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THE CUBA R E VI EW 



THE PRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Let it be said that in 1899 the Cubans were 

 in favor of annexation — all except the poli- 

 ticians ; the people of the United States also 

 were in favor of annexation — all ex- 

 cept the politicians. How much bet- 

 ter all around had it been accomplished 

 in spite of the politicians. We an- 

 nexed the Hawaiian group and ac- 

 cepted the Philippines. We dickered 

 But at Cuba, the one bit of insular terri- 

 tory, which from its position would have 

 been easy to defend, and from its pro- 

 ductions would have been really valu- 

 able to us, we balked. Politics aside and 

 talking only sense, can anybody tell 

 w'hy? — Washington Post. 



The budget of 1906-07, as framed by the 

 Cuban Congress, was $21,728,396. The bud- 

 get for 1907-08 was $23,309,539; that for 

 1908-09 was $24,285,203. If Cuba is in dan- 

 ger of a deficit of $12,000,000 for the next 

 fiscal year, supposing the receipts to be about 

 the same as those for 1908-09, this means 

 that the expenditure side of her budget is to 

 be increased by more than half. We are 

 loath to believe that this is true, and trust 

 that the inference is not justified. Still, if it 

 should be true, conclusions must not be 

 drawn too hastily. Cuba is entering upon 

 a new order, and the initial expense may not 

 unreasonably be something out of the ordi- 

 nary. There is at least the possibility that 

 the increased expenditure comes as a demon- 

 stration that the upbuilding work of our pro- 

 visional occupation was much more fruitful 

 and beneficial than we have yet realized. — 

 New York Globe. 



It is seemingly inevitable that there will 

 be a deficit of $12,000,000 in the Cuban bud- 

 get consequent upon the recruiting for the 

 army and the huge increase in the public 

 service, some of the departments more than 

 doubling their expenses. — Brooklyn Times. 



Without speaking disparagingly of Cuba, 

 we take it that the debates in its parliamen- 

 tary body over the bills to establish a na- 

 tional lottery and to restore the noble sport 

 of cock-fighting, may be accepted as a noti- 

 fication that it is not bent on annexation to 

 this highly moral country just yet. — Brooklyn 

 Citizen. 



After the re-establishment of bull-fighting, 

 a national lottery and kindred pastimes, Cuba 

 may, says the Springfield (Mass.) Union, 

 find time to consider plans relative to the 

 development of the island's rich agricultural 

 and commercial resources. 



of office; that in order to carry the 

 election for the present administration of 

 the island, three or four times as many prom- 

 ises to give offices and employment were 

 made than the needs of the service justified; 

 and the consequence is that the public posi- 

 tions are crowded far beyond their needs ; 

 that there are three or four men employed 

 where one is necessary. — Columbus (O.) 

 State Journal. 



Inefficient Administration in Cuba. 



The New Orleans Picayune seems to think 

 that predictions made when the Gomez ad- 

 ministration was inaugurated that inefficient 

 and objectionable men would be placed in 

 office, and the efficient incumbents of the 

 offices turned out to make room for the new 

 men are fast being realized. It says the 

 Havana police force has been disorganized 

 by the dismissal of old and tried officials 

 and the substituting of new and utterly un- 

 tried men as rewards for political services. 

 It says that the amnesty law "turned loose 

 many notorious criminals and bad charac- 

 ters from the jails. These people, with a 

 new and inexperienced police to deal with 

 have inaugurated an epidemic of crime in 

 the Cuban capital which is fast bringing that 

 heretofore well-policed city into unenviable 

 repute." 



One of the acts of the new administration 

 which is to be commended is the organiza- 

 tion of what is to be known as the standing 

 army, as distinct from the rural guard. Good 

 progress has been made in recruiting this 

 force, but the mistake is being made of ap- 

 pointing officers for political reasons and in 

 payment of political debts, and not because 

 of special fitness. As no military force can 

 be efficient without good officers, the mistake 

 of making purely political appointments in 

 Cuba is certain to result in the so-called 

 standing army proving a broken reed to lean 

 upon in the event of an emergency requiring 

 its services. 



It is said that the existence of the 

 Cuban republic depends upon the spoils 



In case of embarrassment Cuba will look 

 to us. The could not without our assist- 

 ance sustain herself against a foreign 

 power. She would receive our assistance 

 promptly, because we could not permit a 

 foreigner to possess the country. She 

 would look to us even as against the un- 

 controllable disorder of her own people. 

 She understands this, and has agreed to it. 

 The Cuban republic means this reliance 

 upon the United States in time of trouble 

 and this deference to the United States in 

 all matters specified. We are more than 

 Cuba's ally. By her own consent, we are 

 her protector. She is safe as against in- 

 vasion. — Washington (D. C.) Star. 



