The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-29

w doUluSUOD, NV Sl42DCl w. ONA4'i ChA
NJ. c. Butler, of South Carolina, a
member Of the Cuban evacuation com
mission, arrived here today direct
from Havana in response to tele-
graphic summons from President Nc
Kin1ey and he had two hours consul
tation with the president at the White
house. He made an extended report
OF negotiations for the evacuation and
of the terms upon which the Span
iards had agreed to complete it by
January 1st. General Butler gave it
as his opinion that all the Spaniards
have mot the American commission
ers with reasonable fairness and tnat
there has been little friction. Some
Of the claims they have made for
compensation for Spanish property
have been ridiculous and they will, of
course be abandoned in the end. Gen
eral Butler denies all the reports Of
dissensiOns among the members OF
the American commission.
In addition to his report upon the
actual work Of the joint commission,
General Butler gave the president
much valuable information as to the
general situation in Cuba, the ability
of the Cubans for self government,
the sanitary condition of Havana and
generally the results Of his Observa-
tions during his stay there.
General Butler is of the opinion
that the military government of the
island must be continued for some
time. but that it should only be as
rigorous as may be necessary to pre-
serve order. He thinks the Cubans
are ambitious for self government and
anxious to avoid friction with the
American authorities If military
control is exercised with discretion he
believes there will be little trouble.
One of the most troublesome fea
lures of the situation is the oriminal
class and the difficulty of determining
in the case Of prisoners who are incar-
cerated for political Offenses and who
for crime. There has existed in Ha-
vana in the past an oath bound organ
izatiOn on the order of the Italian
Malta known as the Mango, which
was a source of terror to the inhabi-
tants. One of the few cOmmendable
acts of Spain was the deportation of
about 700 of the members of the Or
ganiZatiOn to the penal colony of
Ceuta; but fears are expressed that
these criminals may return or that
the order may be revived by some of
those who were not deported.
One Of the features of the situation
in which the authorities here are es-
pecially interested just now is the
sanitary condition of Havana. The
shipment of troops, which has already
begun, and the existence of yellow
fever in Havana all the year round
makes it absolutely necessary that the
city should be placed in thorough SAN
itary condition General Butler de-
t5cribes the city now as a pOsthOle. fill
ed with unmentionable filth, sQualor
and destitutiOn. The Spanish authori-
ties have, however, agreed to inaugu-
rate the work Of putting the city in san
itary condition with the aid of the
American authorities and work to this
end is to begin at once.
General Butler paints dark picture
OF the destitution among the poorer
classes and says il will probably be
necessary for us to furnish some aid
to the starving wretches.
General Butler paid high tribute
TO the discipline and uncomplainng
suffering of the Spanish troops. They
endured hardships, be says, which
would have caused american soldiers
to revolt. AS an illustration of the ad-
mlTable discipline of the Spanish SOL
dlers he said that at one time there
were 1900 Spanish soldiers in Ha-
vana, yet he never saw or heard of an
act of violence or did he hear or see
single Spanish soldier intoxicated
General Butler will reman here sew
eral days and probably have another
interview with the president He viii
then go 10 his home in South Caro-
lima, whence he will return in about
zen days to Havana. His wife and
daughter will accompany him on his
return. This fact leads to the bel ief
that he may be destined for military
service in Cuba as his present mis-
sion expires with the completion CT the
evacuation.
10 CCLONTZE NEGROES AT SAN
TTAGO.
Santiago de Cuba, November 90
The BandeTa Guiana, weekly paper
OF this city. takes an opposite view to
the other papers regarding the impor-
tatlOn into the island of negro colo
ajes from Kansas. The paper saws
that all that should be required is that
the immigrants be Of good character
and willing TO work and declares fur