The National tribune., 1906-10-11
THE CUBAN SITUATION.

expected OF us In the future.
| THE CUBAN SITUATION.
| The President and Cabinet are acting
with entire wisdom in their manage
ment of the situation in Cuba. The
presence Of the United States troops and
warships in overwhelming force gives
the needed assurance to the people that
peace will be maintained and no ruinous
| interruption allowed to the planting
and commercial interests. This satis-
fies the Europeans and Americans
who have large investments in
the island. and those whose trade
| with it has been threatened with
severe injury by the disturbance. The
marines and regulars so far landed
have shown that they do not intend to
be merely passive protectors of order
but are energetically disarming the in
surrectoS and others whose demonstra-
tions have threatened the maintenance
| of order and the security of life and
property. At the same time the Presi-
dent and many other public men in po-
sitions which give their words weight
have expressed themselves as distinctly
opposed to annexation if the Cubans
will show themselves capable Of carry
ing on Government and maintaining
order.
The Provisional Government which
has been established pays the greatest
respect to Cuban autonomy by retaining
the Cuban officials wherever possible in
the work of public administration. The
Cuban flag continues to fly over all pub
lie buildings and strong places. The
Administration is not hampering itself
with any promises as to the future o.
the announcement of any policy beyond
the necessary one of maintaining q
proper Government over the island.
The Cubans' own laws and regulations
are in force everywhere and the Amer
leans are simply aiding native officials
in executing them. What the future
will bring forth must be decided by the
Cubans themselves. If they can main
tain the Government and give proper
protection to life and property they can
go ahead independently, and Cuba re-
main one of the nations of the earth.
If they cannot, the Americans will have
to take over the island.
There is a great advantage in having
american troops and marines t. pre-
/ i,,s, =, No,
know nothing and care nothing about
political differences and their only duty
is to see that no unlawful acts are com
mitted and no man harmed in person
or property. They will enter into no
discussions with the insurrectos or
others as to political issues, but simply
restrain them with a very strong and
certain hand from Indulging in their
habits of assassination and piIlage. SO
far the troops have had no trouble
insurrectos and the Government troops
has proceeded without the least blood
shed.
The revelations that President Palma
some weeks ago admitted his inability
to maintain order in the island and
asked unequivocally for 1000 or 1900
American troops to be sent him have
produced a profound sensation in the
island, and much disgusted the native
Cubans with their President. 1t hurts
| their pride and punctures the balloons
of their self-esteem, which they have
filled with gas about their ability and
| fitness for self-government. Viewed in
any light, 1t is not a pleasant retrospect
! for the Cubans. President Palma was
seated in power under especially favor
able conditions and given every oppor-
tunity to develop a strong, well-but-
| tressed Government. He had by good
management, accumulated a fine sur
plus in the treasury, and if he had been
man of ordinary force of character
would have used his position and the
money at his command wisely but force
| fully to secure the stability Of his Gov
ernment. That he did not shows him
| to have been remarkably deficient in
| the qualities necessary in the Chief E,X-
ecutive of something less than 1000, ,000
people. Almost any man that we elect
Governor of a State would have ac'
quilted himself far better in such 6
situation than Palma.
|