Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-06

has so unselhshly made our freedom possi-
BILE.
mot long before the signing of the pro-
tocol General Emilio March, civil and
military governor of Puerto Principe, sent
a military commission to us urging that per-
mission be given for his forces, numbering
1000 men, together with the troops of Hol-
guln under General Luque, to march across
the province of Camaguey to the railroad
station at Placetas, from which point they
were to take the railroad and join General
Blanco in Havana. Permission to move
across our territory upmolested by Cuban
troops was asked, in consideration of which
the cities Of HoFguin and Puerto Principe
were to be evacuated and turned over to
us, the latter city to be used as the seat
of the provisional government. Owing to
our inability to communicate with the
American forces or to ascertain from the
secretary of war in Washington whether
such action on our part would be In har-
mony with the plans of the War depart
ment, we were compelled to refuse this per-
mission, Notwithstanding our desire to oc-
cupy the city of Puerto Principe for gov
ernment purposes. From the moment that
America took the first step toward making
the liberty of this island possible we have
done all in our power to restrain those ele-
ments which betrayed a disposition to place
obstacles in the way of the military lead
ers OF the United States, and to keep in
harmony with the purpose of her admins
tration.
Need of Public Funds.
Problems social, political and economical
press upon us from all sides. The starving
cry for food the naked beg for clothes,
the homeless look for shelter, the sick and
suffering plead for medicine and for succor;
all look to us for counsel and advice. With
out funds we are at present unable to re-
lieve suffering, as all revenues from customs
and port duties are collected and held by
officials either OF Spain or the United States.
or the latter we make no complaint, because
we believe that in the end just account
will be rendered to u.s. In a document is
sued by the American authorities at San
tiago 1t is stated that the revenues collected
at the different Cuban ports under the con-
troll OF the United States will be used for
the maintenance of the army OF occupation
and for the payment of those municipal
oficials who will hold office until the evacu-
alton OF the Spaniards.
THE Spaniards, we are told, are to &c
by December 1, or soon after. Then is to
come an American army OF occupation,
some saying that 1t is to be so 900 strong. l;
is but natural that We should ask, Why is
this great army sent to Cuba? When the
gpaniards are gone who is It going to fight
Surely not the Cubans. Such a thought
would be monstrous. You have encouraged
us. you have freed us. you have fed us. You
will continue to advise, to guide and protect
us. We need your engineers. your miners
and mechanics your school teachers, your
settlers and your capitalists When the
Spanish forces eyacuate Cuba there will be
no more use for soldiers here than there
will be in the state OF New York
Welcome hut Not Needed.
God knows the United States troops are
welcome Americans, armed or unarmed,
are our friends, and consequently they are
welcome TO stay with US as long as they
choose. Our home is theirs. But at present
Il is so demolished that It is difficult for
us 10 entertain our guests as we would like.
Our own troops are more than anxious to
disband and attend to long neglected fields