The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-12

Franzhelm's company is part, address,
cd a large congregation by invitation OF
the pastor, Rev. Joseph speess. Surgeon
Ford Is home from Manzanillo, Cuba.
where the regiment is stationed. and his
talk on personal observations Of the is
land was instructive and entertaining.
Rev. Mr.. speers introduced DR.. Ford
in a happy manner. saying that he had
prevailed on him to speak Of his exper-
fences. 1t would be talk on the land
where many Of Americas brave sons
felland DR. Ford In discussing his topic
might cause smiles, fact that contain
ed no marrlng feature, for Rev. Mr..
speers said 1t wasn't necessary to wear
a long face, and the returned soldier
wasn't going to preach. At the close of
DR.. Ford's talk, the congregation sang
America" The speakers cltaracteris-
tlcveln Of humor was evident through
out
De Ford said ne felt somewhat en-
barrasssd to speak, because he was not
one OF the heroes OF Santiago, nor had
he written book on Cuba, nor been
one OF the ferocious war correspond
ents. he had spent about a month ON
Is In Cuba. His fame as warrior could
be traced to war OF determination on
flies. fleas and mosquitoes In the camps.
But Rev. Mr. Speers. in his peculiar
manner had succeeded in getting MIN
TO speak. so he stood before the people
without any excuse.
Coming to the trip to Cuba. Dr.. Ford
referred to the delay Of the lmmunes N
reaching the isle, delay that caused
some anxiety among Wheeling rlenas
and relatives Of the soldiers. Inc delay
was the result OF wait for plot me
Transportation OF the troops hadn't been
al good as II might have been during
the war, said the speaker. but this coun-
t.v had much to learn at the outset OF
the 'little contest with Spain." and the
war critics took their arguments 100
much from theoretical STANDPOINT
The wonder is that so much satistac-
tory TRANSPORTATION was effected.
DR.. Ford next described the feelings OF
interest and satisfaction felt while pass
ing MORO Castle, In Santiago harbor'.
md the battered hulks OF CerVera,s s.
once proud fleet. Difficulty in unload
ing the ship at Manzanillo was eneouh-
tered, owing TO a strike OF the Cuoah
laborers for 81 80 day, to be pald IN
gold. The strike was settled. remarked
the speaker sententiousiy, by securing
other reconcentradoes.
ManzanIllO's narrow streets, ana the
city's general characteristics were
briefly sketched. The hospital facilities
had been developed to n fair standard,
for the Spanlards left nothing that
could be turned to advantage. II is
said" remarked Dr. Ford. that they
even tried to take the postholes with
{6en1: One of the hotels re55iees 20 me
eiIphdilous naWe Of the Hotel OF the
Golden Neektie." The speaker had
never seen a Cuban drnnkard, or a
drunken man, although every naive
drank wine He was sorry to adu,how-
ever, that some Of the American SOL
dIers lnlblbed too much alcoholic oeVer-
age. In fact. said he. drinking alcohol
&c stimulants in a hot climate gave tme
soldiers more remorse than colder cii-
mate would, and they are beginning 10
find It out. The hotels are conuucteu on
the European plan.
The novelty OF hearing q foreigh
tongue spoken constantly and persist
entity, said the speaker later IN the
course Gf his remarks. reminded one OF
corn shelter. After awhile the speak
er was able ito pick out the joints ana
to commit n few words. But unless ne
possessed great patience and gyratory
powers, the attempt to learn the IAN
Ruage, descended to paniomlme. VI;
Ford, with the assistance OF fsienos ana
dictionary, learned to iDerpret tne
streameTs hung about the town during
the gala entrance OF a Cuban general
A.. . gV1FnFiEn0
discover that not q word OF reference
20 American interference was made me
Inscriptions being devoted solelS TO
iauding the heroes dead and living OF
the Cuban army. their glorious achieve
meuts. etc. Dr. F0rd's description OF
the entrance OF this particular Cuban
army was rich. The Cuban general had
n stan OF twenty-five men. and an army
OF fifty, all mounted. The Cubnns pre-
ferred TO Withdraw attention from the
American soldiers, rather than give H.
Speaking OF the elements OF the pop
ulatlon on the island, he said the Gu
bans would have race problem on
their hands at Il future day. the ne
Groes were not liked any too wei by the
Spanish. The Cuban proper Is the ma
tive. boosting OF Spanish ancestry,
while the negro doesn't boast o. his an
cestry but thinks himself as good as the
Cuban. There has been much ming
ling OF the races, so that the line OF de-
marcatiOn IS less than in this country"
Even the pure blooded Spanlnrd is
sWarthy. and Tor that reason the color
line ISN'T so distinct. The race PROB
lem VIII not call for immediate atten-
tion, and probably will never need gov
ornamental attention.
The speaker said the Cuban towns
were defended scientifically by sys-
6em Of block houses anG trenches Ihc
Cuban army, of which so much USED 70
be said, consisted OF a general. MS stall'
and often not more than MY men.
They would surround town ana enlist
every stray man they captured. IN
poor "pacliicos" suffered alike IRON Sh-
ban and Spaniard Tho Spanish policy
Of determination reduced the number or
"reconcentrados" 10 almost minus
quantity. The Cuban was termed re-
llglous Individual without religion; ne
doesn't take the conscientious interest
IN his religion that II taken IN Other
Catholic countries, he keeps nominal
membership. hut doesn't enter INTO the
spirit OF the thing: naturally ueduGed
DR.. Ford. because he received MS reIlg-
ion from mis- Spanish opprcssor.
In tho United States II IVES possible 70
divide the people into two classes, cupi-
talists and iaborers: IN CuDu, meg W., vas
hut one c,ass-capitalists' 70 C ,iS.!,
wanted 10 labor. The speaks5 ~. u ~. :
think Cuba Just now preseit,..H , ~
vltinU field 10 American ndventurefsi
the uncertainty OF Cuban rule ought 10
deter Investors. II Is likely thut t hs
old SPANISH methods Of taxation I'M nm
c.,rrlpt rule may govern. Ihe Irh
snn1i5h nrefer American annexation;