The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-07
WOES OF THE CUBANS.
The Inhabitants Suffer While Our
Commissioners Delay.
ALARMING INCREASE OF CRIME.

a Prominent Cuban Declares THAT the
Population of the Island Is steadily
Diminishing, and That Entire Vll-
lages Are Dying of starvation.
Havana via Key West, Nov. THE
interregnum between Spain's virtual
loss of sovereignty in Cuba and the
assumption of full military control by
the United States seems indefinitely
prolonged, with no immediate hope Of
relief to a country which daily grows
poorer and more depopulated. on all
sides the question is asked how much
nearer is the final solution of the prob
lem than it was on the day the pro-
toco was signed? The feeling among
the better class of intelligent and in
fluential Cubans may be pretty ac-
curately summed up in the following
observations made by a representative
Cuban merchant of Havana to a press
correspondent:
1T seems to me-and l think my
views are shared by many-that the
United States government is dilly dal-
lying too long with Spain over this
evacuation question. OF course the
problem is a difficult one. but the de-
lay is surely unnecessary. The United
States has sent here an assortment of
commissions, each more self important
and mysterious than its predecessor
and each yelling it's operations with a
cloud of secrecy which, so far as my
own experience goes, really serves the
purposes of obscuring issues and con-
cealing very small achievements.
Almost nothing has been accom-
plished. The spirit of jealousy fills not
only the individual members Of all the
commissions, but also exists between
the different commissions collectively.
These rivalries seem to engross the at
tention of commissioners much more
than the serious issues affecting the
welfare of Cuba and the dignity and
good faith Of the United States.
First we were told that the date of
occupation by the United States troops
would be Nov l, then December was
fixed upon, and later we were informed
that the date of occupation would be
left indefinite. So far as evacuation
is concerned Jan. 1 was named as an
ultimate date, but now it is rumored
that Feb. 1 has been agreed upon.
"Unless the Washington government
forces it's lethargic commissioners into
greater activity Cuba will be an i'm
mense graveyard and it's fields barren
before the United States takes posses
sion. The daily records of mortality
show that the population in all parts
of the island Is dwindling steadily
Entire villages are dying of starvation
On all sides the Spaniards continue
robbing and plundering In the mean
3,,tt SC
sloners from the United States sit sip
ping cool drinks by day and seeking
shelter by night with mortal dread o.
fever, yet absolutely impervious to tht
demands of humanity.
'"The situation created by this un-
certainty is still further aggravated by
the fact that no one dares sow crops
or cultivate lands until the present
chaotic conditions show some rays OF
light to guide agricultural efforts.
There is no work for idle hands. The
number of beggars, thieves and pros
titutes increases, while the number of
those able to relieve distress shrinks in
the same proportion. Thus far the Uni
ted States has sent In the name of
humanity a mere pittance of million
rations and the Red Cross society has
sent two cargoes of supplies, as to
whose distribution and disposal there
have been many unfavorable COM
ments. How far can such relief be ex-
pected to go?
"The present conditions cannot be
much longer protracted without sub.
jecting the United States to well de
| served criticism. More than this, the
elements most in sympathy with th'
Gl
falling off and joining the ranks of tht
opposition. AS you are aware, Seno
De Castro, the civil governor onl!
yesterday issued orders for the arres
| of 263 criminals, recently released from
| jails and the penal colonies at Ceuta
and on the Isle of Pines. This steI
| was rendered necessary by the alarm
| ing increase in burglaries, robberies
| and assaults.
while the blockade was on the city
was ruled with an iron hand, and cases
| of assault and robbery were almost
| unknown. Today, with the release OF
| criminals and the increase of poverty
| the list of murders and holdups is q
very grave matter. In addition to the
| already numerous paupers and unem
| ployed, driven to beg from sheer neces
sity, there are many discharged Span
sh soldiers without means of support
| Their number reaches into the thou
sand Boys and young girls of gentee
extraction have been thrown on th
| streets to begin their lives as beggar
or thieves, and to bring up in jails anC
| houses of i'll fame. Do the people o.
| the United States realize these things
| Does the government of the United
States, morally responsible before the
world for the future of Cuba, Intend
to tolerate indefinitely a delay which
day by day makes these bad conditions
worse?"