The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-29

their private interests behind them are
not unknown even in our own master
republic.
A woman in Cuba to whom I was
condemning the lottery exclaimed with
much emphasis: why the lottery is
the poor peoples only opportunity"
There are threads of history in this
sentence. Excluded largely from leg
itimate opportunity they are taught
from childhood to play, the lottery and,
in many cases, they appeal almost to
divinity to rule the chances in their
favor. They save for it; they pray for
it; they take defeat almost as a visit
alton from some affecting power. Many
times / have watched the crowds that
gather to read the posted lists of the
latest drawing--men and women aged
and patched, middle-aged persons well
dressed or seedy and sad, and children,
little tots, as young as a half-dozen
years. When watching their counten-
ances, the conviction was forced upon
me that here was an environment that
could not be overlooked. 1t diverts the
Cuban mind from the stern purpose to
win by honorable endeavor. Has this
became unconstitutional?
THE CHURCH.
Another important element in the en-
Vironment of the Cuban is the church.
The exclusive religion of Cuba is the
Roman Catholic. Much as 1 respect
the grand sweep of the Roman Catholic
church, which raises the TIE Deum in
every land, l am bound to say that in
Cuba it is so administered as to fail
to impart spiritual and liberal mind
edness to the people. The lives of
many of the priests are licentious in
the extreme, and the weight of the en-
tire clergy is against the correction of
existing conditions. Cock-fights and
(until poverty caused by the war sus-
pended them) bull-fights are prohibit
ed except on holidays and Sundays;
prostitution is legalized and patronized
unblushingly by members of the priest
hood, gambling in every form goes on
openly, and the cry of the lottery VEN
der is heard in every quarter of the
cities and villages. AS a consequence,
religion is rejected by many and re-
spected by few. The church, instead of
being an inspiration to wider sympa-
| thies and holier lives, cloaks crime,
| champions oppression and absorbs
| many millions of the taxes paid by
| the people, besides enormous sums re-
| allied from special resources. 1t has
also landed estates said to be worth a
colossal sum. The church alone could
redeem Cuba, but it sits in regal apa-
| thy content with evil.
Emancipation of Cuba! Can it come
and this remain? Never. Has this not
| entered into the Cuban character and
tended to deprive it of that sublime
|
children of men? Add to the foregoing
environments all the passion engender-
| ed by frutless resistance to a CALLING
yoke, all the deceits made necessary to
circumvent the schemes of the task
master all the vices fostered by years
of vulgar license, and you have obtain
| ed a point of view necessary to a true
appreciation of the Cuban people. II
is not an encouraging picture. Yet a
people who have endured so much may
not be adjudged as wholly unequal
to the work of constructing a better
| government. Against almost like con-
ditions Mexico has become a successful
republic The American schoolmaster
has abridged the gulf of Mexico and
the pollen of our institutions has found
a Judgement on Cuban soil.
CLEVELAND'S COURSE.
Mr.. Cleveland has been severely com
demned for not having taken affirma-
tive action in behalf of the Cubans. In
the judgment of the writer his course
was a wise one, The American gov
ernment cannot afford to intrude Itself
into every struggle and must respect
the legal title OF other nations as we
| expect our to be respected II was
right and proper that Spain should
have time to dem9nsrate her ability n