The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-19
The Labor Question In Cuba.

Inc natural and exotic evils in Cuba
serlo us enough of themselves, are further
complicated by the reorganization of
labor systems following the emancipa-
ton OF the slaves. After next wear all
slaves over forty years old will be free,
anu by 1870, under the sliding scale of
emancipation adopted, there will be no
more slavery on the island. Ten wears
Emancipation began three years ago
Is pretty short time for revolutionizinp
the labor system of a country so Ian.
gtnd and infleXible as Cuba and the
planters fear most disastrous results.
MOST OF them defend the old slave reci-
me, asserting that its evils were greatly
moalhed by the legal checks on whip
ping, which any slave with ambition
could, by working extra hours, pur-
onase his freedom. They look forward
with well-founded apprehension to the
Time when most degraded class of ne
gro laborers will be- set loose on an
island where tropical sun and abund-
ant fruit give the whercwithal of sub
slstence almost without toll. On the
subject of Chinese laborers, of whom
one sees an amazing number on the
island, the opinions of planters are di-
Vlued. Some planters praise the thrift
and ind ustry of the coolies; others de-
clare them slow, weak and inefficient.
Inc truth seems to be that while the
Chlnaman in Cuba is a steady toiler he
is so physically feeble as to be no match
for the negro slave. AS for white labor
lvls out of the question under the torrid
sun beating down for eight months in the
year like celestial trip-hammer. Even
now, lat the edge of winter, the touristfeels
that strange morbid languor which
seems the necessary curse of tropical
races. Was it not Emerson who said
that the goddess of civic liberty had
been carved out of snow and ice? The
mind, at any rate, constantly reverts to
the metaphor when it contemplates that
long category of civic and economic
evils which infest Cuba in common with
so many other countries of the hot zone.
The climate or some remoter cause
inflicts its spell on both Cuban physique
and character. There are some fine
specimens of manhood among the
planter and professional classes, and
not few, who have been educated
abroad, are most courteous, hospitable
and cultivated men, with something Of
the old Castilian sense of honor. But
they are physical and mental exceptions
to the ordinary Cuban, who is thin
flanked, low of stature, hungry-faced,
and seemingly the victim of perpetual
jaundice. How far his inveterate smok-
ing breeds his low physique is peril
nent question. The speculative passion
is most inordinately developed among
all Cuban classes, and the ticket of the
Havana lottery is one of the most pal.
pable of its signs. These tickets, sub.
divided into twentieths, worth two
dollars each, so as to be within reach OF
the poor, are ubiquitous throughout
Cuba. Every small dealer, huckster,
boot-black, has them on sale for small
commission, and everybody buys them.
The Government, with its fortnightly
drawings, makes, it is said, twenty pei
cent. on all sales; but the baleful effects
of the institution on the character of the
people seems never to have fallen with
in Governmental purview.-Cor. NJ Y
Post.