The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-09-17
THE SUSPICIOUS CUBANS.
Look with Unfriendly Eyes Upon
the Mission of MI. Robert
Porter in Cuba.
AcLASH BETWEEN TWO FORCES LIKELY.
The Idea of an American Protectorate Not
Popular ADywhere-The Only Issue BE-
tween Absolute Independence and An
nexatIon to the United states-An Adj
yocate of Peace and Harmony.

neXAtlOn TO the InlLeu tAtes-An nv
yocate of Peace and Harmony.
Havana, Sept. 1.-THE presence Of
Robert Il. Porter, who is in Havana on
a special commission from the United
States government TO study the eco
nomic and financial aspects of the Sit
uation, is regarded with suspicion by
the party of free Cuba, as indicating
the establishment of an American pol
icy of guardianship.
Preparing "A Revision of the Cuban Tariff.
Mr.. Porter is preparing Il revision OF
the Cuban tariff which Will probably
be protective of Cuba's industries, and
is acquainting himself with every de-
tail of local taxation. In this work he
is assisted by a capable staff. For the
present his efforts are only prelimi-
nary, as, until after the definite set
Element of peace, it will be imupossi-
BILE TO establish a new regime.
Protests Provoked.
But his efforts and inquiries, taken
together with the announcement h a
American troops will be sent later to
occupy the island-which had hitherto
been doubted by many-have had h
effect of provoking protests from the
more rabid Cubans, who are holding
meetings and adopting resolutions
against "encroachments upon u
rights as citizens of Il free and indie
pendent republic of Cuba. by the es-
adjustment of an American p%rotecto-
rate
Commenting edrtorially upon these
developments, La Lucha says:
Easy to Foresee a Clash.
1T is easy to foresee Il clash be-
tween the two tendencies. the two
1orces on the political horizon of Cuba
the sentimental Independent party
and the party of practical annexation
:sts. On one hand stands the Cuban
sentiment, which has struggled for
freedom for three ears; on the other
IS arrayCd every material interest III
the island, which looks first and fore
most for the greatest and strongest
guarantee, not only that order will be
preserved. but that there will be a
future development, and increasing in
those very interests
Too Early to Predict Victory.
at is too early yet topredict with ac@
curacy with whom the victory will lie,
but the leaders of the Cuban party
should not allow themselves to be car
ried away by the national eNaltatior
and fiery temperament of their race
They should proceed with tact anddis-
erection at this juncture, for otherwise
annexation may become an accom-
plished fact far sooner than is expect.
ed. the leaders should act with pru-
dence and furnish an example OF!
strength and stability. Such conduct
in them may result in time in adding
TO the ranks of the Cuban national
party a large proportion of those who
now advocate annexation and in carry
ing with them tie great landed in
dustrial interests of the island"
Independence and Annexation.
These two problems, independence
and annexation, dre the chief topics
discussed, and the idea of American
protectorate, with military occupation
is nowhere favOrably considered. Ev-
~erywheTe it is recognized that the
choice is between independehceandan.-
neXation.
Will Proceed to Presidential Election.
Next month, at the headquarters OF
the sO-called Cuban republican govern
ment, at Cubitas, province of Puerto
Principe, representatives of the diff.
ferent corps of the Cuban army will
proceed to presidential election and a
definite constitution of the govern
ment. Each army corps will send
eight delegations, making a total of
IS electors.
There are two separate and distinct
tendencies in the Cuban amy, one
strongly supporting the present gov
eminent and the other favoring Gen.
Maxine Gomez. Already four presi.
dental nomination tickets are in the
field. On the first are the names of
Bartolome Masso for president and;
Mendez Capote for vice-presidcnt; on,
the second the names of MendeI Ca
pote for the first place and Jose Mig
uel Gomez appear; on the third are
Miguel Gomez and Pedro Betancourt,
and on the fourth Calixto Garcia and
Jose Miguel Gomez.
A Strong Advocate of Peace and Harmony.
At the camp of Jose Miguel Gomez
a newspaper called La Nacional has
been published for some time. 1t is
described as a strong advocate of
peace and harmony" and carries
with it the moral Endorsement of Gen.
Gomez, who is known to favor
the early ~disbanding of the Cuban
troops and a return to the arts of
peace.
zen. Gomez is still encamped on the
AarcIsa estate at Yaguaiay at Santa
Clara province
II is said TINT Hanrilc lkcnn la.