New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
CONDITIONS In CUBA.
Reports to Var Department Sho,c
Satisfactory Situation.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Dec. 29.-Secretary Taft caused
TO be prepared and issued at the War Depart
ment to-day a statement regarding the situation
in Cuba which is calculated TO set at rest the
anxiety which is felt in some quarters regard
ing the future Of the island and to offset GER
tain cable dispatches which describe the condi-
tions as far from satisfactory. The statement
follows:
On Christmas evening a dispatch received
from Governor Magoon saving that he had re-
ing fears of depredations from small bands of rob-
Santa Clara and ho accordingly ordered practice
marches of two troops of cavalry in that province
Camaguey. which might possibly lead TO some
letter under date of December % has been re-
ceived from Governor Magoon which contains
The present situation is fun of hope and conf
dence that the provisional government will havs
continued tranquility of the island under our a,
mnistration is as satisfactory as anything can he
He also says. with reference to the strike at
There is fair prospect Of strike by the
Tore m in te rws shops H in nd ba ane
morning am advised that the matter is unim-
The following has been received by the depart
ment In private letter from m1ldtary I 3I'Cer n
Everything goes on quietly here. and there is
tinual intimation from all sorts of sources that.
or the other win take to the woods
Il suppose an, AngIo-saxon will never under
stand these people. and never hope 10 do so.
They something like children who tell ghost
selves 10 a point where they cannot Sleep. Apart
from mutterings such as have referred 70 oho no
eaeiness at this time In fact our rule has been
SO quiet and c Orderly and the Presidents injunc
ton TO refrain from hurting the feelings or
e @ rRe fbst Phe Seope OF % weeome the troops
sSerywhsrs and @ get down wgFf whsaeyeF I 55sy
cate that the practice marches and reconnaissance
Under instructions from headquarters one Of the
reassure the people quiet their nerves and induce
them TO 90 TO work This they, seem to be doing
are going on quietly and steady eeverywhsre The
the system is that the feeling of security which
the people have from the presence of troops is SO
nght be formed Sn % 10 delay our @ depaTture
ton is fI he 'e number of houses that are being built
throughout the country districts ON a ride OF
toMayd Mar % connted over forty new houses
going up where there was not one in process OF
is regular building boom
An interesting statement recently appeared
in la Lucha,' newspaper published in Ha-
vana in which alarming reports regarding
Cuban affairs which have appeared in news
papers in the United States deplored, The
statement closes follows:
Peace in Cuba is as assured as it is wonderful.
dustrial and commercial activity Work has been
the cane crop has not already begun. prepara ttons
for il are proceeding with extraordinary Vigor
All who leave this capital encounter cane trains
on the railroads the preparations of the
railroad companies TO transport this rich product
OF soil. The tobacco seed beds fur
nishing young plants TO the tobacco growers who
are pushing their work COurageously forward.
Sugar has reached remunerative price. and
there is a demand 1t advance Of cents a
pound.
The provisional government is arranging with
tact and prudence all the political difficulties. Mr..
Magoon is not only large of body but has a
solid spirit that remains unchanged before the COM
plicat of the Cuban problem and which serenely
continues striving for the attainment Of those ends
which his government desires. Under these cir
cunstanCes where do those correspondents stand
who report to the contrary? They live in limbo,
if they what they say they do, for here in Cuba
discovers the conditions they report to their
papers.
We say now once for all, that this country has
recovered its material tranquility quicker than
could have expected after the disastrous conduct of
Sehor Estrada Palma, and in the measure
moral peace has advanced in such rapid strides
that we be assured il is 1t is only
the few who depend politics and government
positions who are dissatisfied The majority lives
very contentedy because it has faith IN the preva-
lence of free and Independent thought should
exist wherever II is desired 10 establish the reign
OF democracy.