The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-16
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH IS.

and StrapeS ana thelr Willingness 10 ngnI 1of
the flag. They wanted Northern immigration
to be encouraged and insisted upon it that
there was no intimidation of negro voters in
their State. One of them said the darkies he en-
ployed would do anything he wanted them to
except to vote his way and that they would
not do, for any coaxing. Then our Pennsylva>
MIA friend "gave himself away" he said with
much earnestness that he had 200 men work
ing for him and If one OF them was to cast
Republican ballot he would discharge him in
stantly, and his men knew it! Then 1 turned
to my Florida friends and said, "There, gentle
men, you have specimen of your Northern
political ally. He tells you his method. Now
assure you that there isn't Republican in
our section of the country who would either
wish to or dare to attempt to influence the
votes of his employees. The Republicans be-
lieve and practice the doctrine of perfect free
dom of action in such matters. The fact is,
gentlemen, you are injured deeply by your as
ISOLATION with the Northern Democrats They
betrayed you into rebellion by making you be-
leve our people were all poltroons who would
run at the sound of firearms. They are doing
you mischief now by encouraging the arrogance
and dictatorial spirit of your public men in the
way they truckle to and crouch before them.
You will never have your true measure of
prosperity till you fraternize with the Republi-
can party!" Whereupon one of them did
name Republican he would vote for for Pres
ident If he should be nominated. The discus
sion was lively while it lasted, but perfectly
good-natured. The Pennsylvania, however
took no farther part in it. He appeared to be
conscious that he had been indiscreetly frank.
We woke Wednesday morning in Key West,
having arrived there some hours, believe, be-
fore daylight. There we were detained by the
necessity OF having our passports Uised by the
Spanish consul, and the ship cleared by the
Customs officers. We got through with these
ceremonies at little after and then we re-
sumed our voyage, running across to Havana
80 miles-in something like nine hours.
remained in Havana till the evening of the
9th inst. There are very few Americans there;
in fact, there are not many strangers Of any
nationality in the place. The hotels are not at
all full. The weather is sultry, and visitors
find it entirely easy to accommodate themselves
to the Hayanese custom of abstaning from all
labor and exertion from II a. m. to Up. m.
But that is kind of life one soon tires Of. 1
was heartily glad when embarked for home
on the steamship Saratoga. There's a vessel
for you! She is floating palace indeed! 1t is
worth ones while to go to Havana for the
sake of taking voyage in her. She has all
the accommodations that are to be got in a
first-class hotel, and the table and service are
equally good. We had very luxurious voy-
age of little less than four days. had
young man from Portland for my next neigh
Dor at meal time and sugar merchant of New
York as my Uis-a-Uis We met for the first
time as we sat down to dinner together just as
the Moro was receding from view, but we be-
came friends on the instant and continued so
to the end of the route. 1 think my Portland
friend and myself did some service to the New
Yorker which he will have reason to thank us
for for all time to come. He developed, early
on the voyage propensity to perpetrate puns,
and prescribed a remedy which 1 have never
known to fail. It is very simple, consisting
merely of mentioning the name of a citizen of
Portland who was at one time so afflicted with
this malady that he could hardly utter a SEN
tence without introducing into it some play
upon words. don't know whether he has
ever recovered but his name has been effec-
lively used to bear healing to other sufferers.
But have made longer story than meant
20, and must stop. Suffice it to say that we
had an agreeable trip home, arriving at p. m.
on the 10th inst. I can conscientiously advise
anybody who gets as far South j Florida to
extend the journey to Cuba. 1t makes love-
ly excursion. 1t will be advisable for any one
taking this tour to procure passport from the
State Department before starting had no
thought of going that way when set out from
here, so did not provide myself with creden-
tials. got along pretty well without them,
but the safest way is to guard against all con-
tingencies by procuring certificate of citizen
ship before leaving America. The Spaniards
are the only people know of who continue
the passport system. At any rate, all the first
class European nations dispense with it, but
they are decidedly scrutinizing at Havana and
considerable expense and trouble have to be
incurred to comply with their requirements.
The worst of it is they demand gold of foreign
ers for admitting them to their land, while
their own people deal in paper money at 40
cents on dollar. Oh! I was more thankful
than ever while was handling those depreci-
ated and dirty rags which the Cubans call
money, that our own Republic had been res
cued from the shame of deprecated currency
YARMOUTH.