Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-20

found one who was in fear of his life or
OF reprisals from the Qtfbans. They did not
need Gomez's repeated. promises of protec-
ton to their hvess and property to assure
them. Their only read apprehension was
of the uncertainty ana instability which
must necessarily surround the formation
OF new cuban government. Like the for
eigners engaged in business in Cuba, they
would much rather have immediate annex
alton Yet II that cafraot be secured they
are not going to leave. The motive that
viii Keep them Therehis the motive that
obtains the world oven The Spanish mer-
chants and property owners can make more
money in Cuba than ahey can elsewhere
They know that If they move out others
Will come in to take their places. When
the Americanization of the island begins
and the rush from the United States takes
place there will be revelation of the de-
gree 10 which thel Spanish property owner
is rooted in Cuban soil. yankees" who
think all they have to do is to take pos
session in order to monopoliZe trade and
business Will discover it. They will find
the Spanish merchant holding his own,
stupborniy refusing to be ousted, and with
as much shrewdness as themselves But
TINS Will apply only to tabiished lines of
trade In the development which viii come
from the inflow of fresh capital and new
enterprises the Spanish business man will
not be a competitor
He will be slow in seizing the opportun-
ity and falling behind in the beginning, he
Will never catch up. His strength lies in
following main Travelled roads, and the
profits from venturesome undertakings do
hot appeal to him.
Must Learn Politics.
On the political side the Spanish property
owner will prove disappointment to those
VINO have been sounding his praises. His
education in public affairs has been ne
elected. If his class should have their
wishes gratified and secure immediate an
nexation to the United States a kinder
garten of political instruction would be
necessary The raggedest and most ignor-
ant cuban soldier who has been carrying
his machete in the bushwhac king warfare
OF the last three years has better prepar-
alton for citizenship. In the struggle to
free Cuba from Spain he has at least learn
cd the elementary principles of govern
ment. He knows that it means more than
system of legalzed plumber for the bene
mt of privileged few. The property owner
and shopkeeper from Catalonia and AS
tur1a, or from the Basque provinces, has
faint conception of what his own rights
and responsibilities. will be. In the colonial
government he has never had a part The
integrity which marks his private dealings
would have placed him at a disadvantage
if observed in transactions with the official
classes To buy justice has been his first
rule. To pay roundly for concessions which
give him trade has been another. To make
out false bills where his customer was the
government has been the recognized prac-
tice. To bride customs officials from high
est to lowest has been the Indispensable
condition of doing importing business of
any kind. To engage in the shipping trade
without lining the. pockets of the harbor
officials would be to invite ruin. 1t is
saying of vessel captains that Havana is
the only port in the world where a ship can
clear before she enters the harbor. 1t is
not the fault of the Spanish merchant that
these practices exist, and heretofore he has
been able to manage SO that it should not
be his misfortune. But the process of edu-
eating him away from the system which
makes the government an instrument of
plumber will not be completed in day.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.