The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-18

better lNan L can. II 10 AOt WlNnlu t4AS
narrow limits of my vocabulary TO por-
tray It
''I went to Cuba with a strong convic-
ton that the picture had been overdrawn;
that a few cases of starvation and suffer.
ing had inspired and stimulated the press
correspondents, and they had given free
play to a strong, natural and highly cul-
tivated imagination
Before starting, received through the
mail a leafiet published by the Christian
Herald, with cuts of some of the sick
and starving reconcentrados and took IL
with me, thinking these were rare speci-
mems got up to make the worst possible
showing. I saw plenty as bad and worse
many that should not be photographed
and shown.
II could not believe that out of a pop
ulation of 100000 10000 had died within
these Spanish forts, practically prison
walls, within a few months past, from
actual starvation and disease caused by
insufficient and improper food.
my inquiries were entirely outside of
sensational sources. They were made of
our medical officers, of our consuls, OF
city alcaldes (mayors), of relief commit
tees, of leading merchants and bankers,
physicians and lawyers. Several of my
informants we're Spanish born, but every
time the answer was that the case had
net been overstated.
Gen. Blanco's order of Nov. Is last
somewhat modifies the Weyler order, but
is of little or no practical benefit It's ap-
plication is limited to farms properly de-
fended and the owners are obliged TO
build 'centers of defense It's execution is
completely in the discretion of the local
military authorities. and they know the
terrible military efficiency of Weyler's or
der in stripping the country of all possi-
BILE shelter, food or source of information
for an insurgent, and will be slow to sur
render this advantage. In fact, though
the order was issued four months ago, /
saw no benefcent results from 1t worth
mentioning"
Speaking of the Cubans, the senator
said: There are or were, before the
war about 1,000,O 900 Cubans on the island,
200, 900 Spaniards (Which means those born
in SPAIN, and less than half a million CT
negroes and mixed blood. The percentage
of colored to white has been steadily di-
minishing for more than fifty years, end
is not now over 25 per cent of the total
In fact the number of colored people has
been actually diminishing for nearly that
time.
"One thing that was new to me was to
learn the superiority of the well-to-do Gu
ban over the Spaniard in the matter of
education. Among those in good circuln-
stances there can be no doubt that the
Cuban is far superior in this respect
ut is said that there are about 6O,00O
Spanish soldiers now in cuba fit for duty
out of over 100000 that have been sent
there The rest have died been sent home
sick, or are in the hospitals, and some have
been killed, notwithstanding the official
reports.
Having called on Gove rnor and Captain
General Blanco and recei ed his courteous
call in return, could not, with propriety
seek communication with insurgents. /
had plenty of offers of safe conduct to
Gomezs camp. and was told that IL
would write him, an answer would be re-
turned safely within ten days at most.
/ saw several who had visited the insur-
gent camps, and was sought out by an in
surgent field officer, who gave ME the best
information received as to the insurgent
force. His statements were moderate, and
1 was credibly informed that he was en-
tirely reliable. He claimed that the Cubans
had about 10000 now in the field, some in
every province, but mostly in the two
eastern provinces and Eastern Santa
Clara, and this statement was corroborat-
ed from other good sources.
"They have a force all the time in Ha-
vana province itself of about four small
brigades, and operating in small bands.
Ruiz was taken tried and shot within
about a mile and a half of the railroad
and about fifteen miles out of Havana on
the road to Matanzas, a road more travel
ed than any other.
"Arangueren was killed about three
miles the other side of the road and about
the same distance, fifteen or twenty miles
from Havana. The insurgents are well
armed but very poorly supplied with am
munition. They are not allowed to carry
many cartridges; sometimes not more than
one or two. The infantry especially are
poorly clad.'
ish citizens do not want autonomy for
that means government by the Cuban peo-
pie. AS for the Cubans, they say that
the offer of 1t comes too late. IT Il sue
ceeds 1t can only be by armed force
II could not but conclude" said the
speaker, that you do not have to scratch
an autononist very deep to find a Cuban
There is soon to be an election, but every
polling place must be inside a fortified
town. Such elections ought to be safe for
'ins'
II have endeavored to state in not in
temperate mood what / saw and heard
and to make no argument thereon, but
leave every one to draw his own conclu-
sions. To me the strongest appeal is not
the barbarity practiced by Weyler nor the
loss of the Maine, if our worst fears
should prove true, terrible as are both
of these incidents, but the spectacle of a
million and half people, the entire ma
tive population of Cuba, struggling for
freedom and deliverance from the worst
mis- government OF which ever had know
ledge. The fear that If free the people
of Cuba would be revolutionary is not so
well founded as has been supposed and
the conditions for good self-government
are far more favorable.
But 1t is not my purpose at this time,
nor do / consider ii my province to sug-
gest any plan. merely speak Of the
symptoms as I saw them, but do not
undertake to prescribe Such remedial
steps as may be required may safely be
left TO an American President and Amer
lean people"
WON'T ACCEPT AUTONOMY.