Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-03
CAUSE OF FREE CUBA
GENERAL BRADLEY II. JOHNSON
ON IT'S PROSPECTS.
OPPOSITION OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
The Enthusiasm OF the American
People VIII Have seIf-Govcrnmcnt
by All Americans - Ignorance
About Cuba-Spauish "Reform.-

WASHINGTON. ID. G.. February o.
especially )-General Bradley T. Johnson
arrived here this evening. and in view of
his recent experiences in Cuba. and the
deep interest he takes in Cuban affairs.
De was asked by the Dispatch cores
p'ndcnt what he thought OF the prospects
OF the Cubans under the present and in
coming administration. He said: THE
Cubans will surely succeed. unless the
policy OF the administration. in aiding
spain. crushos hope out Of the Cubans
Every powor-the army. the navy. the
miiciary-of this great government is
now IN active operation to aid Spain and
crush the rebellion. Every power will
De- exerted during the next administra-
ton 10 the same end. The money power
demands peace. quiet rest, but behind
ID an is the irresistible. omnipotent
al-pervading force of manifest destiny.
which controls history. directs the ages
and is absolutely beyond and above the
force Of one generation. and controls
them all In this case the Will the
hope. the enthusiasm OF the American
people overwhelm Wall Street and the
peace Of the mOney-changers. and will
have free cuba Cuba. the forty-sixth
State. Self-government by all Americans
I- sentiment wmch will override
treaties and policies
Speaking further on the subject. Gene
raj Johnson said: THE ignorance in this
country aboul the conditions in Cuba
Is simply astonishing. only lately the
..rIr.r oF laoHfnrr Yaltf,,ora ,.r1. Ella
me that the population of Cuba was
mainly negr0-three negroes TO one white
man: and this morning a prominent law
yer asked me If there were many brick
houses in Habana. In fact, some private
residences in Habana are great palaces
finer than anything i'm New York, and
the population Of Cuba is curiously like
that of Virginia. Virginia has As 900
square miles. and 100000 population,
100000 white persons. 100000 negroes
~uoa has 5000 square miles. and
lol900 whites, $4,000 blacks, and
500 Chinese and white means
3ure-blooded white. black means
mixed races. Only this mornings Post
published two columns of paper by a
Spanish gentleman, president of the
Spanish Cuban Press. which gave at
length the Spanish story. The treaty of
Zan JON, says he. promised the Cubans
reform in 1873. on which promise they
laid down their arms. and which promises
have been accurately performed This
treaty Of Zan Jon promised the Cubans:
First. Personal security from arbitrary
arrests In October they arrested Esco-
ban, editor of La Discussion, my personal
friend. and one of the best informed, best
educated. and brightest men l ever
knew without charges. without warrant.
l. II Il
the Spanish penal colony on the coast of
Africa They arrested Viondi, an ac-
c0mplished and brilliant lawyer counsel
3f Julio Sanguilla. and sent him to Africa,
both without trial.
Second. Inviolability of the domicile.
Every house in Cuba is searched at the
pleasure OF the Chief Of Police.
Third. Security of the secrecy Of cor
respOndence. i have a letter in my
pocket. received yesterday. which had
been opened. Ali my letters through the
Habana post-ofiice are opened, and many
are detained until we are obliged TO
correspond outside of the post-ofiice.
Consul-General Lees letters are con
stantly suppressed or violated.
Fourth Security against the confis-
cation Of property. i know nothing OF
that.
Fifth. Political suffrage. No one can
vote but registered voter. and the regis
tration is controlled from Madrid. The
Minister Of the Colonies appoints the
Governor General of Cuba. He appoints
tte Governors of the provinces. They
select and register the voters.
sixth. Freedom of speech and of the
press. Witness Escoban in Ceuta ana
Nlondi counsel for Sanguilla, in Africa.
Witness the type and press of La Dis
cussion destroyed by detail of soldiers
from the Palace, and so on, and so on.
The treaty Of San-JOn is a monument
90 the credulity and simplicity OF the
Cuoans They will never erect another
one. Their motto is Liberty or Death
as 10 was Of another set Of rebels one
hundred and twenty years ago, in these
CclOnies-now States"