The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-28

By FREDERIC
To-day. in Havana. Gen. Jose Miguel
Gomez assumes the responsibility OF the
Presidency OF the Republic Of Cuba and
for the second time, the United States
withdraws its protecting and directing
genius from the administration Of govern
mental affairs in the Pearl Of the Antilles
The inauguration has been planned on d
splendid scale Havana is in the gayest
Of moods. and everybody today is max
ing merry-nor is there one 10 heed the
rumble Of the distant drum" The Presi-
dent-eiect Of the United States IS there
TO witness the end or the American inter-
vention which he instituted Many other
distinguished Americans are there, and
practically every distinguished Cuban. q
whatever political faith. has some part
in the ceremonies
cuba begins to-day its second expert
nent in self-government as an indie
pendent nation. It knows that The
United States is standing ready 10 come
10 Cuba third time if the new govern
lnent does not succeed in maintaining
its authority. Cuba knows that the re-
public is an experiment No people has
ever possessed 2 greater ambition fer an
independent national career than the
people Of Cuba. Yet on every hand
there is questioning and doubt To-day
there is rejoicing and merTy-rnaking, but
tomorrow there viii De problems 10
solve.
Persons who predict the future Of Cuba
are divided into TWO classes OF pessimists
those who declare that the republic
viii fan and the island win be taken By
Ire United States. and those who de-
clare that the republic VIII live and the
island viii be taken by the negroes The
optimists, the Cubans themselves, DO not
predict. They assume that the second
experiment is already success
Almost everybody. American or Cuban,
agrees that a successful government IN
Cuba would be better for the Cubans
themselves. better for the United states
and better for the world. Cuba Is large
enough in territory, il has the richest
soil Of any country on the globe. and Il
will nave the population i peaceful
established. No disinteTested person
Gnds any fault with the Cubans for the
ambitions, and almost everybody wishes
them success.
Yet the question everybody asks II
Havana is this: How long VIII it be
before the Americans are back in charge
Of things heregr And the reply Is IN
v5riably acquiescent- the time being set
az anywhere from six weeks 20 four
years Rarely does anybody put on the
next clash beyond four years, the period
Of the next Presidential election.
Gen. Gomez has a knotty problem 20
solve. If he can divide the public Offices
50 that the two factions OF his party
viii be reasonably well satisfied. and so
that he can depend upon The backing OF
lis own party in Congress. he viii have
Tie battle half won That win assure
the peace Of the country for at least
three and a half years The Conserva-
tives viii not go into revolt under any
ordinary circumstances. nor under any
p-ovocation which would not OF itself
bring about American Intervention
IL. after three and a half years, Gen.
goulez viii be strong enough 10 subor-
,nate MS own interests and vanity 10
re good Of the country, If he vii per
nit the elections 10 be held without inter
.c-ence and without intimidation, then
re other half OF the battle win be won
t-cmez and his party probably viii be
qted out Of Office. But II Gomez VII
-bmit TO that political defeat peaceabIy
o viii have given the Cubaus their frs
M greatest lesson in the vital principle
e- repuhlics-submissiOn 10 the VIII OF
-ae majority
Then there are dangerous reefs ahead
or which Cen Gomez must keep
rarD lookout Immense corporation.
ave vital interests in Cuba and they
1ow how 20 play upon the mercurla
-e-nper Of the people. as wei as how
80 take advantage Of the cGpidity o.
aders. If the Cuban republic shsl
nend one Of these great corporations
ealing in sugar. or tobacco or iron OFT
then the government must be prepared
for dissensions fomented by the use O.
money.
Men who have lived in cuba for year
90 nos hesitate 10 say that Cuba VIII b
annexed TO the United States just as sOol
IS the big corporations desire It. No
that the trusts could control -sentimeD
in the United States but that they ear
cause 50 much trouble in Cuba that tn
americans would be forced TO take tn
island to keep the peace.
tits a fact that nine-tenths Of the bust
ness men OF Cuba hope for annexation
The business men are nearly all Span
iards. or other foreigners They hsv
but little faith in the ability of IN
Cubans to maintain a strong government
and they. declare that the United state
might as well take Cuba outright as L
maintain the system Of suzerainty nos
in force. Not only do they hope 70
annexation. but they believe that it
absolutely inevitable
Many Cubans of the higher classe
also believe that annexation is the Uiti
mate fate Of their island. Most Of Their
regret II, but they are convinced tia
the experiment Of national seif-gOveru
msnt will be a failure They would no
be willing 10 surrender their control O
local affairs. but they believe that unto
with America may be affected under sue
conditions as would guarantee local self
government and ar the same time cbviat
the dangers Of national disturbances
The Cubans as q people are filed Wit
ambition for a successful national career
They wish 70 keep their h8rd-earne
freedom and 10 stand before the w0rI
as an independent nation Yet while the
al agree in this ambition. no leader O
i-set OF leaders viii subordinate persona
ambition for Official honor and publ
salary 10 the needs Of national peace.
The Cubans have had absolutely n
training or traditions to # them for