The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-27
CUBA,s WATERING FORTUNES.

HAVANA, Sept. 2l.-The Cuban situation
Is like tho price Of certain commodities. In
that II il subject - change without mo-
tlOe.' II 10 lmposslblS 10 say what a day
may bring forth. Some are hopeful Of an
early and peaceful solution Of the matter.
but many arc despOndent n SO no pos
sibls outooms except American occupation.
temporary or permanent.
A the i~nsurreCtion stands to-day. the
Government Is hopelessly defeated and
h rebellion Is stronger than ever before.
From information obtained through reliable
channels IL In evident that the insurrectcs
nave behaved remarkably well. There has
been no wanton destruction Of property.
and damag OF any kind has been conpara-
lively insignificant. There has Q no
reckless slaughter by either sid and the
List Of actual casualties Is not heavy. The
inslrgent leaders, so far as they could. have
prohibited and prevented raiding and
footing. except that which OooUrs In tbs
process Of communicating supplies needed
IL tie oosrsS e their operations. Sons
lawlessness h. however, inevitable under
such circumstances. The tales OF wide
spread ruin and destruction. Of unbridled
looting and robbery. and Of heavy losses
In action. are TO be accepted subject TO a
large discount.
On the side Of the Government there has
been a huge expenditure for munitions OF
war. for horses and for supplies. Much Of
tho money thus used seems to have been
little else than wasted. There are piles Of
stores. Of rifles and ammunition. with no
n TO use them. In tbs old corrals Of
the American army at Camp Columbia.
just outside Of Havana. there are some
hundreds Of the scrubbiest Of scrubby
horses. bony In structure n detected IN
appearance. They are the alleged chargers
Of the alleged Cuban cavalry. II a rider
could be obtained for eaoh Of these poor
beasts, the Cuban army would DO consid-
erably increased, but neither loyalty to the
Government nor q wage Of q per day Sc
oures men TO carry rifles and ride the horses.
The Government does not surrender. but
it's utter inability to suppress the revolt by
force Of arms is recognized by all and b
practically conceded by the Governments
itself. Contractors. as some declare. may
ave made comfortable fortunes out Of
the official expenditures. bat II is evident
that no one else has been benefited by
them.
Although the motives which inspire the
participants are many and various, some
worthy and some unworthy. IL cannot be
doubted that the insurrection is a move
ment Of the people. A Cuban described
It to-day as "a strike against the Govern
ment, a protest Of a m~isgoverned majority
against a m~isgoverning minority" That
is perhaps a matter OF individual opinion,
a point upon which Mr.. Palma and his sup
porters would differ with DR.. Zayas. Cen
eral Guerra and their adherents. But the
vital question is not now one Of causes, nor
ever of present conditions. II is a question
Of solutions.
The situation il critical in the extreme.
Cuba's industrial welfare is sorely menaced
and her life a. an independent nation hangs
in the balance. Never before in the entire
history Of the island has there been such
need Of genuine patriotism. Unfortunately,
the lack Of that quality is to-day rather
moro apparent on the side Of the Govern
ment than 1t is on the side OF thOss who
oppose it.
From the beginning OF this unhappy
struggle THE Sun has taken the ground
that so far as It's personnel il concerned
the Opposition is quite as respectable az
the Government. This In entirely true.
Whether the Opposition. in the event Of suo-
cess. would run a better and a mors honest
business than the present Administration
has could only be determined by actual
experience. II seems beyond belief that
any Government which may hereafter be
in the island could fail to heed
the lesson Of the present experience.