The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-30
EN-GON. EVANS ON CUBA.
iita Views as To tho Fitnoss aud Chnrnc.
ter or the T.. opIc on the Isiund

Ex Gov. Evans, of South Caro-
lima, who recently wont homo, after
spending several months hero us a
Major, says tao Havana correspond.
ent Of the Philadelphia Press, made
some pertinent observations on the
situation here. Ilo said:
"Thcro is only Il sprinkling Of the
people i'll Cuba who arc fitted to take
part in the government of tho island.
Tho majority are like children. An
independent government would hard
~ stand twenty.four hours. There
would be two parties at tho start,
the military aud tho property OWN
ors Tho former would control, be
cause of their ignorant following.
Tho first thing that they would do
would do would be- to lssue bonds to
pay the vast millions, which thcv
assert is due to the Cuban soldiers.
"SanguiIly and Juan Guulberto
Gomez wore among those who wanted
authority from the United States to
borrow $50, 100000 to pay tho Cuban
soldiers. Once in control of the gov
ernment, the bonds would be sold
for that purpose. The army dou-
bled in size aftcr the war was over,
and by the timo tho Cubans get
control of tho government, the army
on paper Will probably bo treblod.
Bonds would have to be sold at Il
discount and it would require an
ISSUE of probably $50,GO0,00O to pay
the allie sed Cuban soldiers.
"Then the soldiers would bo pen
stoned. That would require tho issue
Of moro bonds. The franchises and
concessions which Congress has un-
wisely saved up for tho Cubans,
thus preventing the development OF
the island now, would be disposed OF
in quick order by the Cuban govern
mcnt, to secure money and enrich
the members who would voto away
the concessions.
"Ibo valuable franchises wouid
probably all go to promoters and
spectators. That would mako the
ond Of tho Cuban ability to secure
money and the government would
collapse. TITO United States gov.
ornmont, if it then cumo back in con.
troll, would linl tho island mortgagcd
20 an enormous oXtent, in proportion
to its population, with Ill valuable
franchises in the hands of spocula
tors. AS this would be done by q
government established by the Uni
ted States, we could hardly ropudiate
it's obligations. The .thc1
would be vastly worse than it is to-
day, No ono will invest money il
Cuba under the monaco Of an indie
pendent government, and while it is
threatened or lasts tho island vii
not be developed, nor will it become
prosperous"
Majo Evans was detailed because
Of his knowledge Of the law to pro
sido over tho court in Havana that
tried prisoners charged with minor
offences. He was asked if the Span
ish laws needed to be changed
much.
"No," was tho reply. at is tn,
code Napoleon somewhat modified
and is something the samo AS the
code in Louisiana. The trouble is
with the procedure. That is abom
Unable and should be wiped out.
think it is Il mistake to begin to re-
form at tho top by establishing ,
supreme court first. That is cour
for lawyers. What is needed is re
formed courts for the people. Ny
own opinion is that there would bt
moro satisfactory work done if the
chief mon in control were more OK
percnccd in civil affairs"
Summer Vacation Days.