New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-08
SENTIMENT IN SANTIAGO.
GENERAL DISSATISFACTION WITH
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
BUSINESS MEN STRONGLY FAVOR ANNEXA-
TTON-SUGAR QUESTION FACTOR
CHANGING VIEWS


IN CHANGING VIEWS.
Santiago de Cuba. Feb 2S-The complexion
NJ political affairs in the Province Of Santiago
has been gradually changing since the begin
ming Of January. This Is due to more than one
cause. Probably the main reason is the fact
that the people themselves out of sympathy
with anything even benefacton, that comes
to them through Havana. Men. who few
short weeks ago were enthusiastically in favor
OF annexation. are to-day talking about declar
ing war against the United States II the troops
are not removed from the island by July /.
The business men Of santiago are glum over
the condition Of affairs and say that it is i'm
possible for people TO II vest any large sums Of
none, in the Island until some settled form Of
government is established. and that for Cuba
to be an Independent republic would mean the
utter ruin OF the island. even surposing that
the Cubans better able 10 govern them
selves than any people IN the world. They say
that at one blow the sugar industry would be
annihilated as the United States is IN posses
sion Of Porto Rico on the side and Of Ha
wait on the other. which are also two great
sugar producing islands, and the sugar from
those places would go into the United States
free Of duty whereas, even on the best terms.
the sugar Of Cuba. unless the island was an
nexed. would have to pay some duty and would
be entirely unable to compete with that OF other
islands
VIEWS OF THE GERMAN CONSUL.
Herr Schurnann. the German Consul here. an
influential business man. says that nothing
would rejoice Germany more than for Cuba to
become independent. because it would mean
that they would stU be able with their beet
sugar TO hold their own in the United states.
He believes that Cuba has great possibilities
before her He likes the people Of Cuba. but
from a purely business point of view, he thinks
it is Impossible for the island to succeed in any
way unless annexed TO the United States. He
saws the politicians do not seem to realize any
thing beyond the fact that there would be
treasury for them TO dip their hands into; they
do not seem to be aware that the treasury has
10 be kept filed by the business industries OF
the country and that were the sugar Industry
annihilated 1t would reduce the revenues OF
the island by over one-half. ana the people
would be grooming under the burden Of a local
taxation so heavy that they would sooner or
later rise against the government. and the island
would be plunged into the throes of revolu-
tion.
other merchants here are as ouispoken' many
OF them being favorable 10 the Cubans having
Union has. believing that they should have the
right 10 govern themselves in the matters Of
local taxation. elections and everything OF that
nature II is however. absolutely impossible in
Santiago r. find any man Of business standing
any man who owns any large amount OF land
or any man OF intelligence who does not say
that he Is strongly in favor Of annexation 20
tho United States. not as matter OF sentiment
bnf a. a matter Of purely business common
Porto Rico and Hawaii not been annexed the!
would have been in favor Of Cuba being an IN
b. pendent republic.
THOUSANDS OUT OF WORK.
Many thousands OF men have gradually drifted
into the city expecting work This. however. II
Is inpossible to supply them with. FOR the Work
that was 20 have been given 10 them had to be
suspended owing to the complaint from havana
that the estimates are large for this province
although $4,000 Of the revenue OF the last
month was sent 70 Havana
The work Of roadmaking on an extensive scale
has practically been stopped, and the dredging
Of the narbor and numerous improvements that
were intended have had 70 be delayed on this
account-improvement that would have been
Of lasting value to the city. that would have
given work 70 thousands. that would have made
the people contented and prosperous
All these causes combined have tended 20 raise
a spirit Of dissatisfaction. TO say nothing OF 'he
long delay in the payment Of the employees VINO
are paia from Havana, particularly those OF the
Custom House and the postofice now that it is
ordered that in future the payment Of all pro
vincial officials shall be made direct from ha-
vana which viii include the police.
In this province, In the course or the next
three weeks there will be only the four Whlte
regiments and the Jth Inlmuhes a'a-l@ple. -
r.ginoent Of Regular cavalry is badly needed IN
the department and. We're 1t here. could 40
much to prevent any wholesale taking 10 the
woods by the Cubans Al preseil1 .nV.e "
only two companies in each regiment mounted,
and General Wood hopes 20 get another regiment
az cavalry here within the next month.
cr-,cI-c m0RK 10 REGLN SOON