Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-29

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PRESIDENT NAsso OF THE CUpAS REPUBLIC.
arr willing TO accord to noncom batants
and such Spanish residents Of the is
land as may swear allegiance to the
new government and take upon them
selves the responsibilities Of citizen
ship. First Of all, the new government
must preserve order. This ought not to
be difficult, as all classes Of people in
Cuba recognize the fact that only .
condition Of permanent peace will at
tract the necessary capital to revive the
desolated resources of the island and
give legitimate employment TO the la
Dor now engaged from necessity rather
than inclination in larceny and robbery.
The ugliest Of all new Cuban prob
lens Is what to do with the insurgent
army. Its members have not been paid.
and no money to pay them seems to be-
forthcoming. They have no means Of
getting living except by foraging upon
the country In other words, they must
be bandits or starve. IL Is claimed that
most Of them are willing to work, but
there will be nothing for them to do
until outside capital comes in and 70.
stores the plantations What is TO be
done in the meantime requires a high
order Of craftsmanship which has not
yet materialized. II 10 suggested with
more or less seriousness that the Cuban
army might be- used as . sort Of police
force TO preserve order. IL il said that
President Diaz once disposed OF band
Of professional revolutionists in Mexico
In this manner with marked success.
A notable feature OF the situation is
the conspicuous absence OF anything
like Office seeking ON the part Of Cubans
who have been conspicuous in the revo-
luton The military element is in the
background. and the prominent civil
officers Of the insurgent government are
letting things take their course In all
this they may be showing the very sa.
gacity most needed in the new political
era The leaders have certainly shown
q high order Of diplomacy in securing
recognition Of their cause in the plat.
form Of all the political parties OF the
United States without becoming entan.
gled with any one Of them
One Of the most prominent Cuban
statesmen is Salvador Cimeros. the first
president Of the Cuban republic during
the last instruction He is veteran
Of the Ten Years war. in which he was
q gallant participant He resigned the
title Of marquis to become rebel and
sacrificed his property 40 that his cred
itors would not be injured by his course.
He has resided In the United States and
IL an ardent student and admirer Of the
American system Of government As
president Of the Cuban insurgent gov.
eminent he was commander in chief OF
the army Conducting a war Is some.
thing more than shooting and charging.
and tho Cuban government claims to
have shown unexcelled craftsmanship
in keeping their army in fairly good
condition throughout the long and
bloody struggle. In 1895 and 1896 over
$500. 900 was collected in Cuba under
just and equitable system Of taxation.
The greater part Of this sum Was spent
in the United States for supplies Senior
Cisneros is az years old, however, and
announces his readiness to rest upon his
record
Bartolome Masso. the present presi.
dent Of the insurgant Cuban republic,
is veteran Of the Ten Years war, dur.
ing which he became major general
When the late revolution began, he
was one Of the first at the front. He in.
stituted the policy Of crippling the pos
sible resources Of Spain by burning his
own plantation. He was vice president
under the Cisneros administration and
was elected president in October Of
1897 Independence or death" has
ever been Masso's motto A more deter
mined man never lived. He is conserva-
tive and diplomatic and Is looked upon
by many as the most available political
timber among the Cuban leaders The
fact that be is the head of the present
iusurgent government however. il a
handicap to any chances that he might
have for political preferment in the
government to come, for it seems to be
the policy Of the Cubans to avoid all
semblance Of desire to perpetuate the
republic in its present form They
claim that they want government o.
the people, by the people. for the people,
according TO the highest American
ideals. in which the insular and peninsu-
lar elements shall have representation
according TO their numerical strength.
OF course the Cubans who have been
identified actively or passively with the
revolution expect to be in the majority,
but they propose TO preserve the forms
and proprieties Of self government II
they have the opportunity Senior Masso
is about 80 years Of age and has pre-
served o modest personal fortune out OF
the general wreck of the war.
General Gomez is the war hero Of the
Cubans He taught them the guerrilla
style Of fighting, which proved SO sue
oessful against the Spaniards Maceo
often said that he learned all he knew
Of warfare from Gomez The old hero
is writer as well as fighter. and has
written several pamphlets during the
last insurrection He has often said that
after Cuba had gained her liberty and
peace reigned in the island which he
loves so well, he would never enter the
arena OF politics There is no reason 70
doubt the old man g sincerity. and there
10 every probability that he will spend
the remainder Of bis day on his planta-
ton. He IL 90 years old
General Calixto Garcia is another
warrior who Is not liable to figure
prominently In post bellum politics.
but who must be mentioned among the
possibilities, % no one can tell what
the future may bring forth He succeed.
Cd Maceo in the field and has a military
record which will live in history In
Cuban politics, however. military REQ.
ords are not Just now IN demand.
Domingo Msndes Capots. the pressnt
vice president of the inxu19eut govern