Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-16
CUBANs WANT A CHANGE.
A Large Glass of the Best Citizens Favor
Annexation.

A Large Class of the Best Citizens Favor
Annexation.
VIEWS OF AN AMERICAN WHO RECENTLY SPENT
SEVERAL WEEKS on TEE ISLAND on A Gov
KRSxEST aIssIoS-rHE QUEEN THE An
TITLES NAY YET HAVE A STAR ON THE FLAG
The publication Of the story in New York
paper the other day, which was reprinted in
TIE STAR, to the effect that there was an effort
on foot on the part of Spain to feel the pulse of
the United States with regard to the possible
purchase of the island of Cuba, has set any
number of tongues wagging upon this subject
which has several times been one OF the lead
ing topics of interest with the political leaders
Of this country. STAR reporter had long
and interesting chat yesterday with gentle
man who recently spent several weeks in Cuba
on a government mission and whose opportuni-
ties for observing the attitude of the people at
large upon this topic were excellent.
THE PROPOSED SALE OF CUBA NOT A STORY TO
BE LAUGHED AT.
II should not laugh too much at this story"
referring TO the New York dispatch, IF l we're
you. for, although l do not think that anyone
really came to this country with any such pow
ers as the gentlemen spoken of in the dispatch
seemed to be vested with. L nevertheless be-
an honorable disposal of the island to the
United States. That is. / think that Spain sees
that she must do something with this piece
of property while it is yet worth some
thing, and it is certainly worth good
deal to the United States. Just soon
as Spain sees an opening in the American
market for her real estate she is going to
make diplomatic overtures for its sale. No one
can tell what she would ask. or what the United
States would be willing to give. There is GER
talQlV a vast amount of yaine the island
which has never been brought out fully by the
application of capital There is n very large
class of the very best citizens Of Cuba who are
ANXIOUS FOR ANNEXATION.
"These are generally called the peninsulares
from their having been born on the Spanish
peninsula. They are by far the best class of
citizens Of which Cuba can boast but this con-
dItion lasts only as long as they are native-born
Spauiards. Those of Cuban birth, even of the
second generation. are far inferior. and az their
Spanish birth gets farther and farther away
they become more and more worthless. until
they get to be the veritable Cuban-lazy hot
headed, illogical. improvident, unenterprising
This latter class comprises all who are earn
estiy anxious for autonomy or absolute indie
pendence. 1t is from this class that the revo-
lutiOnists come. and il is this class that gives
Spain most trouble in the government of the
island. The others, the peninsulares. are
about one-third of the whites who are alto
gether about eleven or twelve hundred thousand
IN NUMBER. 1nere are really out
THREE POLITICAL CLASSES IN CUBA,
those l have just mentioned and the office
holding party, which is very small but quite
powerful. As they draw their sustenance from
spain they are of course anxious for a contnu-
ance OF the present condition of affairs. and
their influence Is all that has kept Cuba in a
colonial state so long. There are but few
thousand in number at the most. II is not to
be doubted that if the question we're put to a
vote of the people the island would soon be
sold to the United States. The peninsulares
you see, are enterprising people. mostly small
merchants and IN some cases farmers, who
have come TO Cuba for the purpose of making
money to take back with them to Spain on
which TO live out their old age. If they can
accumulate thousand dollars or so to take
with them back to their old homes they will
be nabObs in the poyerty-s.riken land from
which they emigrated- They see that Cuba is
not being developed as her resources warrant
and that If affairs were In the hands of the
United States she
WOULD BE FAR MORE PROSPEROUS
''They have just enough common sense TO per-
ceive the great advantage which American
capital has over that of Spain. not only in
amount but also in the manner of application,
and there have been just enough instances
there of American success TO encourage them
TO look anxiousiy to this country to make their
small investments good and profitable. In this
attitude they are quite as mercenary as the
Office holders IN theirs. The other whites the
native-born Cubans, are willing enough to Join
forces with any one to antagonize SPAIN
although they have had quite a suffciency of
revolutions and their evil effects.
CUBAN NEWSPAPERS OUTsPoKEN FOR ANNEXATION
There is, of course, strict censorship exer-
cised over all the writings of the newspapers
but many are o1tspoken in their advocacy of
annexation, which they do not hesitate to pro-
nounce the only thing that will save Cuba from
hnsT LOTT H.. "a a
value of the island 1t is very rich ia minerals
which are now being worked for the first time
in a profitable way. At Santiago de Cuba a
very rich mine of the best Bessemer iron has
just been opened up by means of New York
capital and there are innumerable instances Of
good investments being made in Cuban estates
TAXED TO DEATH.
Zone Of the great causes Of discomfort among
the white class is the heavy tax under which
everybody labors. 1t would verify seem as
though everything in sight was taxed Spain
has adopted the farming system, and so there
Is an infinite variety of sources from which
one may at any moment receive an unexpected
visit from tax collector. have seen these
fellows stop man who was wheeling a wheel
barrow across street and drag HIM off to pay
his tax. which must be paid or the poor fellow
goes to prison Should you hang picture in
you office or house a man might walk in at any
time and paste scent stamp upon it and col
lect the damage from you. This of course
has good deal to do with the discomfort, and
II 1t Is carried much farther, and there is no
relief from the United States. should not be
surprised to see trouble there"
CHEAP Excursions TO ATLANTIC CRY VIA
THE II. AND O.-On Friday of each week dur
ing June. July and August the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad will sell excursion tickets to At
Entc City, good going on train leaving BaIti-
more and Ohio depot at IL o'clock noon and
good to return on any regular train to and in
Guiding the following Tuesday ut rate Of $500
for the round trip. The Baltimore and Ohio
and Readlng railroads form the only donhIe