New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-10
names Of the givers. to the possession OF some
jewellers guess Mt how he and the olympia
looked in Manila Bay.
COLOR IN CUBA.


Shall Cuba be black or white? That is the
final question, in the opinion Of leading mer-
chant of Havana, himself Cuban, having
business relations with most OF the cities OF
the island. Unless American government Is
continued he reasons. the blacks will have the
greatest voting strength, and Cuba will be-
come another Hayti With American govern
ment. the establishment of institutions accept
able to Anglo-Saxons and encouraging to their
enterprise. and certainty that such Institutions
will be permanently maintained, great immi-
grafton of Americans from this country might
be expected-merchants and bankers manu-
facturers end their trained foremen and hands,
mine owners and operators, railway builders
and hands steamship and other coastng trans
porters, and mechanics Of all sorts whose ser
vices are so greatly needed and In the island
so hard to get This merchant believes that
personal occupation by Americans of brains,
enterprise and industry can alone secure the
future development Of Cuba. Without it the
Spaniards would refuse or be unable to vote,
the white Cubans would be ottvoted by the
blacks and colored from the start, and would
grow fewer with each year, while the blacks
would multiply, and failure to establish insti-
tutions entirely satisfactory to American i'm
This is not a cheerful forecast, but deserves
serious consideration by all who have the
future of Cuba or Of this country much at
heart. For It need not be said that the close
proximity Of a great and fertile island gov
erned and largely populated by the colored race
would have an influence on the future Of this
country. and particularly upon the industries
and the business of Southern States. which
a. ri J wifi MiprotiOn
of enterprlsing or politically ambitious colored
men from all Southern States would make a
difference there, and migration Of the lawless
and turbulent blacks and fugitlves from JUS
tice would make a difference In Cuba also.
The black population in Cuba would increase
much beyond the natural rate, under those cir
crmstances, while white immigration would
be repealed and a great number Of white in
habitants would make haste to find more con-
genial homes elsewhere What Hayti Is the
world partly knows. Americans would not
think it a good investment If the war for the
freedom of Cuba should end in a much larger
and nearer Hayti.
But in answer to the gloomy fears OF the
Cuban merchant it has to be said that the
United States will not and cannot renqush
control Of the island except to a really free.
worthy and stable government The interna-
tional obligations this country has undertaken
make il impossible. The constraining sense OF
duty and the conscientious determination of the
people make it impossible The Presidents
carefully chosen and explicit words In his last
annual message showed that he would not be
prepared to assent to any such abandonment OF
responsibility. The white Cubans. the white
Spaniards and other residents Of Cuba and
Americans are wards for whose protection and
Just government hereafter the United States has
given bond II there were prospect that such
a government az that OF Hayd would follow
American withdrawal, that step would be In
definitely postponed, or If after American con-
troll had been withdrawn such a government
should result. this Nation would Of a certainty
take steps TO make good It's international OBJ
legations and to protect it's own interests
The fears Of the Cuban merchant mainly
based upon statements regarding the division
Of population which do not accord with records
that are obtainable. Old accounts OF 100000
population are rendered valueless by the de-
struction during war. If the native whites and
the black and coored Cubans suffered about in
proportion to their previous number. there
should now be out Of 100000 inhabitants
about 6S4, 900 white natives, 100000 black and
colored and 10000 Spanish and other whites
not natives Reckoning adult males at quar-.
ter Of the inhabitants there would be about
100000 Of voting age, the white natives 81 per
cent, the other whites 1914 per cent and the
black and colored 3013 per cent. But more will
be known about 1t when a census has been
taken by the United States. Meanwhile, none
can question the Importance Of establishing
without delay such institutions and such pro-
lection for life and property as will encourage
to the utmost the immigration Of intelligent
and progressive Anglo-Saxons, 80 that the
foundations Of any future government may be
laid in justice and equal rights.
NEGLECTED MARKETS.