
TATTERDEMALIoN ADMIRERS
Cuban Flag Still Waves Over the
Moro and the Residents Of Ha-
vana Sleep as Usual.
AUTHORIZATION ADMIRERS

HAVANA. October 22.-Of the difficulties
of the Taft mission frequent mention has
already been made In this correspondence,
but 1t is scarcely possible to give an ade-
quate idea Of the exasperating conditions
with which the mission was obliged to
deal. Disappointed as Secretary Taft was
that American Intervention was compelled
by the collapse of the government and the
contrfving Of liberals and moderateS to
force the landing Of American troops. It
must have been relief to him to be freed
of the trickery of liberals and moderates
During the peace negotiations the
work and worry Of Secretary Taft
and Secretary Bacon were not end
ed when they left the legation. Far
into the night they conferred in Minister
Morgan's home at Marianao and endeav-
ored to foresee and prepare themselves for
the trap that would be laid for them on
the morrow. The disgusting personalities
which liberals and moderates dragged into
almost every conference with the commits
sioners were naturally sickening to such
clean-minded men as Mr.. Taft and Mr.
Bacon. But hardest of all was the neces-
sity placed upon them by the fact that they
were obliged to accept the situation as
they found it of conducting negotiations
with men in arms against the govern
ment Not only were they compelled TO
but also to treat them with extreme c0ur-
tesy appeal to their patriotism, or, as Sec
rotary Taft said one day. IS are no words
In addressing them" Having had no hand
in the creation of the conditions which con-
fronted them upon their arrival the COM
missioners were under instructions from
the President to negotiate with the rebels
as well as with the government in the
effort to effect a peaceful solution of the
difficulties and avoid intervention.
Heroes on Parade.
With remarkably few instances of dis
order, the constitutional army was dis
persed, and when Secretary Taft turned
over the provisional government to Judge
Magoon there was no rebel army in the
field. The streets of Havana continue to
bear evidences Of the revolut on in the
figures of deliberately uniformed rebel lead
ers, who go to the outsk rts of the city
In an automobile until their friends can
arrange demonstration and return in tr.-
umph to be received with hurrahs by news
boys and bootblacks and other members OF
the rowing rabble that people the parks and
streets of the capital. But they are far less
dangerous in this capacity than they were
in the field at the head of an armed and
mounted force.
The primary object of the Taft mission
was achieved; further hostilities were pre-
vented and the rebel army was dtsbanded
almost without the firing of gun. millions
OF COLLARS "UItu' OL pEOpSLty WoS oosoN
from destruction and the continued pros
perity of the Cuban people assured FOR the
time being. Intervention was not averted
for the reason, that it was the only means
by which the main work of the -nissit
could be accomplished. But here again the
Taft mission has achieved nota1le sue
cess in the form of intervention which 1t
resorted to. The tact and patience with
which Secretary Taft conducted the peace
negotiations have characterized every step
OF the Intervention. The night the govern
ment collapsed. when the Secretary assum-
ed charge. the only force landed was
guard of twenty-five marines to protect the
treasury, in the vaults of which more than
$12 O00, 900 In gold was stored.
Instead Of occupying Havana with 2.50O
marines and bluejackets from the ships in
the harbor, who had stood by for a week
ready to land at a moments notice, Secre-
tary Taft called upon the conmander-in-
chief OF the rural guard and ordered him
to police the city with his men, supplement-
ed by the police force, and the landing Of
the marines was postponed for several
days. When they came ashore it was at
$50 o'clock In the morning. and before
Havana had taken its cup of coffee the
marines were some six miles outside of the
city, at Camp Columbia.
The army was landed with the same I'M
ostentation. and was also quartered at
Camp Columbia. Havana's only outward
and Wis BILE sign Of all Intervention has
been obtained within the last week as
trolley cars passed through the city on
their way to Camp Columbia carrying the
troops as rapidly as they are disembarked
from the transports.
Capt. Couden's Help.
Perhaps an even more potent factor in the
almost Indifferent pac.dity with which the
Cubans have received the intervention was
Secretary Taft's announcement in his first
proclamation of the establishment of a pro-
visionaI government that the Cuban flag
buildings throughout the island. and in
appreciation of this cons deration for their
Feelings the Cubans promptly purchased
anew flag for the Morro which they hoist
ed shortly after Mr.. Taft proclaimed HIM
self provisional governor.
OF great assistance to the Secretary In
the execution of his policy of minimum in
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS which would sup
rather than appear-has been the co-opera-
ton of Capt. Couden. commanding the
Louisiana, and In command of the naval
force in Cuban waters. Although prepared
at all times to land force of $500 blue
jackets and marines, Capt. Couden has
done all that he could to make such step
unnecessary and for the last month officers
and men have been kept aboard ship day
and night. Gen. Bel! has pursued the same
policy thus far with regard to the army and
soldiers are not permitted to come to Ha-
vana on leave.
Attitude Of the Press.
The Cuban papers have printed almost
daily eulogies of Secretary Taft and Sec
rotary Bacon and their general attitude has
been that Intervention was a thing to be
hoped for and worked for rather than
opposed. But these are surface indications,
for the Cubans are an emotional and shall
low people. Their smiles can be quickly
turned to frowns and the machete ed
from an agricultural implement to a weap-
on of war. The disbanding of the army
has been accomplished peacefully. but this
Is no assurance that Gov. Magoon has
smooth sailing ahead Of him. With the
island firmly in the grip of the army, Gov.
Magoon, carrying out the policy Of Secre-
tary Taft will undertake thorough in
vestigation of the charges against the pro-
vincial governors and alcaldes placed In
Office by the Palma government, and all of
these aga nst whom charges are sustained
will be supplanted by such reputable men
In either party as Gov. Magoon can find. :.
The liberals have repeatedly d.sclaimed
any desire for Office, but neither Secretary
Taft nor Gov. Magoon Is deceived by
these professions. and although some sug-
gestion has been made that the new cleo
tons can be held in June. when the grind
ing season for sugar ends in the greater
part Of the is and, 1t is very possible that
between now and then disorders will occur
which will call for the use of force by
k~xy