The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18

bic quarter of the city. Cubans chiefly pro-
Iessional men returning from their exile in
The United States and Europe. had leased
them. Now in the suburbs the number of
houses which are closed and barred gives
these places the appearance of deserted
Town. They have been occuped by both
military and civil officials who are returning
TO Spain. The deserted appearance will not
last long. American officers whose duties
VIII keep them in Havana for some time
and who have been looking in vain for
homes will take advantage of the oppor-
tunity, as viii a number of business men
from the United States who are likely to
change a short stay into a period of per-
manent residence.
Some of the Spanish officers are anxious
10 secure their discharges and return to
Cuba. They have property which they do
not want to sacrifice 1t would not do 10
inquire too closely how they became pos
Eesscd Of 1t. That was under the system by
which they all profited. AS Spain will not
have need of a large army in the future it
IS presumed that these officers will succeed
IN procuring their discharges. Some of them
have Carlist connections and this will be
additional reason for enabling them TO
return to Cuba. The civilian classes who
are going back to Spain are taking their
property with them or are arranging to
have II converted into cash and forwarded
10 them. They have plucked- 1t to the last
feather and all Of them return rich To as
sumo otherwise would be to assume that
they have not taken advantage of their OPP
portunities No Spanish official, whether he
served under the old regime or under the
regime of autonomy. cares to be placed in
that category Whether he was in the Gus
tom house or in some other branch of the
government service, he would consider il a
reflection on his ability.
ne effect Of the departure of so many
OBJECTS and army camp-followerS in the
cares OF Havana was, few weeks ago, the
subject of interesting speculation. 1t was
thought most of them would be compelled
70 close Tor lack OF patronage. This will
happen in some parts of the city where the
barracks are located. But i'm the section
which is the center of social life. the neigh
faFf
ana the clubs, this will not be so. The pro-
prietOfs have met the new conditions by
cans, who are converting the cafes into
barrOoms, with all the gilded attractions
which go with these institutions in the
states. The barrOomS have anneXeS, In
which gambling of all kinds can be INDUCED
in after the most approved American meth
DDS. The aEnexes are, in fact the main
concerns. Their managers expect to do a
rushing business. One of the leading back
ers is understood TO be the proprietor of the
game which is patronized by wealthy New
workers. who go to Long Branch or Sara
toga in summer. The Spanish proprietors
We're at first doubtful about putting their
places In the hands of Americans They
thought trouble might arise with the mill
tary authorities after the flag was floating
from MORO Castle. They were assured that
ne8 Of the American military commander
Of Havana will be to show that it had not
been arranged
when the details of the Spanish evacu-
alton were first arranged some anxiety was
1eit lest a large number of the Spanish
commercial and industrial classes should
also repatriate themselves. This fear has
not been realized. Whatever doubts the
Spanish business men may have had about
the security Of life and property under the
new order were quickly dissipated. They
found the guarantee of the United States
sufficient and they discover that the transit
ton period is fraught with less disturbance
than might have been naturally expected.
In 4 few places in the interior of the island,
where the Spaniards were few in number.
they dread to remain in the midst of Gu
bans, who show an unfriendly spirit. Some
are coming to Havana and others are going
back to Spain. At ManZanilo the greater
part of the Spanish colony Is said to be
starting for Mexico. But these are excep-
tlonal instances. AS rule, wherever a
Spar ish commercial house is closing up its
business that business has been dependent
upon the official system. With the end of
that system other course is open
That a vacuum exists in Havana is a
patent fact. More people are going out than
are likely to come in for many months.
The rottenness of tine Spanish military
methods could be Judged during the insur-
recti9n by the great number of officers who
We're always in Havana on staff duty. The
Cisproportion to those who were seeing
active service in the field was marked.
Since the officers have gone the void Gre
8ted by their departure gives even a
stronger impression of their numbers They
tiOn which was too numerous to be counted.
THE void is one which will not be filled.
The American garrison will be kept out of
Havana. American officers will not be quar-
tered In the city and spread over it like a
cloud of locusts