The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-10
ON THE WAR.
VIEWS Or A SUGAR PLANTER AS Ex-
PRESSED TO MR. CALHOUN.

PRESSED TO MR.. CALHOUN.
us Thinks tho Insurgents Are In Error
and Propbesies That spain VIII Win.
States That Those Who Never Worked
Started the Insurrsctiop.
The landed proprietor In Cuba II the
sugar planter. His estate is bnroninl In Its
extent and he himself has some Of tho at
tributes Of the old fcudal barons of Europe.
He is not able to have his flefs, but on his
own demesne he exercises an independent
sovereignty. He has been the greatest
sufferer by tho war. When he tells you,
&C happens In some cases, that he II able
70 grind tho cane, politeness forbids your
asking how he comes to be no fortunate,
with destruction all around him. Suoh
question would be an objectionable breach
of etiquette. You simply assume that he
has influence enough to buy protection
from both sides.
One of these planters, whose estate n 10
miles from Havana, was desirous OF meet
ipg Mr.. Calhoun, special commissioners Of
the United States In the Ruix investiga-
ton. This was done at a little breakfast,
breakfast being the midday meal In Ha-
vana. He was type Of the successful
business man in Latin-Amerioan ooun-
tries, highly educated, travelled, Of intellec-
tual force and Of a masterful character,
which was stamped on bis features and
was shown In his manner. He believed In
Me continuation Of Spanish rule In Cuba,
hominally at least. He did not class him
self a. an "autonomiSta," but that would
probably be his designation In the shadowy
LETT, ~ tao IN kha L.
land. His wealth is In the soil, and what
ever happens his future Is here. His views
are contribution to the Spanish side Of
the controversy which Is worth recording.
This sugar planter has been to tho Unit
ed States 80 times. He understands Eng
lish but was not willing to trust himself
to q foreign tongue In laying his opinions
before the representative Of the United
States Secretary Fishbacl repeated them
with accuracy and fullness, along with the
questions which Mr.. Calhoun asked. Oyer
the oysters this sugar planter explained
that his plantation consisted of 80 cabel-
lerias, about GOO acres. He had built q
ditch, or trocha, around 1t, and though he
sometimes heard fighting, thero had been
no clash between the troops and the In
surgents on his plantation.
The year before the nsur-ection, this
planter said, the sugar crop was ], 100, 900
tons. II there had been no disturbance by
this time, 1t would have bcen 100000
tons. Actually IL was below $50, 900 and
the next year would not reach $50, 900
tons. Then the insurrection had been q
very bad thing for oil classes on the Is
landf Immeasurably 80. And to what
causes did he think 1t dueP The sugar
planter shrugged his shoulders. He was
grinding cane, and In these times he did
not talk politics. But he would try to ex-
plain.
"This cause of the insurrection," ne
said, twas discomfort. 1t was not the dis
content of the men who had been develop
ing the island since the ten years. war.
They were satisfied with the government.
But the men who were without oooupa-
tion during peace and quiet, became dis
contented and started the revolution.
T They were the men who were never under
their own roofs II they had roofs, never
helping to develop the natural wealth Of
the island, never satisfied except in tur-
moil. They did not work themselves.
They did not want others to work. So
they forced war on us."
A question was asked whether there had
not been complaints Of excessive taxa
ton. The sugar planter replied:
"Not by those who pay the taxes.
have very large interests, yet have never
lpund them excessive. II you want to buy
house In New York or Chicago, you hear
the same omplaint-taxes are high. Taxes
always seem high. Here In Cuba 1t Is not
more 80 than in the States. In developing
my estates taxation never interfered with
me. 1t was no kindness for the insurgents
to come In and tell Inc my taxes were too
high. How did they know They were
not paying my taxes. was satisfied, but
they would not have 1t so. do not believe
that per cent Of the population of Cuba
Is In sympathy with this revolution. Some
Of them have to appear so, yet there Is
much ignorance. Among some Of the peO-
pie myself pass for an insurgent
1t ought not to be called revolution"
continued the sugar planter with anlma-
ton. "It stands for no principle 1t has
no policy becoming great cause. There
Is no concert of action among the insur-
gent leaders,"
would Gomez lay down his armss"
"Not Gomez, but all the other insurgent
leaders In tho field. Gomez will never
quit. He hates Weyler too much. He
holds Weyler responsible for the death of
his son. who was with Maoeo. say moth
iuB oBdiubJ OOI0cZ. 1O IL u Dr6Vc man,
but he cannot keep up the insurrection
himself when his support is withdrawn.
The war will end anyhow within year.
am sure Spain will succeed In destroying
the insurgents within that time. Pinar
del Rio Is already pacifled. But we all
wish It could end at once. Everybody
suffers'
Mr.. Calhoun wanted the sugar planters
opinion on tho relation Of Cuba to tho
United States. He answered:
AS o property owner 1t would be for
my interest to have annexation. That
would mean security, progress, develop
ment. But realize that Is impossible.
Yours are different people. It Is partly
race question, and you could never assim-
ilnte with the people of these tropics. In
this climate It Is necessary to renew tho
stock every third generation. The immi-
grafton must come from a kindred people
In rnce. language and habits. Spain sup
plies It, II the insurrection were to succeed
and Cuba become independent, you would