The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-09-16
FOR CUBAN INDEPENDENCE
FEVERISH AND EIDESPREAD AGI-
 PATTON OF CUBANS.
This the Predominant Feature of the Situation-Manifesto Circulating In- viting the Cooperation of the Spanish
 Residents and Merchants-What Gem eral Gomez Suys-Some Sympathizers
With Annexation.

Havana Sept. 15.-The predominant feature of the situation is the feverish and widespread agitation of the Cubans in favor of the absolute independence of the islands at all costs. Manifestos are being circulated inviting the co-op- eration of Spanish residents and mer- chants to this end and pointing out that either annexation or an American protectorate would mean death to all trade with Spain. General Gomez says that, if report speaks truthfully, those who fear independence belong to the same family of cowardly CUTS who fled from Havana at the first rumor of bom- bardment. These he declares, "are, however, a minority" And to quote him further: Almost the entire Span ish population remains, protecting their homes and defying the dangers of war, and will now remain to unite their eff forts with those of the Cuban party, working together with the Cubans for the development of the island and the return of prosperity"
 A leading evening paper yesterday published a letter purporting the voice of opinion of Catalonia in favor of in- dependence and promising aid and CO., operation. How far the influence of the party agitating for Cuban indepen- dence may extend 1t is at present diffi- cult to estimate. Some former sympa- thizers with the annexation movement are to be found to-day in the ranks of the independent movement. One req son why many Spaniards who at first favored annexation have now changed their minds is that they fear the com petition of American rivals, as store keepers, hotel managers and restaurant proprietors. They are afraid that the Americans, instead of coming to buy out their stocks, will open shops next door, import goods at low duties under the new regime, ruin their business 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 Belgian machinery for which they paid dear and imported under excessive duties. They realize that the American syndi- CdleS Will DT1nS Afneflcdn mdcnlnery much cheaper and paying practically no duties, and be a large central mar ket, close theirs and push them to the wall. The awakening of all such dream CTS to the reality of the future nature of American competition causes them now to shout loudly for Cuban indepen- dence, under which they would expect to enjoy the blessings of Ienient laws without fear of active competition All this amounts practically to a silent ad- mission of Cuba's inability to offer, if left to herself, the guarantees of sta- bility that would induce foreign capital to come here to develop the islands nat ural resources. The deduction seems to be this; With Cuba independent, no for eign capital and no competition; with Cuba under American rule, a competi- tion against which the Cubans would not have the energy or power to suc- ceed. These questions are uppermost in every mind, and causing general un- easiness and discontent, preventing the resumption of the normal tone of the market and blocking trade and traffic.