Evening star., 1897-05-29
Mr.. Calhoun's Interview With a
Large Landholder in Cuba.
HIO REASONS FOR THE REBELLION
Thinks It Merely Rise Of the Dis
contented Classes.
REFORMS PROMISED BY SPAIN
From The Stars Special Correspondent.

The landed proprietor in Cuba is the
sugar planter. His estate is baronial in
| its extent and he himself has some of the
attributes of the old feudal barons of E,u-
rope. He is not able to have his fefs, but
| on his own demesne he exercises inde-
pendent sovereignty. He has been the
| greatest sufferer by the war. When he
| tells you, as happens in some cases, that
| he is able to grind the cane politeness for
bids your asking how he comes to be SO
| fortunate, with destruction all around him.
| Such question would be an objectionable
breach of etiquette. You simply assume
! that he has Influence enough to buy pro-
| lection from beth sides.
One CT these planters, whose estate is
| forty miles from the city, was desirous of
| meeting Mr.. Calhoun. This was oone at
little breakfast, breakfast being the mid
| Gay meal in Havana. He was a type of
| the successful business man in Latin
American countries, highly educated, trav-
| eled, of Intellectual force and of a master
| full character which was stamped on his
| features and was shown in his manner
He believed in the continuation of Spanish
] rule in Cuba, nominally at least. He did
| not class himself as an "autonomista but
| that would probably be his designation in
| the shadowy distinction of political parties
on the island. His wealth is in the soil,
and whatever happens his future is here.
His views are contribution to the Span
| ish side of the controversy which is worth
recording.
This sugar planter has been to the United
| States fifty times He understands En-
| glish, hut was not willing to trust himself
to a foreign tongue in laying his opinions
| before the representative of the United
| States. Secretary Fishback repeated them
| with accuracy and fullness. along with the
questions which Mr.. Calhoun asked. Over
| the oysters this sugar planter explained
that his plantation consisted of thirty
cabellerias. about 1000 acres. He had
built a ditch, or trocha, around 1t, and
though he sometimes heard fighting, there
had been no clash between the troops and
the insurgents on his plantation.
The year before the insurrection, this
| planter said, the sugar crop was 100000
| tons. If there had been no disturbance 10y
this time it would have been 1900 600 tons.
Actually it was below 25O,O00, and next
| year would not reach 100000 tons. Then
the insurrection had been very bad thing
for all classes on the island? Immeasura-
bly, so. And to what causes did he think
it due? The sugar planter shrugged his
shoulders. He was grinding cane and in
these times he did not talk politics. But ne
would try to explain. l quote the sub
stance of his explanation.
| Cause of the InsurrectiOn.
THE cause of the insurrection," he said,
was discomfort. 1t was not the discon-
tent of the men who had been developing
the island since the ten years war. They
| were satisfied with the government. But
the men who were without occupation dur
ing peace and quiet, they became discon-
tented and started the revolution. They
were the men who were never under their
own roofs If they had roofs, never helping
| to develop the natural wealth of the island,
never satisfied except in turmoil. 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 taxation.
The sugar planter replied:
Not by those who pay the taxes. l have
very large interests, yet 1 have never
found them excessive. If you want to buy
house in New York or Chicago you hear
the same complaint-taxes are high. Taxes
always seem high. Here in Cuba it is not
more SO 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 me my taxes were toe
high. How did they know? They were not
paying MY taxes. I was satisfied, but
they would not have it SO. do not be
| lieve that 5 per cent of the population OF
| Cuba is in sympathy with this revolution
1 Some of them have to appear so, yet there
| is much ignorance. Among some of the
people l myself pass for an insurgent.
"It ought not to be called a revolution,
continued the sugar planter with anima
| ton. TT stands for principle. 1t ha
no policy becoming great cause. Their,
+, | is no concert of action among the insur
, | gent leaders Climatic influences hav'
| something to do with it. This revolution
ary feeling might be called periodic, ant
!, political or other similar conditions hav'
. nothing to do with 1t. When you ask m,
!. to explain how the sons Of Cuban familie
:, | have Joined it, I reply by question t.
: you: How can 1t be explained that thes
: | sons come back to burn and destroy thei
fathers plantations? 1t is temperament
q psychological condition. Taxation, ad
nlinistration of public affairs, have no
}, caused it. The war would end In twenty
= four hours II the United States were t
, show that the insurgents have nothing t
s expect from 1t. The junta in New Yorl
% keeps it going now SO as 10 draw contribu
e ticns from misguided people"
e Would Gomez lay down his arms@'
!. mot Gomez, but all the other insurgen
q leaders in the field. Gomez will never quit
IS He nates Weyler too much. He hold
Wcyler responsible for the death Of hi
= son, who was with Maceo. 1 say nothing
- against Gomez. He is a brave man; bu
j. he cannot keep up the insurrection him
self when his support is withdrawn. TIL
war will end anyhow within year. 1 ar
sure Spain will succeed in destroying tn
Insurgents within that time. Pinar de
= Rio is already paciied. But>we all wish
could end at once. Everybody suffers"
e Cuba and the United States.
a Mr.. Calh DUN wanted the sugar planters
|, \ opinion on the relation of Cuba to tn
- United States. He answered:
e. "As q property owner II would be fu
G. my interest 20 have annexation. Tha
Ia would msan security. progress. develop
ID ment. But l realise that Is imaossihl,