The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-05
EXPECT ANNEXATION.
Sentiment For Union is Strong in
Cuba

Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 5-AmOng
the American citizens of Cuban birth
and perhaps generally among those who
desire annexation to the United States
the rift between the American and Gu
ban forces has been a source of concern
What has made this breach of especial
moment just at this time is the sur
prlsIng sentiment in favor of union that
has grown in the Cuban army itself.
Not that the men of General Garcia s
troops are giving any particular
thought to the political future of their
island. They are chiefly negroes of
limited education and intelligence who
are more interested in filing their
stomachs than in questions of govern
ment. But among the officers there has
been a remarka BILE shift of feeling.
Most astonishing and significant rs
the change in General Garcia himself.
He had been known as a most uncOm-
promising foe to annexation Nor was
this strange. AS one of the most i'm
portant leaders of the insurgents he
would naturally prefer as the fruitiOn
of his labOrS and risks the establish
ment of an Independent government to
the merging with a larger country In
Cuban republic the rewards of all
military heroes would be more glitter
ing than one state of a union with only
q small voice in national and interna-
tional affairs. Garcia had expressed his
opinion that the welfare of Cuba de-
pended on her joining the sisterhood
of the United States. Partly on account
of his attitude and partly on account
of the same reasons which led to his
conversion, many of his officers now
side with him.
In General Carcia's army there is ap-
parentIy no line between the white and
black troops They stand side by side
in the same regiments. Several of the
most important generals are negroes
To the stranger, therefore, this reVela-
ton about race feeling comes as sur
prise. But an intimate knowledge Of
the conditions leads to assurances from
various persons that the possible ascen-
dancy of the blacks, especially in San
tiagO province, is already the cause OF
uneasiness- They are in the majority
there and under the leadership of
shreWd men of their own race who had
won distinction as soldiers they would
surely become important factors
1t might seem that under demo-
cratic government negro domination
here would be equally likely, whether
the single star of Cuba remained in her
flag or was added to the blue field or
the American ensign. While Cubans
who have studied the question believe
that independence would make the
danger greater, under it, they say, the
country would have an army OF It's own,
in which the negro element would be
strong. The race would then be or
ganized and under its own leaders ana
would act more or less as a unit IN
der annexation there would be no army
save that of the United States and no
aggregatiOnS of cOlOred men, AS m
dividuals the negroes would be easily
managed by the superior Intelligence OF
the white people.
Then, too, there would not be the
same incentives to political activity ana
ambition on the part of their leaders
In a single state of the union the prizes
to be won at the polls would be almost
wholly local. In a nation they would
appeal much more to the display loving
negroes. To be commandments of
the army or minister to France would
be vastly more attractive than to be
mayor of a city.
Cubans seem to predicate their opin-
ions on the belief that the United States
would gladly welcome their rich domain
into statehood. OF the feeling in the
larger country against adding to its
political problems they will hear moth
ing. They are convinced that an era
of land greed has set in, if it has not
always existed dormant, and that with
the consent of the island union will be
speedy.