The sun., 1908-01-16
Cuba's Future in Her Own Hands.

Should American Intervention in Cuba
cease and determine in the opening
months of 1909 and the Cubans live hap
| PLY for the next thousand years or so
under a government Of their own. THE
SUNS halIelujah would be sounded with
genuine satisfaction. We are. however.
inclined to an opinion that it is not alto
gether wise for either CubEns or Ameri-
cans to be Overconf1dent.
The reports OF economic prosperity in
the island are gratifying and we hope
they are entirely justified. Private adj
! vices from Cuba are somewhat less
exuberant than are the official reports.
They call attention TO certain dangers
and possible dangers, which may prove
to be entirely individual or local and of
no serious influence on the general situ-
alton. There is now little reason to
doubt that the sugar crop will fall below
that Of last season by 20 or rs per cent.
| This, coupled with the returns from the
beet sugar crop of Europe, has caused
an improvement in prices which will
to some extent Offset the decrease in
quantity.
The customs receipts for the calendar
year 1907 indicate an increase OF nearly
10 per cent. in the value Of imports.
One questionable feature in the present
asserte prosperity appears in the fact
that it dmittedly rests to an apprecia-
BILE extent on the expenditure of a treas
ury surplus for public works. Cuba has
need of good country roads, bridges,
lighthouses and haTbOr improvements,
but there is only doubtful wisdom
in a burdensOme taxation for the pur-
pose of constructing them Jnd, even
incidentally, Of giving wOr to the other
wise unemployed. \ treasury surplus
| has ever been Cuba's greatest bane.
| In earlier days Spanish taxation brought
a surplus which Spanish official put into
/ their pockets, thereby causing much
Cuban anger and resentment. The sur
plus obtained during the Palma regime
set the Cubans to quarrelling with each
/ other for its use and distribution In
spite Of unusually heavy expenses during
the last year. payments on account Of
the revolt If 1913 and expenditures for
public works, the Treasury of the island
holds balance of about $4,000 600. The
revenues appear to be at least third
greater than the normal expenditures.
| The present Administration may he
making a better Use Of the surplRs than
did its Cuban and Spanish predecessors,
| but il the island is soon 10 be turned
back to Cuban hands we can leave them
no more dangerous legacy than fi.cal
system yielding huge surplus.
The political condition of the island is
far from encouraging. Zsyists Liberals
and Miguelista Liberals are as far apart
as ever, and there is as yet no we'll or
ganized Conservative opposition to these
wrangling factions. There are indca-
| tions of an important movement in favor
| of General MARIO MENoCAL, who would
] doubtless have strong conservative
following and who would probably draw
a considerable support from the ranks
| of both Zayistas and Miguelstas, par
ticularly in the event of his seeming to
stand a good chance Of election. 1t is
| difficult to forecast the situation, but
even from the present standpoint, after
| fifteen months Of opportunity for the
establishment of political peace, il seems
almost hopeless unless ALFREDO ZAYAs
or JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ, or both. can be
induced to withdraw entirely from the
political arena. Even in that case it is
probable that the scramble for the va
cancies created would bring about con-
ditions not much better than those now
existing.
Whatever the wishes or the plans Of
the American Administration, the trans
fer of the Cuban government is subject
TO the condition laid down by Secretary
TAFT on leaving Havana last April
After reviewing the situation a. he
had found it and outlining his general
plans for elections and American with
drawal Mr. TAFT said:
Tho carrying out Of this plan. Of course Is
strictly dependent on the tranquility Of the eoun-
| try. which must continue through two elections
| and which must give assurance Of the stability OF
! the new Government, because without this the
| United States would not be discharginE the obli-
CATION devOlvinE upon It BY reason Of the inter-
| vention."
II will be noticed that the word must
is twice used in this declaration. The
transfer Of Cuba's government depends
upon the force Of our obligation TO get
out in accordance with conditional
pledges in comparison with our obhga-
tion to continue American control for
the purpose Of maintaining peace and
insuring the safety Of life and property.
The issue is in the hands Of the Cubans
themselves.
Reports Of dandelionS breaking the turf
and howers IN the dooryard blooming per-