Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-09
A CUBAN ON CUBA.
4 GENTLEMAN OF PINAR DEL mo
DISCUSSES CONDITIONS.
LOVE OF GENERAL Lee.

alton.

| "Oh. General Lee is the man. we Gu
bans love him." said Mr.. Jose Mateo
Quintero, Of Plnar del Rio Cuba, at New
FOrds last night.
"He is the great American" continued
! MIR. Quintero. enthusiastically. "All Gu
bans think so, and they are sorry he is
not the Governor of the island instead
of General Brooke. Governor Brooke is
a good man, but he doesn't understand
the Cubans like General Lee does. You
Americans ought to see the ovations
General Lee receives every time he APP
pears in public. The Cubans cheer them
selves hoarse."
OPPOSES ANNEXATION.
Regarding the annexation Of Cuba TO
he United States, Mr.. Quintero express
cd very decided views.
your country has saved Cuba" he
said, land every true Cuban feels the
deepest gratitude. America is the great
est nation on earth, and her people are
all free. But we wish to be Independent.
We want our own government and our
own flag. We want to rule ourselves, 10
make our own laws, and to execute them.
1T may be that we will only demon
strate our inability TO govern ourselves.
But we wish to make trial. If We fail it
will then be time enough for the United
States TO come in and take possession. /
know many Cubans express contrary
opinions 10 these, but deep in their
hearts they hold similar views"
CUBA Is CLEAN AND ORDERLY.
Regarding the present condition of la-
bana and Cuba, Mr.. Quintero spoke most
'Habana is as clean as this floor" he
said. pointing 10 the tessellated pave
ment of the lobby. 1.-THE Americans
nave cleaned up. The city was never
clean before. There is sickness there
but not so much as usual at this season,
and after awhile there VIII be pracu-
I'm the country districts it is very
healthy. Why shouldn't ii be? The land
is beautifully rolling, and there are no
marshes in Cuba. But the country IS
desolate. However, ii is recuperating
with the restoration Of order The talk
about outlawry in Cuba is all false There
is stealing just as there is stealing in
Richmond. There are murders com
mitted sometimes, but / understand peO-
pie are sometimes slain in Virginia also
More or less laWlesSness always follows
a war. i expect you had IL in the South
after your war ended.
THE payment OF S75 to every soldier in
the Cuban army has had a fine result"
continued Mr.. QuinteTO. THE soldiers
have by this means been enabled to sup
port themselves until they could get
work. or 10 start in business with their
little capital.
SPANISH ATROCITY.
you Americans have no idea Of the
condition Cuba was in when the Amerl-
cans took possession: Why In the pro,
vince of Pinar Gel Rio now in command
Of General Lee from the time General
Wevler landed in Cuba until he went
away. 5000 people, according TO spanish
staff stics died Of starvation. or in prison,
or were put 10 death. An American can
form no idea Of Spanish cruelty and OPP
preston In my city Of Pinar del 100
IL was 10 uncommon thing Tor us 10 5et
Up i'm the morning and see lying III the
street in front OF our house friends VINO
had been arrested by Spanish soldiers AT
night and shot 10 death on the way 70
prison. Times like those made men grow
old very fast and before their time. Cuoa
will never see the like again, for Wnethe.
independent or part OF me OIlleu
Sc. she will be free"
Mr.. QuinterO Is a very intelligent man
Of education and means. He speaks Eng
lsh fairly well. MI DominGuez speaks
but little English. He Is pharmacist OF
Pinar del Rio. Mr.. QuinterO Is a pro
prietaire." which is apparently the span
ish equivalent for gentleman OF leisure.
The two gentlemen have been travelling
in the south on business and pleasure Tor
about two months. They Will remain IN
Richmond two or three days, and will then
80 TO Washington and cities OF the North.