The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-20
WORKING LIKE BEAVERS
GOMEZ CALLS FOR UNION TO or
POSE A\\ENATiO\.
He lNTIMATES THAT We ARE BRlGkkD
He" Far The II auence Of the independence Par
y May Extend Cannot Yet be fs,ima-
ted--Fomer knneSationists
Join the Movement.

Havana. sept. l.. 80 =. m. Tho
predominant feature of fh" situation
the fcvyri>h and widespread agitation
Of the Cubau> In favor Of the absolute
independence of thc island 1T nh costs.
Mauifc>to> arc being circulated in
Nitin= The cooperation If spanish r,si-
dents ana merchants to this end. and
pointing out that either annexation or
an American protcctorat" would mean
death t. MI trade with Spain ii Il couple
of years.
General Maxine Gomez, who only "A
fortnight ago, gave expression IL c>-
trcmcly moderate views. coun~clling hair
mony and patience. now expresses him
self n strongly III favor of absolute in
dependence or nothing" lie says the
Spanish element cannot afford To delay
uniting with the CuhanS as 4 necessary
basis for the establishment Of conditions
that will forbid and prevent the United
States grabbing and taking easy nd
vantage of the treasure. both SpauiarlS
and CuhanS have fought for at III cN-
pcnSc of rivers Of blood on each side.
General Gomez says. If reports speak
truly. that 'tho~c who fear independence
belong to the same family of CoWardIy
ours who lied from Havana at the first
runor of bombardmcnt.' These, he de-
cIarcs, are. however. Il minority, and
to quote him further. almost the entire
Spanish population remains. protecting
their homes and lcfying the dangers Of
war. and viii noW remain To- unite their
efforts with those OF the Cuban party,
working together with the uhans for
the development Of the island and the re
turn Of prosperity"
\ leading evening paper yesterday
published II local letter purportiug to
voice the opinion Of Catalonia III favor
of independence and promising ald and
cooperation.
How far the influence of the party
agitating for Cuban independence may
extend. it is ut present difficult To est
mate. but the fact is. itS agents are
working like beavers. Some former
sympathizcrs with the annexation move
ment are to be found to-day III the
ranks Of the independence movement.
The moving impetus given to the agi-
tation for independence. is the result,
apparently. Of the arrival of the ItcSo-
lutte. or. rather, of the arrival Of Mr..
Porter and the examination he is max
ing into tariffs, municipal taxation, and
other matters Of internal government
which the Cubans had expected TO
handle and administer themselves. A!r.
portcr'S operations are viewed with
suspicion by IN important section Of
the CubanS. who keep on calling meet
ings and protesting against Il "usurpa-
ton of privileges purchased at such Il
sacrifice They insist upon absolute
freedom. unrestrained liberty or Il fight
to the death.
One reason why many Spaniards WHO
at first favored annexation have now
changed their opinion is that they fear
the competition of American rivals rs
storckecpcrs, hotel managers and restau-
ranteurS.
The same spirit prevails among the
planters. especially the smaller ones.
All this amounts practically to Il sill
cnt admission of Cuba's inability to
offer, if left to herself. the guarantees
Of stability that would induce foreign
capital to come here to develop in" Is
: lands resources. The deduction seem
to be this:
with Cuba independent. 10 foreign
! capital and no competition; with Cuba
| under American rule. Il competition
against which the Cnbans would not
have the energy or the power to sue
coed.
These questions are upp"rm"St IN
every mind. causing uncasincrs and DIS
| content. preventing the resumption u
the normal tone Of the market and block
ing trade and traffic.