Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-17
CUBA'S STRUGGLE
Insurgents Not All Negroes, Nor a
Great Percentage Of Them.
GENERAL MACEO As a COMMANDER
He viii Probably Be President Of
the Republic.
Z H S P A ISL ARMY

Il IL r. > L A n L > IL A IL M
At the beginning of the present struggle
in Cuba SPANS emissaries in this country
characterized the movement as IAN uprs-
ing of few negroes" Now that the few
have reached the total of about GO, 600
those same harpers against freedom hold
up their hands in horror and cry: IF the
Cubans win it will mean negro domination
in the island-it will mean another San:o
Domingo"
While the Constitution of the United
States knows no difference of race, color
or creed, and while to a very great extent
the black man is in this country on par
with the white man, the cries of negro
domination" and another Santo Domingo
have unquestonably had some weight in
known to the American people generally as
is Madagascar and We are apt to give Gre
dence to statements of the kind referred to
without endeavoring to ascertain whether
there be grounds for them or not.
Approximately, the population of Cuba is
one and half millions. TWo-thirds are
white and one-third colored. The proper
ton of negroes is less than in many of our
southern states.
That the uprising was not brought about
by the blacks is shown by the fact that
Santiago de Cuba and Puerto Principe
provinces, where the spirit of rebellion has
been, and still is, most universal, contain
the smallest per cent Of colored inhabi-
tants; and again, Havana province, where
the negroes are most numerous, in point Of
numbers, as well as in proportion to the
white population, has not, generally speak
ing, risen in revolt. This latter fact is
perhaps, due to the very large Spanish
force garrisoning the city of Havana, as
well as the many little cities and villages
near at hand. However, it remains that
the province of Santiago de Cuba, with the
smallest per cent of colored population
was the first in the ter years war; as well
as in the present struggle, to take up arms
against the government.
Negroes in the Cuban Army.
1 have been often asked regarding the
proportion of negroes in the Cuban army.
1t was the general impression three
months ago that a vast majority of the
rebels were colored. This is erroneous
The Cuban forces are about equally made
up of whites and blacks. If the propor-
ton is in favor of either one I am inclined
to believe it is with the former. AS to the
officers, nine out of ten are white; even
with Gen. Maceo's army, which is largely
made up Of negroes.
Enemies of the Cuban cause have pointed
TO Gen. Macec and exclaimed: There is the
leader of your movement. He is a negro.
and in the event of your success he will
demand as reward for his services the pres
idency of the republic"
Gen. Maceo Is not negro. He is not a
&C
True, he has negro and Indian blood in his
veins, but his father was a full-blooded and
proud Castilian. He was born in Cuba.
and while he has not the acouired ta1.,ts
and culture of President Cisneros or Naxi-
mo Gomez, he is 4 man of sterling intellect
-haturally bright, gifted and brave
IhoIsh giant almost in physique he is
sentie OF speech and quiet of demeanor.
After coDversing with him and notinp mic
unostentatious manner, YOU can scaIonr-,
peEeVe that he is the man whose dar;n1
tlarches and charges against superior
forces nave called forth words of praise
even from Spanish officers themselves
Gen. Maceo is a Spanish SCHOLAR ,,a
ieaus ana writes French we'll His English
IS NOT as good as it might be, but he savs
s ne NH master the language in time, as ne
II whenever opportunity allows
Mmcc"'s Future.
"hen Cuban independence is achieved T
90 not think it will be necessary for No
Geo 10 demand as reward for his services
the presidency of the republic" He will
oe gwen the honor and place, unless MAY
iiio "ohez alters his own mind and de-
cues 10 take 1t himself But the latter's
lucas are most unseifish, and the chief am
oi'ion OF his life is to see Cuba free. He
wants &c De the Washington of Cuba with
out the presidential attachment.
one must not helieva Tho. -,
Maceo Is gentle in speech and manner
ne Is not IN every sense Of the word com
fnander OF th2 army under him. He en-
ie r rs ne strIctest discipline, and his force
Is not feared by the people anywhere
throughout Cuba. He determined lone
since that his army should be. a worthy er'
ample IN this respect, and it would in
deed be well for the Spanish generals ,rbo
boast chivalry and honor, to enforce hio
methods upon their officers and men.
1t would appear from a careful study of
Cen Maceo and his army that negro DON'T
nation in Cuba might be a great bIass;nr,
Judging from the events of the MAST faT,
months, 1t certainly would not mean ont
rage, pillage and score of excuses thar
nave been practiced by the Spanish troops.
encouraged by their officers In casaS
too numerous to recall separately Snanisb
officers have ordered the killing of fathers
husbands and brothers in order that sic
ters, wives and daughters might be out
ragged with impunity. They-the officers
led in such acts of rapine and debauchery
and We fail 20 find an instance of punish
ment administered by their superiors in
command.
On the contrary, have both Gomez and
Maceo summarily dealt with offenders in
their own ranks, until there is no longer
any danger from that source.
Is it any wonder, then, that the inhab-
itants of the interior of Cuba-the country
districts-are heart and soul with the
rebel movement? Is it any wonder that
whole families of boys have followed their
fathers into the insurgent ranks to fight
against such an enemy? Is it any wonder
that the rebel troops are cheered and vel
coined on every hand, that they are will
ingly given food, clothing and information
wherever they go, and that in their des-
perate and almost unarmed state they have
driven back from point to point the pollu-
tiers of Cuban soil?
Spain Has Been Mistaken.
Spain has been mistaken in her ideas of
the Cubans. Her army was given free lee
way that it might drive fear into the
heart of the patriotic islander and make
him forsake the cause of liberty to save
his family and his honor. But the despot
has counted wrongly. The Cuban has
buckled on his armor more tightly. He
sees the oppressor turned into a human
VI ha IN hi,