The sun., 1907-08-19
OUBA'S NEWEST ANNIVERSARY.

Word carne from Cuba n isw days ago TO
the effect that some OF tho heroes OF last
years uprising propose TO ceicbraue Au-
gust 10 a. an anniversary. Presumably
tho plan is q recognition OF some sort
Of emancipation day, when tho shackIes
which prevented certain aspiring politicians
from getting the jobs they wanted were
broken. It may be admitted that the Palma
Government was not at that time notable
success. but any celebration OF Its overthrow
and the manner Of It's overthrow would be
display OF very bad tsste. TO say the least.
just why August 10 should DO regarded
by these battle Scared heroes ~ the day TO
celebrate is not clear. except that IL was
somewhere around this day q year ago that
the row began. On August Is there were
rumors OF a conspiracy to assassinate Mr..
Palma. and extraordinary precautions were
taken TO prevent the murderers from carry
ing out their plans. Bands had been gath
cring for number Of days and an uprising
OF some thirty people in Pinsr del Rio was
reported on August ~. However, II any
day is TO be recognized and celebrated, the
isth will do a. well as any other. IL was
the day when some OF the leaders OF the
movement were arrested and orders were
issued for the arrest Of others. IL may
therefore be fitting for some Of them to honor
the day on which they went to jail.
A year has passed since the outbreak.
1t is too early yet TO say whether Cuba has
gained or lost by that particular experience.
There arc both debit and credit entries, but
tho returns are not sufficiently full to make
possible any balancing Of accounts. 1t has
been on tho whole q year Of peace. There
In little probability Of any serious disturb
ance so long as the United States keeps five
or six thounand soldiers down there and
other thousands where they could be sent
down within few days after tho receipt
OF marching orders. 1t has been q year Of
fair industrial activity. The special dis
turbance was the strike and lockout OF the
cigarmaksrs. The sugar crop was the lar
gest in the history OF tho island. moro than
800 900 tons having been produced. Sugar
prices were low and small profits were made
on the crop where any profit was made.
1t has been year OF great but altogether
fruitless political activity. Men and par
ties are no nearer harmonious organization
than they were when Mr.. Taft and Mr.
Bacon tried 90 faithfully to get them to live
up to policies and platforms which would
prevent an American occupation. Some
previously Insignificant mon have come to
the front in affairs, and some OF the old
leaders have, for the time at least, dropped
out OF sight. The insular revenues have
been large There are many who think
them excessive and who regard the taxes
from which they are derived as unduly
burdensome. There is abundance OF money
in the national cash boz and large sums are
to be spent for roads and other public inn
provements. So far as Cuban opinion goes,
General Woods qualities as an administrs-
tor are not to be mentioned on the same day
with Chose OF Governor Magoon. General
Wood had very few friends in the island and
most Of those were mere time servers. Mr..
Magoon has made many friends even among
those who do not get from him what they
want.
or Cuba's future no man may speak with
safety. A crisis will come when the census
is completed, when orders are issued for n
national election, and when choice il made
Of political leaders TO whom the power now
in American hands may be transferred.