The sun., 1896-06-23
GEN. LEES REPORTON CUBA
CoLLEcTOR RYAN LEFT THE CONSUL
HARD AT WORK ON IT.

"
The Collector says the Cubans Are Hot Tor
Annexation-A Document Laid Before
Our ConsuI-Gsnernl 60 Show that In.
dependence OF Spain Is tho Ouly Hope.
William Ryan, Collector OF Internal Revenue
FOR the Eastern District of Virginia who
has been visiting friends In Cuba, arrived yea
terday from Havana on the Ward line steam
ship SumurL Consul General Fitzhugh Lee
accompanied Mr.. Ryan from Havana to the
steamboats, side IN q special tug. and they had
long talk before parting. Mr.. Ryan did not
get acclimatizntion papers from the Health
oficer at Havana simply because ho wasn't
acclimated. and SO on his arrival here he was
sent to Hoffman Island. Mr.. Ryan will be al
lowed to come up this morning, and, 1t 10 said,
will go Immediately to Washington
Mr. Ryan says the Cubans are more clamorous
than ever for annexation to tho United states
and that while q few representative men of
the island express some doubt as to the poss-
bility Of annexation. the great majority
regard IL as practicable and desirable
for both the United states and Cuba as the one
solution OF the situation. Sooner or later. the
Cubans say, annexation must surely be accom-
plished The members OF the Autonomist party
no longer discuss autonomy or homo rule under
the Spanieh flag. They seem to be the chief
agitators for American annexation. Mr.. Ryan
says that hostilities between tho Spanish
and insurgent troops will be pretty we'll sus-
pended until after the rainy season. The insur-
gents, he says. expect the yellow fever to play
great havoc with tho unacclimated Spanish
troops in tho next two months.
Mr. Ryan said he left Gen. Lee in excellent
health and spirits and very busy: that Gen.
Lee making thorough and impartial
study OF the situation, and that he was Just
now at work on report to the state Department.
Being thorough soldier and man Of affairs.
Cen Lee was admirably adapted for the DIM
cult task which he had undertaken. Gen. Lee,
he said. exceedingly popular. both the
Spanish officials and tho Cubans showing him
the utmost respect and consideration. He had
received many invitations to dine out but.
owing to pressing Official duties, he had de-
clined most of them.
"wiI Gen. Lees report lean to the Cuban or
Spanish side ?" asked the United Press repre-
sentative.
when his report is completed and sent to
Washington" replied Mr.. Ryan. "it will be
full of important Information and will be
valuable State paper. That may be taken for
granted"
As to the bias of Gen. Lees report, Mr.. Ryan
could not say.
"will Gen. Lee remain at his post all summer,
or will he return home on a leave of absence ?"
was asked.
He expects to remain in Havana throughout
the summer" said Mr.. Ryan.
A document has been submitted to Gen. Lee in
Havana, copies Of which have reached this coun-
try. The document Is not signed for reasons
which are explained in II: but the most prom
inent Cubans in the capital are said to have sig
nihed verbally that 1t set forth their views on
tho state Of Cuba. and to have been Joined in
this assent by Spaniards equally prominent.
The document 10 addressed 10 the Consul. Gen
eral Of the United States Extracts from 1t fol-
low:
STR: We do not know it we ara mistaken,
but We believe that the Government Of the ma
ton whose representative you are in this the
most critical moment of our history. when our
destiny is to be decided, has an interest in know
ing the opinion. which cannot be openly mani
tested. of the men wi ho are the most select Of
this country. OF the men who stand hrst in their
respective classes. We are confronting very
dlthcult problem one which cannot be discussed
publicly: and whoever living in cuba might
dare to give his vote against Spain would un-
doubtedly suffer in person and propertY.
Not every body has or can have the cour-
age to face Spanish prosecutions. Those
VINO have . family depending upon them
cannot venture emigration or go TO the
field Of battle. lest they should condemn those
they love TO misery and starvation. Compelled
to decide between family and country. they
would perhaps choose the first but they cannot
remain deaf TO the summons of their country,
and consequently are by tho side OF thqie VIC to
not speak because they are nuzzled: but he
who might look into their thoughts would tnd
no difference between them and the comha-
tants This Is q fact. though denied by the
spanish representative and BY those who favor
Spain's sovereignty over the island.
The Spanish Government makes all kinds Of
efforts to prove that the rebellion Is supported
iation: that it is OF a Socialist and Anarchist
character. They speak OF bandits and kidnap-
pers and seem to forget that with US the pro-
test against Injustice has often taken the
shape OF brigandage. They conceal the fact
thrown he Mi into that Kind OF life BY the unjust
desnGs of Az Vsao And the rs hse
~ pefbs tbeir p' own long strassle for ndependence
They also claim that the insurgent army
consists chiefly Il not com plesy OF negroes and
make large part Of our working population,
the army should be recruited from them; for
everywh here the army is taken from the populous
we shall prove with facts, moi, with words,
that the cultured and we'll l-to-do classes are in
FAVOR of the revolution, and determined to do
anything rather than consent to let this war
"Ths rich were at first opposed to the move.
ment Spanish rule was bad they sal said st put
thought there WIS no probability Of trium ph
and the revolution once crushed spain would
e csnss there here was M any fssIins in favor Of spain
but for fear of what might come the revolution
sEs M S
tunes are bound up with those Of ih.e Ihe
from our oppressors should they. conquer.
besides this, we have the firm conviction that
nothing would he more disastrous for our inter
ests than the continuation OF Spanish rule in
Cuba. According to their own calculations, me
war is to last two years more. and at the rate 1t
goes on the Cuban debt win then exceed s4oo:-
900 600. the interest OF which at u per cent:
would be S24, 900 900 a year. If In time OF
peace the islands revenues amounted to little
over roo 600 900, IL 10 nonsense to suppose she
will be allie to support heavier taxes. when the
war Is over with the country all or nearly all In
The system adopted by the insurgents is
surely cruel and unjust when they destroy a our
adopted also by the citizens e sydsn sgS9hss h
devastation OF their country to submission to
Spanish tyranny and ,hsm, by m,s1rss breaking the the
OF over 100000, 600 forins. The revooutionists
know that should Spain conquer there VIII
he no money To rebuild our country; for nobody
will be willing to risk his money In a country
where a revolution is supposed to 10 always
cd, In rlaH.