The record-union., 1898-08-06
Genera! Garcia Now faVOrs Annexa-
tion Of the Islands.
His Chief Officers Said TO Hold to the
Same View.
With the Island Part OF the
United States, the Possibility OF
Domination by the Negroes
Would be Averted.

Correspondence of New York Tribune)
SANTIAGO (Cuba), July 23.-Among
the American citizens of Cuban birth
and perhaps generally among those who
desire annexation to the United States,
the rift between the American ana GU
ban forces has been a source OF con-
Germ. What has made this breach OF
especial moment just at this time is the
surprising sentiment in favor OF union
that has grown in the Cuban army it
self Not that the men of General Car
cias 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 filling their
stomachs than in questions OF govern
ment. But among the officers there has
been a remarkable shift of feeling
Most astonishing and significant Is
the change in General Garcia himself
He had been known as an uncompro-
mising1 foe to, annexation. Nor was this
strange. AS one of the most important
leaders of the insurgents he would nat
urally prefer as the fruition of his Ia
bcrs and risks the establishment of an
independent Government to the merg-
Republic the rewards of all military he
roes would be more glittering than a
State of a Union, with only a small
voice in national and international af-
fairs Within the last few days, how
ever, Garcia has expressed his opinion
that the welfare of Cuba depended on
her joining the sisterhood of the United
States. Partly on account of his atti-
of hos c. a
reasons which led to his conversion
many of his officers now side with him.
In General Garcia's army there is ap-
parently 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-
tion about race feeling comes as a sur
prise. But an intimate knowledge of
the conditions lead to assurances from
various persons that the possible as
cendancy of the blacks, especially in
Santiago Province, is alrea dy 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.
II might be seen that under a 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 of the
American ensign. While Cubans who
have studied the question believe that
independence would make the danger
greater. under it. they say. the coun-
try would have an army of its own, in
nh "a al hl
strong. The race would then be organ
lied and under its own leaders, and
would act more or less as a unit Tn
der annexation there would be no army
save that of the United States, and no
aggregations of colored men. AS indi-
viduals 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 and
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 nation they
would appeal much more to the display
loving negroes. To be Commander-in-
Chief 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 with 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
nothing. They are convinced that an
era of land greed has set in, if it has
not always existed, and that with the
consent of the island, union will be
speedy.