The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-10-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Will Be At Least Twenty Years Before
CubanS Are Fit to Govern Them.
selves

week Secretary Taft will have re
turned to Washington, when the cabi-
net viii be complete and he will doubt
less have some interesting and funny
things to tell about the Cuban revolu-
ton. What an absurd affair it was and
is after all Gilbert and Sullivan never
collaborated in opera bouffe that could
compare in high strung absurdity with
the ridiculous actualities of recent Gu
ban history. The genial Secretary of
War doubtless had an amusing expert
ence in his role of peacemaker but it is
doubtful if he was surprised at any,
thing he saw or heard or smelled or
| tasted in Cuba. He became acquainted
with half child people during his resi-
dence in the Philippines. The event
shows that the Secretary was not slow
in measuring the personnel of the
island whether they call themselves
Moderates or Liberals and that he
played his part with mock seriousness
and treated with the bandit patriots
mounted on stolen horses and mules and
armed with obsolete guns as though
they were the real thing. Your cores
pendent has resided in Cuba and is more
or less familiar with the Cuban as sol
der, patriot or statesman. To admire
them or trust them one must know them
but slightly. They do not improve on
acquaintance and those must be hopeful
indeed who can believe that they will
ever be fit or capable Of self-govern-
ment. On the surface there may have
| been improvements in the administra-
ton Of affairs in the island, but as q
matter Of fact there is not and has not
been much change from the time when
/ the policemen pursued by day that
peaceable calling and by night We're the
boldest Of thieves and burglars, rob
bing the houses which they guarded
during the day light and with which
| their occupation gave them greater
/ familiarity. II there are any states
men in the island who are honest there
are few who are not ridiculousand rare
ly does q stage in a theater present
more ridiculous spectacle than did the
Cuban congress during one Of its SEES
sions. The members with their waXed
mustaches, oiled hair, powdered faces
and corseted figures posed for the bene-
fit of the gallery visitors among which
Cuban bellies We're in the majority.
When a speech was delivered on the
floor Of the chamber great enthusiasm
was displayed at every flowing period in
which the country was called the
Pearl of tn Antilles or the Land
Of sun and flowers and great apathy
when questions Of finance and govern
ment were discussed. Apparently in
capable Of being serious in anything but
friyohty the Cubans are never grave
! except in pettiness. To ride in street
| parade throwing paper confetti at their
friends and neighbors affords them new
er failing excitement and delight for
| the four weeks Of lent each year In
their opinion they owe the Americans
/ two heartfelt grudges and these are the
adjustment of bull fighting and Of re-
moving the vile smelling, dirt secret
ing, rnicrobe breeding, mosquito infest-
ed palms and plants from the public
squares. To hear Cuban resent
these reforms made during American
occupation would be to suppose that the
Americans had murdered the first born
Of all the families or sold all the virgins
into slavery or been guilty of some
other unspeakable crime. Their dislike
Of Americans is no less intense than
their hatred of the Spanish. That Senior
Palma, who had been educated in the
| United States and absorbed some ideals
| from his associations here, was heartily
| tired Of his job among his fatuOus peo-
| pie no one can doubt who knows them.
The Cubans have no patriotism or love
Of country and the revolutionists were
nothing more than a crowd of disap-
pointed grafters just as the moderates
were for the most part arrogant bu-
raaucratic Office holders. Unless the
government could be reorganized so as
to permit every grown man on the
island to be President and all at the
same time and for life and with free
entrea 10 the public treasury there will
always be discomfort, riot and revolu-
| ton.
1t is more than possible that before
this Cuban business is finished some one
is going to be pretty heavily sit upon,
either by Secretary Taft or Governor
Magoon, or both Of them and consider
ing the weight of these personages the
experience will not be pleasant for
the victim. The obstreperous little
game-cocks calling themselves colonies
and generals Of the liberal army are en-
| tirely too much in evidence in Cuba. 1t
is these that the American rulers will
sooner or later be called upon to quel.
Since the campaign in the field is over
these WOrdy attitudinizing warriors are
| fighting out the revolution with their
tongues. They are holding meetings
and having banquets, and have begun to