New-York tribune., 1906-10-28
CUBA TO REMAIN FREE.
SECRETARY TAFT SAYS so.
United States Troops To Be With-
drazcn after Island Elections.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune.1 ]


c1.va,.nd Sct 27.-Cuban independence is to
he perpetuated ana the Cuban government re-
stored Just so soon the islanders come TO
sensible view of the situation. according 10 oeo-
retary Taft who talked at length this aIler-
noon on the plans Of the United states TOT
Cuba's future.
.It is not to be expected" he said, thas
ouietude will be restored Immediately IN the
island where insurrection developed In nve OF
six provinces but 1t will come In gooo uihe.
Then when the elections have been held anu
new officers elected. both In the national and
nrov,nciaI governments. the troops will be with
drawn
limited States troops are now scattered in
battalions all over the island, and their pres
ence has had the effect OF instantly discouragins
a continuation of the insurgent activity. Prac-
tically all of the insurgents have disbanded and
returned to their homes. Gradually peace Is
heing restored The troops Will be maintained
indefinitely.
There are still few insurgent bands roam
ing about those sections where the hotbed OF IN
surrection developed. These are mainly oan-
dtti who Joined the insurgents. following the
outbreak simply because they were already IN
arms against the government. The work OF
breaking up these bands has been placed IN
the hands of the native rural guards.
These guards number something like fve
thousand now. When the outbreak came there
were three thousand of them, but they were
scattered all about the island IN detachments of
from twenty-five to fifty In consequence. they
were of little force In opposing the advance of
the revolutionary spirit and movement. Now
however, they will be sufficient to wipe out the
bandtti.
Already the conservative element is accept
ing the conditions as all for the best. do not
apprehend that there will be any continued op-
position to the working out of the plan of the
United States government. The better informed
of the Cubans appreciate what is wanted and
desired by this government.
TT is scarcely to be expected that order and
serenity will be effectually restored in a month
or several months. The volatile temperament Of
the people precludes this Yet every indication
points to their speedily coming TO realization
that our interference was all for the best and
kindly intended.
when paciication Is finally complete there
will be elections held for the entire island. One
of the sources of difficulty in the past has been
the utter absence of any municipal governments
The constitution provided for these. but the pro-
vision was conveniently ignored.
Doubtless Governor Magoon will take this
feature in hand and compel the establishment of
municipal governments as we'll as the perpetua-
ton of the provincial governments. The laxness
of the governmental system permitted this revo-
Iutonary spirit to grow unchecked. Preparation
will be made against its repetition.
Heretofore the old Spanish plan Of municipal
government has been followed. There has been
the alcalde in every village, and the alcalde has
been supreme Under the new plan every Cuban
city will have a government after the American
form Then it will be possible to keep the peo-
ple under closer rein.
THE national and provincial elections will
be held. probably. under the direction of the
Americans. It will be necessary in order that
the best interests of the island be safesuarded.
1t is altogether too early to conjecture rea-
tive to probable leaders. Before any elections
are attempted, though. the restoration of or
der and peaceful conditions will have been
made complete.
There is possibility OF annexation. The
government simply interviewed that conditions
might not arise that would endanger perma-
nenty the possibility OF the continuance Of
Cuban independence. Just soon as there is
assurance that the Cubans are restored to that
tranquility that insures capable self-goyernment
the United States will step aside and bid the
Cubans godspeed."