The sun., 1909-01-28
Cuba's New Government.

To-day the Cuban Government agar
passes into Cuban hands. The founda.
tion laid by the second intervention il
far stronger than that laid by the first
and the probability of an enduring in.
stitution is correspondingly greater
The hands which now take control are
stronger than those of Cuba's first
President. JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ is nc
more patriotic. no moro honest. than
was ESTRADA PALMA. but he is a man OF
firmer grip, and he has, moreover, tho
decided advantage Of knowing his pco-
pie and OF being known by them.
When Mr.. PALMA landed in Cuba in
May, 1907, he saw his country for the
first time in more than twenty years.
He found new conditions and new mon
ia public life. To somo of these, both
men and conditions, he was an entire
stranger. and with few Of either was he
at all familiar. There is perhaps no
one who knows Cuba and the Cubans
better than docs JOSE MIGUFL GOMEZ,
and there il no man who is better known
by the people of the island He knows
the individual strength and tho individ-
usl weakness of every man in public
life, he knows who is honest and sincere,
and he knows the dishonest and the
crafty. His friends are loyal To him,
and his enemies have "A wholesome fear
Of him. No man who knows him doubts
that in case Of need he will strike, and
strike hard. Guerrilas, insurrectos, ban
dts and other disturbers OF the public
peace, should they plan activities, will
do so with full knowledge that the man
at the head of the Government will if
necessary take the field in person
against them, and that an uprising of
any kind would be widely different
affair from that Of 1895 in both processes
and results.
The special weakness in Cuba's cov-
ernmental system is in the department
of legislation, After a time Of nom
partisan independence Mr.. PALMA def
nitely allied himself with the minority
party His influence with the legis-
lative branch had never been strong,
and his alliance with tho Moderados
brought him into conflict with the
majority in that branch That choked
legislation thatwas greatly needed, and
unlawful efforts TO secure control for
the minority party brought on the dis
order Of 1905. GOMEZ has a large Con-
grcssional majority behind him. and
there is much reason To believe that he
will be able 10 obtaiE from the Congress
a strong support for his policies and
plans. The tendency of Cuban lepis-
lators 10 dispute intermnably over
details Is an unfortunate drawback,
but it will doubtless be modified by
experience, and il may be repressed
by little political discipline" from the
hands of the Executive.
In this country there are many and
in Cuba there ere some prophets of evil
and disaster. If their predictions are
Of insurrection and fighting they are
more than likely 70 be disappointed.
Anything of that kind is exceedingly
improbable. Political wrangles are TO
be expected, and their frequent recur-
renee in our own land should make MS
charitable in our opinion and comment
il they appear in Cuba. Since the pub
lication by THE Sun some weeks ago
of comment on the finances Of the
island there has been an active read
.iustment and regulation. The situa-
ton has been cleared and improved; and
while it may yet be Necessary for the
Government to borrow money to meet
obligations assumed by the Provisional
Government, the general situation is
much less discouraGing than il was.
Economically the outlook is hopeful.
The crops arc promising and prices for
sugar and tobacco are fair. The eco
nomc situation would be helped if the
american Congress in the interest OF
the american consumer, should decide 7
u make some reduction in the tariff on
sugar and tobacco. That a reduction
in tho rate on those commodities can
be made without injury 10 domestic /.
interests is rec ognized and admitted by !,