Evening star., 1898-08-03

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Having been thoroughly familiar with the
island of Cuoa and its political condition at
the beginning of the present revolution I
an, at loss to COMPREHEND the vigorous
warfare which is beng waged upon tie
| Cuban people by certain newspapers I am
especially astonished at the following
statement published in a leading morning
paper of August .:
"The Cuban Insurgents judged at their
best, are not the kind of men to whose
rule the people of Cuba could be consist
entity and safely trusted as the result of a
war for humanity
Will you kindly tell me who are the other
Cuban people besides the insurgents and
their sympathfzers? There are only three
classes of people on the island-('ubans
Spaniards and a sprinkiing of aliens or for
eigHers. The Spaniards are almost entirely
soldiers and officials, the military and civil
classes being closely allied, and are "car-
pet baggers" pure and simple. There seems
to be an enaeavor to make impression
that the "officiales'' are Cubans and en-
titled TO separate consideration from that
given to the other Spaniards in arms but
this is serious mistake. In my travels on
the island / never saw a Cuban or resident
SPaniard in office. Every position upon the
island is filled by natives of Spain sent out
to obtain the emoluments and benefits of
these positions and most of them are di-
rect appointees of the Spanish military
rule. which has been far more severe than
any conception we can form of that condi-
riCn. These officials bitterly hate the Gu
| bans. and their retention in office beyond
the necessary M for reorganization would
| be the deepest possible insult to the Cuban
people.
The Cuban question is rapidly assuming
a serious import The American people un-
dertook this war in order to free the Cuban
people. and I believe that they will not
forget this fact. or allow our national char
acter TO be charged with having acted dis.
hCnor2hly N its treatment of its allies.
Gen. Garcia c0-orerated with the American
army and navy at Santiago at the specific
invitation of this cot ntry, and there is no
honorable way of ignoring him or the other
CCbans now. The systematic and unscrup-
ulous manner in which the Cubans are be-
ing wrongly abused is so paipable that one
cannot but suspect that it Is being done
through interested motives and this ma
tion seriously stands on the brink of
great scandal, against which the voice of
every honorable man should be raised The
Star and ITS correspondent, Mr.. Pepper
have maintained the right position toward
the Cuban people and hope they will still
maintain it. However pitiful the present
plight. or whatever nay be the social or
racial character of the CubanS, they are
entitled to first consideration, and the per-
scnal interests of enemy, the Span
| iards, or a few American sugar planters
who, after faithfully serving them, now
fear the just hatred of the Cubans are sec
o1dary consi 1erltions. If there should re-
main but one native Cuban on the island
after the attempted determination by the
Sraniards, and that one person a negro he
should be entitled to the first rights and
privileges under the American flag.
August 3, 1893. r. 7. H.