The National tribune., 1898-12-15

smallpox They were Daily, OF whom
wrote, and MaFtnson, who died few days
after Daily. Both were nice bows, ard we
all miss them greatly. The two weeks which
the disease taxes to appear in are now over,
and as no other cases have appeared in our
company Il am not sure of the regiment), ii
is believed that all danger of serious cpl
eicmic is past, but for while we were all
! pretty wen scared. Also, for the last three
digs we have hal heavy rains. and it is said
this puries the air.
We have 81 or y in the hospital now, and
! three discharged for physical disability; also
some sick in, quarters, so we have only about
| 80 priyates ont Of 90 fit for duty AS we
! have lS' or 90 men on duty every day, we
| sometimes do not even get our thiri day Off
| I'd rather earn $50 month NJ home than
T $500 month here. 1t costs something to
! live decent here. There is money in the hat
exporting trade if decent Government is
| set up here. They make the finest cocoanut
hats, better than panama, for one or two
Spanish dollars apiece. They are made in
tie Provinces AMI brought in. think that
| if regular system of trading was established
| large quantities coulI be procured for a
Spanish dollar or less for the best hat made
They are OF single, double and triple LAYERS;
that is, two hats OF the same shape, so light
that you could almost blow them off your
| hand, are put together to make them strong
| have one, a single-layer, which is retaled
| at three Mexican dollars, which hope to get
home.
We are Of course waiting for the Commits
sion to decide, but don't want them to hurry,
| because they nave the future policy of the
| United States in their hands, and of course
| a bad policy will ruin the country and good
one better it. There are only two ways of
! deciding the question. We cannot, under
any conditions, return it to its former Govern
ment, as that was as rotten as the former one
IN Cuba. These people, with little help,
and under the protection of our Government,
conld establish a good republic, as they are
quick to learn, and are already fully well
educated. My plan would be: Establish a
republic under the protection of the United
| States. At the end of certain number OF
years our protection could be withdrawn
| During that time our merchants could estab-
llsh fine permanent trade, as the natives
favor the Americans here greatly, and regard
Us as their benefactors. The other plan
would be 10 return the islands to Spain with
a cast-itOn agreement as to an autonOmi>t
Government; but under this arrangement
our merchants would not come in for near as
SoOu u trade, lor Tue IONS would naIaSS them
III every way.
If we take the islands, we must give ur
the Monroe Doctrine, and having Eastern
possessions, would soon become involved in
the Eastern or Chinese question. If we give
up the Monroe Doctrine there is danger;
under favorable conditions, European powers
may long Tor possessions in South America.
Again, we do not need to acquire territory, as
we have lots OF room to grown in yet; but
England, France and Germany are looking
for room to grown in, and South Americas
little Republics would be their next prey, and
that must be kept off as long as possible
RALPH HAsENWINKLE.