The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-13
.UNVRITTEN HISTORY
New Light Thrown on the
Cuban Situation.
CHICAGO cueANs TELL A STORY
Press Reports Said to be Unreliable
Because of Spanish Interference
Intense Jealousy Prevails.

There are many Cubans and Spaniard
in Chicago, not a few of whom are Of un
doubted Mediterranean whose opir
ions on the Cuban revolution are of grea
value, in that they supplement- the vary
| ing and necessarily unreliable report
which come from the belligerent country
A reporter of the Tribune made
canvass of the leading Cuoans and Span
iards in that city the other day, with
view to ascertaining the local feelin
| toward the revolution, and to construct
| ing an account of the Spanish trouble
| in Cuba, quite independent from pres
reports-in other words, to secure NOR
! testimony and less opinion regarding tn
| revolution.
| AS a RUE the local Cubans and Span
isrds are well informed as to the gen
eral situation. The large majority o
them are cigar manufacturers who an
nually visit the Island of Cuba, ant
| there purchase their material. Some o
them own and others control plantation
in Cuba, and If for no other reason ar
| forced into the arena by pure business in
terests. With a few exceptions the Gu
bans and Spaniards interviewed refused
absolutely to allow their names to g.
into print.
ut is like this" said prominent Gu
ban and cigar manufacturer in respons
to a question put him. "Most of us ar
engaged in the cigar and tobacco busi
ness. AT some time during the year
either personally or by representative
we are obliged to go to Cuba to purchas
our material The Spanish minister a
| Washington watches the newspapers lik
cat, and has agents, or at least th
Spanish government has agents, through
out the country trying to prevent an!
uprising in this country favoring the in
surgents. The report of anything
might say for publication would be clipp
ed and forwarded to Cuba, and 1 SHOULD
expect nothing on my next visit to Gu
ba than assassination. If you want my
idea of the Cuban situation l can only
say this: The Cubans, and Spaniards a!
we'll are suspicious to the last degree
Cuba is the most corrupt country in tht
world, and jealousy is no name for thu
ferment which gives the whole populd
tion a feeling of awfulH uncertainty. One
of the strange things to me Is the fac
that while many Cubans and Spaniard!
are men of great ability, as soon as they
get into power they lose their heads ant
plunge at once into iniquity. If Cuba
only had a man at its head like Glad
stone this trouble might have been avoid
ed, but now it is on to stay
Another Cuban cigar manufacturer
when asked his opinion of the revolution
replied: "Oh, no; you can get all you
want from the newspapers" and that
was all he would say until he was as
sured that his name would not be print
ed with the interview. Then continuing,
he said "The newspapers are all
wrong. 1 know enough about that coun-
try to know that even a pretense at
exactness is out of the question. The
Spanish government has control of ev-
erythng. 1 do not believe a word goes
out of Cuba that is not tainted with
Spanish touches The wealthy and more
intelligent classes in Cuba side with the
republic. Martinos Campos is, I believe,
an able man in many respects and
think Is entitled to more credit than he
receives, but he is fairly detested by
the rank and file of the Cubans. If Gu
ba were free there would be an ever
lasting row between the Cubans and ne
groes of which there are a large num-
ber, over the distribution of patronage
Few people realize how powerful ant
dangerous the Cuban negro is. He car
whip three white men and is possessed q
wonderful endurance"
What do you think the attitude o.
the insurgents toward the United States
to be?"
"Friendly, in some respects. The Gu
ban revolutionists, of course, appreciate
the sympathy of the United States, bu
the conflict once ended in their favo
| 1A1 IN 10 TNf w
that friendldness wifi cease. The Cuban
never lose sight of Mexico, and refe
constantly to the manner in which Mex
leo was treated and part of its territor!
absorbed ,by the United States. L
Cuba is by some hook or crook annexed
to the United States, the country viii
be overrun, and Cuba, as such, will b'
lost forever"
Still another tobacco dealer said
1.-The whole foundation of Cuba is rot
ten. Deceit seems to be in the com
position of the Cuban. This, of course
is the result of his education and treat
ment by the Spanish government. Snug
Cling Is not the exception but the rule
in Cuba, and corruption is a fine art.
"The Spaniards and Cubans in Chicago
are brothers. Such thing as interna-
tional animosity is unknown here. 1t is
tion from Cuba, and even If there were
a chance for dispute we have no infor-
nation to draw upon, for anybody who
knows Cuban conditions knows the press
reports are untrue"
Francisco Montoya is a Cuban and a
member of the firm of Alvaraz, Surez &
Co. Speaking Of the revolution he said:
"I am decidedly in sympathy with the in
surgents. and believe their struggle Is
Just. The great majority of the people
there are for independence The educated
people are not, as has been claimed,
in sympathy with the Spanish. They are
openly for Cuban autonomy. The Office
holders of course. side with the govern
ment The manner in which the Cubans
were treated in the revolution OF 1865 "a
and the perfidy of the Spanish govern
ment during that period will not soon be
forgotten by the Cubans. AS a matter
of fact, the Cubans have no faith IN
anything the officials say. These Off
cials are creditors of Spanish politics,
and are in the business for revenue
on.y."
what do you think Of Martinos Cam
pos and Gen. Gomez?'
Well, the former is Cuban and very
intelligent man. Gomez is also an able
man, ana Is III tie Sli u6SiC ~ eiiS NoNe
do you think the Cubans are capable
of sef-government?'
"Well, I don't know; they can try 1t.
1t would seem that most any condition
would be preferable to the present ore.
Cuban self-rule is far better than Span
ish mis-rule. Freedom itself has an
educative effect"
Ricardo Vidal, another cigar manufac-
turer, whose wife lived in Puerto Prin-
cipe. and Alfredo Rufno. his business
partner, were next interviewed Both
men agreed in thir views on the sltiI-
tion. Senior Vidal. acting as spokesman,
was reported as follows by Senor Cas-
tro, the Tribunes Interpreter:
There is one thing. and one thing only
hich prevents the insurrectionlsts from
capturing Puerto Principe. nov fortified
BY the Spanish troops-that is The fear
that the Spcniards would slaughter their
wives and babies. But the victory will
he -ours In time Another thing which