The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-06
FEAR THE CUBAN BLACKS
WHITE INSURGENTS SEEMINGLY
AFRAID OF NEGRO DOMINATION.
Garcia and other Leaders Repopted to
Favor Annexation of the IsIand
TO the United States.
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.

Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 2S.-iAmong
the American citizens of Cuban birth and
perhaps generally among those who desire
annexation to the United States the rift be-
tween the American and Cuban forces has
been source of concern. What has made
this breach of especial moment just lat this
time is the surprising sentiment in favor
OF union that has grown in the Cuban army
itself. Not that the men of General Gar
cia's troops are giving any particular
thought to the political future of their ISL
and they are chiefly negroes of limited
education and intelligence. who are more
interested in filling their stomachs .:han in
questions of government, but among the
officers there has been remarkable shift
of feeling.
Most astonishing and Significant is the
change in General Garcia himself. <Ie had
been known most uncompromising foe
to annexation. Nor was this strange. As
one of the most important leaders of the
insurgents he would naturally prefer the
fruition of his labors and risks the estab-
lishment Of an independent nation to the
merging with larger country. In a: Cnban
republic the rewards of all military heroes
will be more glittering than in one state Of
a union, with only small voice in rational
and international affairs. Within the last
few days. however. General Garcia has
pressed his opinion that the welfare of
Cuba depended on her joining the sister
hood of the United States. Partly on ac-
count of his attitude and partly on account
of the same reasons which led to his con-
version many OF his officers now side with
him.
I'm General Garcia's army there is APP
w Iaa4x he xunf fa nd
black troops. They stand side by side in
the same regiments. Several of the most
important generals are negroes. To the
stranger, therefore, this revelation about
race feeling comes as a surprise. But an
intimate knowledge of the conditions leads
to assurances from various persons that the
possible ascendancy of the blacks. especial
ly at Santiago province. is already the cause
of uneasiness. They are in the majority
there and under the leadership of shrewd
men of their own race who had won dis
tinction as soldiers they would surely be-
come important factors.
1t might seem that under democratic
government negro domination here would
be equally likely whether the single star
of Cuba remained in her flag or was added
to the blue field of the American ensign,
while the Cubans who have studied the
question believe that independence would
make the danger greater. Under IT they
say the country WOuiQ nave oil army VI lAO
own in which the negro element would be
strong. The race would then be organized
under it's own leaders and would act more
or less as a unit Under annexation there
would be no army save that of the United
States and no aggregations of colored men,
AS individuals the negroes would be easily
managed by the superior intelligence of the
people. Then too, there would not be the
same incentives to political activity and
ambition on the part of their leaders. In
single state of the union the prizes to be
won at the polls would be almost wholly
local. In nation they would appeal much
more to the negroes. To be COMMANDMENTS
chief of the army or minister to France
would be vastly more attractive THAI to be
mayor of city. Cubans seem to predicate
their opinions on the belief that the United
States would gladly welcome their rich do
main into statehood OF the feeling In the
larger country against adding to it's political
problems they will hear nothing. They are
convinced that an era of land greed has set
in, if il has not always existed dormant,
and that with the consent OF the island
Union will be SneedY.