Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-29
ANNEXATION THE THING.
A Kansan Tells What Cuba Should
Have.

In a letter to Rev. W. A. Crawford
c. B. Riley of Puerto Principe, Cuba,
gives some strong reasons for annex
alton, agreeing with the REFLEcroR's
position. He says;
THE educational interests Of these
people need immediate attention. At
best they are not much given to edu.
cation and during this war the chill
dren have had no opportunities, SO
the ignorance that follows this period
should be broken into as quickly as
possible.
THAT they can learn goes with.
out saying, for the few who were
| in the States during the war, now just
returning, are bright and sparkle
With evidence Of talent. They also
desire to take pthe English language
and good English teachers should be
sent here. Many Of our soldier boys
are teaching few and it is no un.
common thing to hear few words of
English. OF course many Of our Off
GERS and men are learning Spanish,
but the U. 5. government should give
the question attention, teach them
English. They will read better liter
ature, get better acquainted with the
United States and our form Of gov
eminent. They will also naturally
90 there to trade and the environ
| ment will be better for them.
$50 far as the United States is con-
cerned the small lump of unsatisfac-
tory leaven will not cause the whole
lump to become Spanish or Cuban
We cap stand the contact and associ-
alton and the Cuban and Spanish Ian
| guage and practices will finally re-
fleet the light from our lamp.
IAN immediate annexation think
important. These people are almost
stupehed with the situation They
are practically free and have sat down
to await developments, The leaders
are trying to stir up sentiment IN
favor Of independence, simply because
that is a nice word and a nice senti-
ment and because they want to even
up on some Spanish citizens or get
an office, just like the Populists OF
Kansas. II the army Of occupation
was to withdraw now, revolution,
bloodshed and riot would follow with
in 80 days and in some cases before
the transports carrying the army had
passed fully out of sight, HThey know
but little about government and be-
lieve everything is fair in war and
politics.
"Again, the island is not large
enough to support population that
would command respect OF Other
countries. They could not maintain
a navy and would be the victims Of
all kinds Of injustice at the hands Of
other countries. The United States
would practically have to stand
around as a protector and complica'
tons would follow that would ulti'
mately involve us in serious compli
cations with other countries, while
now we command the situation; it is
right, it is best and it is necessary
| that we act on that line.
1.-The island is almost entirely pro
ductive. The climatic conditions ia
vor easy living. | believe that any
ordinary family can subsist off TIT
products Of one acre Of ground, excep
clothing and groceries which can BIT
bought with the products Of another
acre occupied by a COW and SOM
chickens. OF course the farming
heretofore has been sugar growing
but the masses cannot engage in tina
as it requires heavy capital but insti
into these people little intelligence
and energy and they will live easil..
off but little outlay.
"This last war has been more de
moralizing than any other as tn
negro population has increased yer,
= much since their freedom. 1t wa
! the rule for the best plantations to b
destroyed by either the Spanish o
5 Cuban army and as result the Who'll
Q country was devastated and the in
habitants killed or driven from thei
| homes. Those that could left tn
island, others went into the Cuba
3 army and their families lived in tn
{ bush or followed the army over tn
Q country to starve or die from diseas
9 and exposure.
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