The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-30
The Conditions in Cuba.
FACTS GATHERED BY
GEN. M. c. BUTLER.

Washington. Nov 26.-Gen NJ c.
Butler of South Carolina, a member
of the Cuban evacuation commission
arrived here today direct from Ha.
bana in response to telegraphic
summons from President Mckinley,
and this afternoon he had a two hours
consultation with the president at the
White House. He made an extend.
ed report of the negotiations for the
evacuation and of the terms upon
which the Spaniards had agreed to
complete it by January 1. Gen
Butler gave it as his opiHion that all
the Spaniards have met the American
commissioners with reasonable fair
ness and that there has been little
friction. Some of the claims they
have made for compensation for the
Sparish property have been ridicu.
lous and they will, Of course. be
abandoned in the end Gen. Butler
denies all the reports of dissensioa
among the members Of the American
commission.
In addition to his report upon the
actual work of the joint commission,
Gen. Botler gave the President much
valuable information as to the gener.
al situation in Cuba, the ability of
Cubans for self government, the san
itary conditions of Habana and gen
orally the results of his observations
during his stay there. Gen. Butler
is Of the opinion that the military
government of the island must be
continued for some time. but that it
should only be as rigorous as may be
necessary to preserve order. He
thinks the Cubans are ambitious for.
self government and anxious to avoid
frictioa with the American authori-
ties : If military control is exercised
with discretion he believes shere will
be little trouble.
One of the most troublesome fes
lures of the situation is the criminal
class and the difficulty of determining
in the case of prisoners who are 10
carcerated for political offenees and
who for crime There has existed
in Habana in the past an oath bound
organization on the order of the
Italian msfa known as the nanigo,
which was a source of terror to the
inhabitants. One Of The few com.
.mendable acts of Weyler was the
deportation of about 700 of the mem.
bers of this organization to the penal
colony of Ceuta But fears are ex-
pressed that these criminals may
return or that the order may be re-
vived by some Of those who were
not deported
One of the features of the situation
in which the authorities mere are
specially interested just now is the
sanitary condition of Habana The
shipment of troops which has already
begun and the existence of yellow
fever 10 Habana all the year round
makes it absolutely necessary that
the city should be placed in thorough
sanitary condition Gen. Butler de.
scribes the city now as pest hole,
filled with unmentlonab'e filth, squal'
or and destitution. The Spanish
authorities have. however, agreed to
ioaugurate the work Of putting the
city in sanitary condition with the
aid of the Ameaican authorities and
work to this end is to begin at once
Gen Butler paints dark picture of
destitution among the poorer classes
snd says it vii! probably be necessary
for us TO furnish some aid to the
starving and the wre:ched.
Gen Butlar paid high tribute to
the discipline and accomplishing
suffering of the Spanish troops.
They endured hardships, he says,
which would bave caused American
soldiers to revolt As al illustration
of the admirable discipline of the
Spanish soldiery. he said that at one
time there were $4,000 Spanish sol
diere in Habana !; yet he never saw
or heard of an act of violence nor did
he hear of OF see a single Spanish
soldier intoxicated
Gen Butler will remain here sew
eral days aud probably have another
interview with the president He
will then go TO his home in South
Carolina whence be will return in
about 10 days to Habaaa. His wife
and daughter will accompany him on
his return. This fact leads TO the
belief that he may be destined for
military service in Cuba as his pres
ent mission expires with the compile.
ton of the evacuation.
Berlin, Nov. 26.-Frauk Ksueal