The evening times., 1898-08-06
CUBAN ANnnArrou.
Garcia and OtAer Cubans saia to BE
In Favor of IL.

Garcia and Other Cubans said to BE
In Favor of Ii,
1t will strike many Americans as
strange that the Cubans. or a;large part
OF them. should prefer annexation to the
United States In preference to independ-
ence. One OF the reasons given Is the
fear of negro domination. Writing from
Santiago. a stan correspondent Of the
New York Tribune says: Among the
American citizens of-Cuban birth, and,
perhaps. generally among those who de-
sire annexation to the United States. the
rift between the American and Cuban
forces has been. a !source of concern.
What has made this breach of especial
moment Just at this time is the surpris-
grown in the Cuban army itself. Not that
the men of Gen. Garcia's troops are CIV
ing any particular thought to the political
future of their island. They are chiefly
negroes of limited education and inte,li-
sence. who are more interested in filling
their stomachs than In questions Of gov
eminent. But among the officers there
mas been remarkable shift of feeling.
Most astonishing and significant is the
change In Gen. Garcia himself. He had
been known as a most uncompromising
foe to annexation. Nor was this strange,
AS one OF the most important leaders of
the insurgents. he would naturally pre-
Ter as the fruition Of his labors and risks
the establishment of an independent ma
ton to the merging with larger coun-
try. In Cuban republic the rewards Of
all military heroes would be more glitter
Ing than In one state of a union, with
only small voice In national and inter-
national affairs. Within the last few
days, however, Gen. Garcia has expressed
his opinion that the welfare of Cuba de-
pended on Joining the sisterhood of the
United States Partly on account Of his
attitude and partly on account OF the
same reasons which led to his version
many OF his officers now side with him.
The business Of Cuba IL chiefly
In Spanish hands. This element. both
from Its enmfty to the insurgents and
It's desire for a stable government, favors
annexation. here in Santiago. Doubtless
the same considerations will produce SIM
liar convictions I'm the minds of merchants
In the rest of the island when II shall
nave fallen into the possession of the
American army. But even in the strong.
est patriots. who are men of education.
tnere seems to be a growing doubt as to
the ability of the Cubans to set I'm and
10 carry on an enlightened and perma-
hent government. Many fear miiitarism.
me negro question also enters into the
SUBJECT, and 1t this that has largely AZ
iected the views Of Cuban officers IL, the
province OF Santiago de Cuba One in a
little surprised to learn the weight at
,ached to this feeling by Cubans of the
hisher class. Some of them saw that the
sentiment is exactly the same in Cuba
as In the Southern part Of the United
States.
I'm Gen Garcias army there is appar
entiy no line between the white and black
troops. They stand side by side in the
same regiments. Several OF the most i'm
portant generals are negroes. To the
stranger. therefore. this revelation about
race feeling comes as a surprise
II might seem that under a democratic
government negro domina tion here would
be equally likely, whether the single star
OF Cuba remained in her flag or was add
ed to the blue field of the American en-
sign. White Cubans who have studied
the question believe that independence
would make the danger greater. Under it,
they say, the country would have an army
of its own, in which the negro element
would be strong. The race would then be
organized and under its own leaders, and
would act more or less as a unit. Under
annexation there would be no army save
that of the United States, and no aggre-
cations Of colored men. AS individuals
the negroes would be easily managed by
the superior intelligence OF the white peo-
pie'' - '-'r