Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-05
DANGER In OLD PREJUDICE
with Free Rein Conflicts Between
Cubsns and Those whom They
Regard as Their AppreSSorS IN
Ger Spanish Rule Night Result.
A prOieCfogate Is Still Nee dsd in
the Island.


eral Lee discussed the social political
and industrial condition of Cuba in sn
interview today. General Lee believes
that under the existing protectoratet of
! the United States Cuba is improving
every hour He says there is little fric-
ton of any kind in the island and that
the people there are slowly, but surely
rebuilding their war wasted homes
and repairing their crippled fortunes.
He thinks that life and property are
secure in Cuba and that the Cuhans
generally are not abusing their newly
acquired freedom.
General Lee believes that this happy
condition of things is due largely to the
salutary restraint exercised by Amer
lean military authority, and he thinks
a long period of prosperity will follow,
provided wise counsels prevail and the
protection of the United States con-
tinues throughout the island until the
people have had time to adapt them
selves to the change in their conditions.
''The native population" he says, rs
quite inexperienced in both the theory
and the practice of self government.
General Lee realizes that the United
States government is pledged to grant
independence to the island after it has
been thoroughly pacified and he feels
strongly that that pledge should be
fulfilled as swiftly as practicable. I'm
til life and property can be protected by
a purely Cuban government, however,
he thinks the island should remain un-
der the government of the United
States.
Cuba, on the whole, is doing weil,"
began General Lee. "The condition of
the island is improving. The Cubans
are tractable and quiet, and the revo-
luton has given them self respect and
self reliance. They have come out of
their fight hopeful and confident. The
people of the island are today eager to
make the most of their opportunities.
J I'm inclined to think that their i'm
pulses are generally in the right direc-
ton, but, of course, in the theory and
practice of self government they are
wholly without experience. Great care
should be taken that this people DO
not, in the buoyancy of their freedom,
commit errors which will set them
back for years. A little caution now
will stand them in good stead later OH.
They are like so many children fresh
( from school-eager. restless, active.
but wanting the balance wheel of pru-
dence.
Life and property are now, under
the protection of the United States.
absolutely secure in Cuba. There is
little friction among the inhabitants.
/ The people are wisely restrained by the
civil and military authority without in
any way being intimidated or op-
pressed.
There is among certain Cubans a
deep seated prejudice against some
men. who. the Cubans think, whether
reasonably or not 1 won't say, op-
pressed the Cubans under Spanish rule:
, and if given free rein the Cubans
would unquestionably make short work
of them. Then. of course, there might
follow conflicts of a deplorable char
acter. The pIjudice is today general
throughout the island.
81 am aware that the United States
government is pledged definitely to
grant independence to Cuba, after the
island has been pacified, and 1 believe
that promise should be fulfilled just as
swiftly as we can, in reason and JUS
tice. This government has, in a meas
ure, taken upon itself responsibility
for the future success of the island,
and we are enjoined by every consid-
Grafton of duty and expediency to
vouchsafe to the people there an op-
portunity to prosper. naturally and
without unnecessary obstacles. For
that reason the United States should
continue to protect life and property
in the island, and to insure for the
! blessings of civilization, just so long
as that protection is made necessary by
the peculiar social and political condi-
ton of the people.
'It is needless to say that the indus
trial prosperity of Cuba depends wholly
upon the manner in which the law is
respected by the inhabitants. A state
is no better than what its people make
it, and its prosperity is determined by
it's political and social conditions. If
Cuba is to be prosperous, she must rec