The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-12
THE CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
THE COUNTRY A PARADISE, But
THE PEOPLE ARE VILE.

dIt1Ons in Cuba-SpandUrdSs CuDanA
and Americans All Hate Each 9th
er-The Degradation of the Peo-
pie Impossible to Conceive by an
Amerlcan-Dr. W. r.. Drummer Is
Quarantine officer, and Makes
Everybody Toe the Mark.
Mr.. W. w. Starr is just back from Ha-
vana. where he spent two weeks on bust
ness and pleasure. He is not very enthu-
siastic In his opinion of Uncle Sans new
protege, the Cuban republic to be. In
fact, his opinion is the reverse Of compIi-
nentary.
'"rhe country is a paradise he said yes
terday. 1T possesses more natural advan-
tages than any other country on earth.
IL it could just be rid of the human YER
min which now inhabit it it would be the
most desirable piece Of territory to be
found anywhere. The population is vile
The degraded condition of the people is
such that it is impossible to describe so
that the people of this country could con-
ceive of It,"
Mr.. Starr saw all the sights of Havana
and as he is naturally of an observant ma
ture he is chockfull of information and
interesting anecdotes of his experiences
while there OF the country nothing can
be said too good, but of the people moth
ing can be said that is too bad seems TO
be his view of the situation.
"Our people had no idea what they were
fghting for" said Mr. Starr. HAD they
known the class of people upon whom they
were endeavoring to confer the boon of
freedom there would never have been any
war with Spain. The Cubans are simply
the most internally lazy. dirty and de-
graded mortals that ever lived and there
is no limit to their arrogance and assump-
ton. When 1000 of them went on a strike
the other DAY they Immediately notified
Gen. Brooke that they wished TO be sup
piled with rations. I saw Gen. Gomez
trumphal entry into the city of Havana.
He was followed by 1900 dirty and ragged
negroes and half breeds. There were
numerous officers mounted with their
horses arrayed in gaudy trappings. Most
of these / learned, Joined the army after
the war was over. They are all right on
the pay roll now, though.
DO you want to know the truth about
Gomez?' inquired Mr.. Starr. Gomez S
soldier of fortune. He Is a Santo Do
mngan by birth. and never owned a foot
of land nor paid a dollar of taxes in
Cuba in his life. He offered to sell out
to the Spaniards before the war begun,
and they refused his offer. This fact can
be proven.
1.-THE situation In Cuba at present" said
Mr. Starr, lis just this; There are three
classes of people there--the Spaniards, Gu
bans and Americans. The Spaniards hate
both Cubans and Americans; the Cubans
hate both the Spaniards and the Ameri-
cans, and the Americans hate both the
spaniards and the Cuhans. As between
an American and a Spaniard, the Cuban
will side with the Spaniard. Their idea Is
to get the Americans to withdraw from
Cuba, whereupon they win drive out the
Spaniards and keep the island for them
selves They will then have a paradise
of their own in which they will live with
out work.
THE American officers are thoroughly
disguised with the people among whom
they are compelled to serve. 1 was sitting
In the Hotel Casaje with group of off,
GERS the other night, among them being
one Cuban who spoke a little English.
was getting pretty well disguised with
what l had seen, and wanted to express
my feelings. Turning to this Cuban,
said; One company of American soldiers
can whip whole regiment of you chaps
In reply he held up his hands and counted
the fingers of his left hand with his right.
One Cuban he said, whip five Span
iards; one Cuban whip two American
Why l said, glancing around at Capt.
Causey of the Fourth Virginia, IN bet
you 81 coo that l can pick one officer out
of this group who can lick any five Gu
bans you can bring against him. Causey
| eel
bet he exclaimed, and make it ten. Col
Campbell of the Ninth Illinois was in the
party. I can take the Ninth Illinois and
lick 10000 Cubans,' said he That shows
how the Americans in the island esteem
the Cubans."
MIR. Starr gave description of his visit
to one of the leading cigar factories in
! Havana, describing the filthy habits of
| the cgarmakers, that was enough to make
one forswear the fragrant weed for life.
you observe I always use a cigar hold
| err" said he. II had been to the fac
tories before, and knew the ways of the
| operatives"
Mr.. Starr illustrated in pantomime how
! the operative rolls the tobacco between
| his dirty palms until it has attained the
desire shape. Then in finishing the cigar
| he uses a paste. dipping his dirty finger
| in the paste and robbing it on the end
of the cigar. then sticking the cigar IN
| his mouth, this operation being repeated
two or three times until the desired finish
| is obtained.
Every member of our party bought a
! cigar holder at the first stand he came 10
/ after leaving the factory" said Mr.. Starr
While remarkable improvement has been
| effected in the sanitary condition of Ha-
Vana since the Americans took charge.
| Mr.. Starr said. the health conditions are
not the best in the world. An American
/ runs some degree of risk in going there
at any season. There are frequent cases
/ of yellow fever in the city, several hay
| ing been removed from the hotel at which
MI Starr was stopping. Ii was at this
hotel, the Casaje, that Col George E.
! Waring was stopping when he contracted
/ the fever which subsequently caused his
death in New York city. The uuaran-
/ tine restrictions regarding yellow fever
do not go into effect until April l. how
ever DR.. William F. Drummer, Savan-
nah's former health officer. is chief QUAR-
antine officer for the port of Havana, DR.
! Brunner's ideas upon the subject Of omar
| ,otina are still as indayfbIa a nh !,