The record-union., 1899-07-09

pie In Cuba are giving us a lesson in
that direction by following the example,
of the military and naval officers and
men in saiuting the colors, and the
song of the flag.
1t cannot5be that this Is merely com
pliance with form-it must be sincere.
And here we reach the second moral CT
the letter of Mr.. Mathews, namely, the
difference in the conditions in Matanzas
to-day from those of a year or more
ago. In that province there was
population in 1894 Of 900. but at the
beginning of 1899 there we're but 191,-
600 people as the result of Spanish mis-
rule, the insurrection and the driving
out of the Spanish by the American
forces, added to which must be taken
into account the brutal order OF Gen"
eral Wilson's staff says that IN
rible conditions which esen1uated in our
humanity.
1t is of record that the percentage or
starvation was greater in Matanzas un-
der Weyler's order than in any other
part of Cuba. Mr.. Mathews says that
one-third of the population died DUR
ing the enforcement of the reconcen-
trado order. Captain Thomas of Gem
eral Wilson's staff says says that in
Mocha, one of the smaller places of the
province, there We're eighty houses IN
1894 and 600 people. But under Wey-
lers order 4,5OO human being were
concentrated in that village to starve.
Even in January, 1899, there were still
/, ,250 people in the town. In 1881 there
were no less than 1.214 deaths in the
village.
But under six months of law, order
and American rule what are the con-
ditions in Matanzas? starvation is un-
known, Industry has resumed its office
and money is being invested. Where
there was filth and disease there is
now cleanliness and infinitely i'm
proved health conditions. The people
have recovered their normal tone and
social cheerfulness; their spirits are re-
vived, their hopes awakened and their
ambition quickened. Pauperisnl is dis
appearing, idle men are few and the
whole place has a brisk, busy air. AS
compared to it's former state. 1t Is as
clean as driven snow, though by no
means wholly cleansed.
Similar conditions prevail in most OF
the other towns and cities of Cuba
where we have full control. There is
betterment along the whole line. Even
the dreaded yellow fever has been
stayed and is now fully a month and
half behind the usual period when it
became epidemic, and so virulent as to
paralyze the whole country. True there
is brigandage in the mountains, discon-
tent among the insurgent soldiery,
which after years of war dislikes to
return to labor, or to accord with or
derly procedure. There is some strife
among leaders and ambitious men, but
the great body of the people are infin-
itely better off; they realize for the
first time in their lives the value and
beneficence of sanitary regulation.
They are witnesses to the fact that
even under military rule they have a
larger measure of liberty than they
ever before enjoyed. Opportunities are
opening up to them of which they dared
not think before, and prosperity, so
long stranger, is once more with them.
So throughout Cuba they are coming to
respect the American fag-it is no won
der that they rise and uncover when
music speaks it's name.
Now that the President has called
for men to fill ten new regiments, the
anti-expansionists will find that there
is not so little of the fire Of patriotism
left as they suppose. The regiments
will be filled with rush. In fact, 1t
is safe to forecast that three times
the number of men wanted will come
forward to enlist, and these exclusive