Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-08-12
A VOICE FOR THE CUBANS.
DR.. Robert 7. Hill, the Government ExplOr-
er, COrrectS Some Current Comments.

Special Correspondence of the Globe Democrat.
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 2.-Dr Rob
ert T. Hill, of the United States geological
ernment scientists upon conditions in the Wes
Indies. He has studied the people as we'll a
the rocks of CIba. He has made several eX
pedtions to the Antilles, and while pursuing
his expeditions has lived among the natives
conforming to customs and conditions as III
found them, and acquiring thorough knowl
edge of the inhabitants. No part of Cuba ha
escaped this scientist in his wanderings. Th'
results of several expeditions undertaken II
furtherance of better scientific understanding
of Cuba, Porto Rico and the West Indies have
been embracerI in large volume, which vii
be published in few weeks. Dr. Hill talked
Interestingly this evening about the people o
Cuba. He was prompted to his frank EXPIRES
sions by recent criticisms and discussions OF
the part of army officers and newspapers re
garding the action of the patriot forces i'll front
of Santiago. DR.. Hill said that in his opinion
the current comment on the Cuban people was
"unfortundte and misleading"
"It is" he explained, "not only presenting
the Cubnns in All untrue light, but is creating
a prejudice in the American mind against a
good and worthy people which little become:
us as nation. Some of this talk arise:
through ignorance; some of it is based upor
malice and interest. Sifted down, the sole
charges against the Cubans at Santiago amount
to this: That they were hungry, they were
ragged, they would not do manual labor, they
were largely negroes, and they were vindictlve
toward the Spaniards
"Some newspaper men may think it very
amusing to write funny paragraphs concerning
the fact that the Cubans did well at the feeding
trough, ETC.. little realizing how cruel such rid
icule may be toward people who have been
been living practically upon sweet potatoes and
mangoes for three years. Starvation is one OF
the most terrible sensations in the world, and
the man who has been SO fortunate as not tc
have experienced it should not ridicule those
who have. The spectacle Of such people ell
deavoring to satisfy hunger which had be-
come chronic at the United States commissary
Was ldl uloIC tidSiN tHah huhhoiOu'1 "AN )
these same ragged negroes, starving as they
were, marched nearly forty miles i'll single
night to meet the landing troops at Sibony
nor did they hesitate, notwithstanding the con
tnuous need of food, to march away when in
suited and dishonored.
"'Their raggedness was as little cause io1
rdicule as their hunger, and am sure that all
wel!-thinkiDg Americans will see the frivolity
of blaming the Cubans for having been i'll this
condition | am sure that no Northern OF
Southern soldier of the civil war who saw the
ragged condition of the Confederates at Apo
mattox finds amusement iii dress, or lack OF 1t
of Garcia's army. Much has been said abou
these Cubans refusing to do work upon the
roads or in moving supplies to the front.
have failed to see in any Of the official reports
Bleckinridge, a single word confirming this
Nevertheless, it is impossible for one who knew
the emaciated condition of these people t
imagine that they could do serious manual la
bor Mangoes do not make muscle. 1t IS ;
well-nown fact, determined by actual expert
ment in railroad construction in Jamaica, tina
one American negro fed upon our standard die
could do from eight 10 ten times the labor of
tropical negro subsisting upon the native foods
The Cubans were physically unfit to do thi
work, and if l had been a Cuban soldier | d'
not think would have done it either"
Colonel Funston has ordered the arrest o