The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-16
Spaniards Are Now Shouting For
Cuban independence.
FIGHTING ANNEXATION
FEVERISH AND FRANTIC CRU
SADIE AGAINST AMERICANS.
Cubans Appeal to Spaniards to Unite
With Them In Resisting Ameri-
can "Usurpation"-Fear of Amer
lean Competition Should the Is
land Be Annexed.

Havana, Sept 15.-The predominant
feature of the situation is the feverish
and widespread agitation of the Gu
bans in favor of the absolute inde-
pendence of the island at all COSTS
Manifestos are circulated, inviting the
cooperation of Spanish merchants to
this end, and pointing out that either
annexation or an American protecto-
rate would mean death to all trade
| with Spain in a couple of years.
General Maxine Gomez, who only
a fortnight ago gave expression to eX-
tremely moderate views, counselling
| harmony and patience, now expresses
| himself as strongly in favor of abso-
| lutte independence or nothing. He says
| the Spanish element cannot afford TO
delay uniting with the Cubans upon
| necessary basis for the establishment
of conditions that will forbid and pre-
vent the United States grabbing and
taking easy advantage of the treasure
which both the Spaniards and Cubans
/ have fought for at an expense OF rivers
of blood on each side"
General Gomez says, if report speaks
truly, that those who fear independ-
ence belong to the same family of cow
ardly ours who fed from Havana at
J TIE 11ISl VI
! These, he declares, are, however,
minority, and. to quote him further,
almost the entire Spanish population
remains, protecting their homes and
defying the dangers of war, and will
now remain to unite their efforts with
those of the Cuban party working to-
gether with the Cubans for the devel-
opment of the island and the return Of
prosperity"
A leading evening paper yesterday
published a local letter, purporting to
voice the opinion of Calonia in favor of
! independence, and promising aid and
cooperation.
How far the influence of the party
agitating for Cuban independence may
extend it is at present difficult to esti-
mate, but the fact is, its agents are
working like beavers. Some former
sympathizers with the annexation
movement are to be found yet in the
ranks of the independence movement.
CAUSED BY PORTER.
This violent impetus given to the agi-
tation for independence is the result,
apparently, of the arrival of the Res
olute, or, rather, of the arrival of Mr.
Porter. and the examination he is max
ing into tariffs, municipal taxation and
other matters of international govern
ment which Cubans had expected to
I handle and administer themselves. Mr..
Porters operations are viewed with
suspicion by an important section of
the Cubans, who keep on calling meet
ings against ''usurpation of privileges
purchased at such a sacrifice" They
insist on absolute freedom, unrestrain-
ed liberty or fight to the death.
FEAR COMPETITION.
One reason why many Spaniards
who favored
now changed their opinion is that they
fear the competition of American rivals
as Storekeepers, hotel managers and
restaurantzeepers. They are afraid
that the Americans, instead of coming
to buy out their establishments and
stocks at fabulous prices, based upon
the old Spanish duties, Will open shops
next door, import goods at the duties
under the new regime, ruin their bust
ness and reduce them to poverty.
Exactly the same spirit prevails
among the planters, especially the
smaller ones, who had hoped to sell at
good prices the old French and Bel
gian machinery for which they paid
dear and imported under excessive
duties. They realize that the American
machinery, much cheaper and paying
practically no duties, will establish a
large central market, close theirs and
push them to the wall.
The awakening of all such dreamers
to the reality of the future of Amer
lean competition causes them now to
shout loudly for Cuban independence,
under which they would expect to en-
joy the blessings of lenient laws with
out fear of active competition.
All this amounts practically to a 81
lent admission of Cuba's inability TO
offer, if left to herself, the guarantees |
of stability that would induce foreign |
capital to come here to develop the |
islands resources. The deductions seem |
to be this: With Cuba independent, /
no foreign capital and no competition; /
with Cuba under American rule, a COM /
petition against which the Cubans /
would not have the energy or the pow /
er to succeed.
These questions are uppermost in ev- |
cry mind, making for general uneasi- |
ness and discomfort preventing the re- 1
sumption of the normal tone of the /
market and blocking the trade and |
traffic.
The American evacuation commits
sioners passed today quietly Rear
some shopping, and returned to the |
ReSolute with his staff in the course /
of the afternoon.
General Butler, who is now living |
ashore, went on board the transport
this morning to confer with General !
Wade and DR.. Lame, the commission
ers' physician. regarding the sanitary
at the Trocha hotel,
which will be ready in q few days for
the reception of the commissioners and
the entire staff
General Butler, his staff and Robert
Porter are the only American repre-
sentatives living on Shore but next
week, night shore leave will be granted
to the staffs of Admiral Sampson and
General Wade, whose members, under
the navy regulations, are now obliged
to be on board the Resolute at o'clock
I. IN. Sharo-