Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-11-18
CUBA AND NEGROES.
WHEN FREED 1T Is LIKELY TO DRAW
THE BLACKS FROM THE SOUTH.

This Together with the Influx OF Ynasss
Capital and Methods VIII Americanize
the acknowledgement 4 Cuba Wa
Follow Freedom.
There is no doubt that the Cuba of
the future will be a very much richer
country than it was before the revolu-
ton, and there will be no lack of capt.
tai to develop its resources. Several
years ago an American correspondent
who made a trip through the interior
of the island discovered that it was a
country of deserted plantations. On
many of them the houses of the SUI
perintendents and Of the laborers were
abandoned, but were in good condi-
ton. The ground was fertile, and only
Spanish oppression made it impossible
to work it probably. The Army and
Navy Journal, in an article on the
changed industrial conditions of Cuba
that may be expected, says
For tropical and semi-tropical fruits
Cuba is an ideal field Not only oranges
of excellent character are grown, but
all other members of the citrus family,
and as frosts are unknown, the pro-
duction is entirely exempt from the
risks which in Florida and California
attend the cultivation of these fruits.
But there are a great number of other
delicious fruits, now seldom or never
seen in our markets, like the guava,
mango, sappodilla, avocado pear, auri-
nam cherry, mangOsteen, sour sop,
cherinoya, and a dozen others that
might be named. These, with rapid
transit and Yankee enterprise, will be
placed within the reach of Northern
purses and palates.
THE mining industries of Cuba,
though largely undeveoped, are of the
most promising character. Copper is
found in paying quantities, and, until
the revolution of 1868, was prodtably
mined. Iron ore in ineXhaustible
amounts and of exceptional purity and
richness is found in the eastern end of
the island and the working Of these
mines is even now to some extent car
ried on in spite of the interruption of
civil war. With the return Of peace
ern Cuba will no doubt take a front
rank among the great iron producing
countries of the world.
1T is not improbable that the liberia
ton of Cuba may give material aid in
the settlement of the so-called negro
problem. The influence which capital
will exert in the development and re-
habiltation of the Cuban agriculture
and manufactures is, of course, suf-
fciently obvious. The part which the
humble laborer will play in this new
drama of progress and reviving indus
tries, though less conspicuous, is at
least quite as important. Cuba is the
ideal home of the negro. Already the
laboring population is largely made
up from this race, and with the new
planting, manufacturing and mining
ventures there will be vast and in
creasing demand for labor. 1t will not
take the colored people long to learn
/ this fact.
From the congested centres of ne
gro population in Louisiana, MISSISSIPPI
pi, South Carolina, and other States, we
may safely assume that swarms of col
ored men will flock to Cuba, greatly to
their own advantage, and not less to
that of the regions they are leaving.
These negroes may not be the pick of
their race; but if we'll treated they will
make useful field hands. They will be
familiar with American ways and
American methods. They will speak
English, at least the negroes version
of it, and the ideas and responsibilities
of American citizenship which a third
of a century has taught them, though
still crude and imperfect, will be a
decided advance upon those now cur
rent among the Cuban workmen of
their race.
1T is quite mistake to suppose that
white men from Northern regions can
not work in the fields OF Cuba exactly
as Northern farmers do, after becom-
ing acclimated, and. with certain pre-
cautions, maintain vigorous health.
The temperature never reaches so high
a point as it does in New York. AT
night it is always cool, and the sea
breezes wonderfully temper the heat
of the tropical sun. 1t is still true
however, that the greater part of the
farm work and kindred labor will be
performed by the negro"
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