New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15

Of his hosts. the planters, who live IN terror Of
both sides he will be able to meet these free apd
easy warriors, who hang around the outskirts
Of he estate, taking what is given them, or mora
generally what they need; but. TO do them JUS
tice. their needs are few What they want is
| liberty or d least freedom from oppression, and
this they are determined to have at any price.
The leaders particularly anxious regarding
the attitude Of this country. and express much
surprise and disappointment that after their sue
cesscs steps have been taken by the Admin
stT3tiOn TO inquire into the actual state of al
fairs. They do not seem unreasonable in their
demands: they merely ask that the United States
inquire into The government of the island and. If
such inquiry be conducted in a fair and impartial
manner. that We will. a civilized and enlight-
ened nation refuse ID allow such tyranny 70
exist s. near our shores. Among these peOple an
American whom they know to be sympathetic
IS treated with the utmost courtesy. and receives
the best their frugal store affords-a rather
marked contrast from the brutal. impairment
treatment one receives In and around Havana
The Insurgents are fine body u men. robust
and wen developed. and a glance at them is suli-
Gent 10 SATISFY one as to their abilities rs fight
ers, though perhaps they do convey the inn
preston Of brIgands, with their dark skins flow
ing mustaches. black hair and athletic BEARING
1t has been asserted by the Spanish authorities
mat these insurgents are chiefly negroes and mu-
lattOes, and thar the rebellion has ~ support
among the better classes. Such is not the fact
- Is true that many OF the best class take "A
seemingly neutral stand but under the eSpion-
agc they subjected to it cannot be otherwise
Certainly they give no aid to Spain, and IL is a
fact that by far the greater number of insur-
gents are native Cubans who are neither negroes
nor mullttOcs.
one proof Of the universal tyranny that ex-
lists H. the fact that the right of free speech is al
most denied To the wOrkmen in the great iIa-
Vana cigar factories. / was surprised on visit
Ing one Of these, to hear ceaseless shouting in
a monot onous tone. Upon going into the main
cigar-Iolling room | discovered whence the
sound Issued Seated upon raised platform In
, the middle OF the room was a man reading from
u newspaper reports If the Spanish successes
the papers dare publish nothing else These
same successes, however | happened TO know,
resulted 10 the advantage OF the insurgents. In
another factory there was man reading aloud
what appeared 10 be romance. | asked the
proprietor why these lecturers. as they are called
were employed; he replied ITO keep the men
from talking and went on to explain that when
they talked politics they invariably became ex-
Government supervision. and a strict censor
snip IL maintained. They are not worth the
reading under any consideration.
What is true OF one place is true If another.
and Havana, as the metropolis. is perhaps the
best city b write Of regarding the present state
OF feeling. Here II is next TO impossible To- get
any one u speak freely and unreservedly upon
the subject Of the war and its effects This
however. IL scarcely necessary. the faces OF the
citizens tell the tale-the harassed unsmiling
countenances Of the merchants and their almost
painful eagerness to do business speak more
plainly than any words could II is probable
that there Is no starvation. but OF real misery
and want there Is plenty During my first
weeks stay In Havana | often remarked upon
the fact that had not heard one single laugh
hearty or otherwise. anywhere-not even at the
theatres in the cafes. one may walk for
hours in the Parquc Central listening to the
music. never seeing single smile hearing a
laugh. though huge crowds gather here every
e.rr'nG - IT, theatre for they SIN have two