Evening star., 1898-11-05


few years in many minor details will of ne
cessity be in the nature of a political ex-
pertinent. Errors will no doubt be made,
but none which will endanger the interests
of the body polite or be not capable of
immediate correction.
We do not claim to be infallible, but we
feel justified in placing almost unlimited
confidence in the patriotism, integrity and
sober Judgment of the great majority of
our people.
That We may be permftte to create and
MAINTAIN with our own resources such a
government is our only prayer.
:, What we want are railroads, telegraph
lines, pubic schools, sawmills, machine
shops, factories, better houses, and those
sanitary conditions and comforts which go
hand in hand with modern civilization. Our
island is capable of yielding a wealth sec
ond to none in the world. To the United
states. which has rendered this possible
for us, We owe a debt of everlasting grati-
tude- Her people are welcome as our
own. Her Constitution, her institutions
political and economical, have been and will
be our models and our guides
Annexation in the Future
TT is quite probable that in a few years
social and commercial interests will induce
Cuba to sue for admission to the Union as
a state. But understanding and realizing
as do the peculiar temperament and con-
ditlon of our people. 1 cannot but think
that annexation would be most inexpedient
and unwise at present ] am well aware
that powerful alliance between Spanish
political and American financial interests
has been formed. and that 1t is bringing all
possible pressure to bear upon, not only
the peace commission al Paris and the ad-
ministration at Washington but upon the
malcontents of Cuba. to compel the imme
diate annexation of this island as a terri
tory of the United States. But a thorough
knowledge of the true state of affairs as
well as of the wishes of my people, impel
me to state that if such a step is forced
upon us now it may long be regretted. 1t
is far better to let the grounds In the conee
cup settle before offering 1t to the guest
Independence absolute has been the
dream of our lives. Permit us to enjoy
this before compelling US to enter into
even a more profitable or satisfactory state
We have accepted the assistance of the
United States in driving out the Spaniard
as a noble and unselfish act of brotherly
love and humanity To force annexation
on US now would SOW in the minds of many
the seeds of suspicion and distrust. Spain
has for years declared that America had
no real sympathy for the Cuban, that she
cared only for his territory. DO not let her
say: I told you So
English Language.
TT is my prayer that the friendly reia-
tions between Cuba and the United States
may never be tainted with a breath of sus-
picfon That they will some time coalesce
is inevitable. But let care be
taken that that union be not marred by
the iii-feeling and disappointment which
would be inevitable if the mercenary ma
chinations of the former enemies of our in
dependence are allowed to prevail / hope
to live to see the day when the English
language will be not only taught in our
public schools, but will be as we'll the Ian
guage of commerce and of state.
The public school system of the United
States. by men who are especially compe-
tent to judge Of educational systems, has
BEEN found on the whole admirable and sat
isfactOry. Nevertheless. there are certain
which would render it better
adapted To a system of public school edu-
cation for the CUhans, and such modifica-
tions will be readily grated upon it through
careful observation of the intellectual train
ing of other countries, as Germany. We
are waH aware that a vital need of the
Cuban is education. The only education
heretofore attainabIe by the Cuban was
that offered by the church, cramped and
imperfect system, which, when brought in
to competition with progressive ideals. has
been found in every instance wholly made
quate.
The Provisional Government.
ITO President Mckinley and the admin
istration at Washington we have appealed
not only by letter, but through the per-
sonal officers of a special envoy for counsel
and advice. SO far these appeals have been
in vain. 1t is true that ours is only a pro-
visonal government, that we were not
elected by and do not represent all of the
people of Cuba. We do not represent the
Spaniards or their sympa thizers who sus-
tains the same relation to did the
tories to the colonel congress during the
American revolution. But it is equally
true that ours is the only authority, civil
and military. which represents the people
who have rebelled against the rule of
Spain; the only government whose legisla-
tive acts have been respected. whose judi
cial DEGREES have been accepted and whose
executive orders have been obeyed during
the past three years throughout two-thirds
of the island
1T Is this section. the vast interior of the
island, with its more than 100000 of in
habitants. that in dire distress now appeals
TO Us for advice and succor
Santiago de Cuba and few of the coast
cities have been reached and aided both by
the United States government and by the
agents of the Red Cross, but to the great
and suffering interior nothing has come
The instant the administration of the
United States sees fit to recognize US mil
lions of dollars are ready TO pour into our
war-Gepleted treasury, with which we can
relieve all suffering, pay off our army, car
ry on our government and become finan-
cially Independent of the rest of the world.
Our entire Indebtedness today, aside from
the amount due our soldiers. is less than
81 .6e0. 900, so that our start in political life
will be without burdens or obligations ex-
cept to the United States.
Expenses of Government.
THE running expenses of a republican
form of government in Cuba will be very
light. Under the protection of the United
States our army and navy budget will be
almost nothing. Nearly all of the revenues
of the island, which will accrue from a
moderate tariff, internal taxes, charters
franchises. etc, will be devoted to a per-
feet system of sanitation of our cities, to
the establishment of schools, to the build
Ing of roads and to the general develop
ment of free and independent country.
Failing to get from the administration at
Washington even those unofficial sugges-
tions or notifications of its purpose and de-
sires which We wished, we can only in
struct the assembly to exercise its own
best judgment in regard to the formation
of just and equitable electoral laws and to
call for a general election which will enable
every citizen of Cuba entitled to a vote
in public affairs to cast his vote for those
men to whom he may wish to intrust the
government of his country.
This government once established and
recognized and Cuba's troubles will be over
Loans, public and private, almost without
limit have been offered us the moment we
recognized by 10 Trnit ta1