The Republican journal., 1899-06-29

kV. COldwater, Mich. n
nv Members Of az ulteration League,
!
the richer and more energetic race. While
few of the larger financial interests NAV
favor an alliance, the commercial classes
in general are strongly in favor of indie
pendance. The Bodegueros, for example
"a very numerous class, who own the
small provision stores which are located
, on every corner of every block in every
Cuban city, dominating all the retail
trade and forming more powerful factor
in politics than the saloon keepers of the
United States-are opposed to annexation,
to man. AS rule, too, the Spaniards
own the drug stores, the cafes and the
inns, or posadas as they are called through
out the island. Ia the poorest little straw
| matched village one is always sure of a
tolerable meal-rather red peppery and
garlicy, perhaps, but clean and we'll serv-
ed, in courses, with good Spanish claret,
English ale, or Apollinaris water. These
poor-looking posadas, where maybe the
mules and horses are stalled in what
would be the ''parlor'' in a country tavern
of the North, while the travellers sleep
above, are really much better than the
average "hotel' in villages of the same
size in America. The Spanish boni-
face cares little for the honor of his pro-
fession or the comfort of his customers
but he has learned that there is profit i'll
keeping a good inn. A while ago the
Bodegueros were fierce in their hatred Of
the Cubans and clamored loudly for an
neXation; but since they have seen the
methods of the Americans, their abun :
dant capital and steady persistence in bus
mess, self interest has caused them to
sing another tune. Now they have paint
ed their store fronts the Cuban colors and
tlauut the Cuban flag, in order to keep
Cuban trade and accentuate their hospi-
tality to American military occupation.
The order of Gen. Brooke, forbidding the
bodegueros and cafe owners to sell any
alcoholic liquors to American soldiers,
added fuel to the flame of hatred. From
time out of mind they had turned many
honest pennies by selling drinks to Span
ish soldiers, and now that those good Gus
toners were gone, why not to the usurp-
ers? When few of the bodegas and posa-
das were closed and their owners heavily
fined for breaking the law, they became
intense in their hostility to American con-
troll; and the climax was capped when
the finest cafe in Habana was shut up
without legal process, because one of its
walters sold gin fizz to drunken drum
major. 1t was no use to plead that the
ignorant employee mistook the drum ma
jor for major-general; the proprietor
had no recourse until the military author
tiles, having made sufficient ''example'
of him, permitted the place to reopen.
In spite of his ignorance and averice,
the Spanish property owner in Cuba-be-
ing thrifty, hard working, honest in his
way and disposition to be peaceable-has
in him more of the elements of good citi-
zenship than the average Cuban. He
came from Catalonia, Asturia, or the
Basque provinces, or his father did-usu-
ally with no capital but strength and in
dustry. He began as chore- boy or farm
hand to some Bodeguero or planter, who
had been few years ahead of him in
Cuba, willing to work from A. NJ. to II
P. NJ, until the inevitable end was at
tanned of a shop, or land, or inn, of his
wine cellars; but here it stands for any
sort of general supply place, where every
thing eatable and drnkable is sold, from
jerked beef to claret. In all cases, the
Spaniards' dignity has kept pace with the
advance in his fortunes, from chore- boy
to merchant, or landed proprietor, and
the price mark on his own goods, and
signs his name with an Y, he rides in his
carriage at the head of the island aristocra-
cy. 1t is an actual fact that many of them
nave no system OF keeping accounts out
by chalk marks on the door. Where the
merchant is unable to read, write or 'cy-
pher," all business requiring those accom-
plishments must be deputed to hired
clerks. But the Spani&rds, having plenty
of native shrewdness, rarely ''get left,
as they say in America. You may be
certain that he has a good margin OF
profit on all transactions; and though
giving credit in what looks like loose
sort of way, he invariably collects the
interest on his mortgages, while waiting
for the default in principal which will
ensure the whole thing falling to him in
the end. Checks and drafts are rarely
used, though many Of the merchants and
a~.-,o ID n 1,op1y;nn huoinocc 40