Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18

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have been found for FIVE Cubans In other
ways there has also been an equalization
of official responsibility. The Cubans ac-
cept this in good faith. They will give
their energies to developing the natural re-
sources of their country and repairing the
waste of its riches that has been caused by
the war But they, too, know that If au-
tonomy is to succeed the Spanish class
must help. AS a class the Spaniards of
Guines are not doing it. They are fierce
lntransigentes. irreconcilable foes of colo
Eial home rule. Their hostility Is deeper
and more intense than is shown BY the
Spanish element in Havana because it runs
in narrower channel. Their opposition is
not vociferous. 1t is silent sullen and de-
termined- Having had an opportunity to
observe this Spanish feeling, can under
stand why the group OF Cubans with whom
1 talked, all Of them men of standing, dis
cussed autonomy as though II were a hope
less dream. Their sadness was depressing.
They spoke of the future as a blank Said
one one & OF them: II your country thinks it has
the right to intervene why does it wait till
all is gone from us? Why does it not saw
10 spaln' TO the insurgents in the field, to
the jdnta in New York, this waste of life
and OF Cuba's resources shall stop"
Not Returned to the Farms,
The matter of the recorcentradoes be-
comes tedious, but 1t cannot be ignored in
striving to reach the exact situation as to
the material upbuilding of the island. I
do not intend to describe further wretched-
ness or disease or suffering. 1t Is only
with reference to the part of the military
authorities In carrying out the plans of
the government that q word is necessary
about this unfortunate class. Part of
the program of autonomy was to relieve
lne representatives by extending the
zcnes of cultivation. General Bianco's 5
order revoking Weyler's concentration de-
cree was specifically directed to this end
Alluring pictures were drawn of the coun-
Try Try, people s.soi tn They would go back to the
SOIL. Their "bahios" or palm huts would
again cover the land. They would be sup
piled with the means of planting seed in
the fruitful earthswhich in sixty days
would yield them sustehance. The picture
remains in the Imagination. The reality
does not exist. In fairly thorough quest
over the stretch Of country between Ia
vana and Guines, l have not been able to
nnd the people restored to the spots which
were once their homes. The new bahios.
SO easily put together, have not sprung
up like gourds. Where the poles were left
standing like bird cages, the cages re-
main uathatched. Where the ruins were,
ruins remain.
1t may be said that the practical ex-
termination of the country people has left
no one to go back to the farms and re-
build the huts. OF some localities this is
substantially true There are no concen.
tradoes to go out from the camp at Jaruco.
near Havana, because they are all dead
OF Guines, with its record Of 1000 dea tbs,
almost the same thing might be said But
other towns, Madr1Iga, San Nicolas, San
Felipe, in spite of the heavy mortality they
tave suffered, could furnish concentradoes
to go back to the country. The execution
of this policy devofves on the military
commanders.
With a few honorable exceptions. they
are not executing it. They distribute ra-
tions to the concentradoes. and that is the
limit OF their exertions In scne cases they
interpoae hindranees to the efforts of pri-
vate individuals. Commonly they show
what might be called a. passive disobedi-
ence to the captain generals orders They
cannot be disciplined because it is passive
| have heard Spanish officers deplore the
haste with hich W'ryier's decree was car
ried out and the severity with which it was
enforced, yet they. justify 1t as a military
measure. They hold that to weaken the in
surgents and TO keep their districts pacified
the country outside Of certain limits must
be kept barren and the country people re-
strained close to the fortified towns Their
attitude conflicts with the position of the
authorities, but the power of the captain
general does not seem strong enough to
change 1t. CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.