The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
FREE GOVERNMENT WANTED.
CUBANs AND PORTO RICANs ARE
DISCONNECTED.

and Feeling of Unrest Pervades
the IsIand-Mr. Henry Roth Talks
of His Recent visit TO the Two
Islands
Mr.. Henry Roth, who recently returned
from trip to Porto Rico and Cuba, gives
an interesting account of the social, po-
litical and Industrial conditions which he
found in the two islands. Mr. Roth left
Savannah on the steamer Ponce, which
put in here for repairs on Nov 4 and ar
rived at San Juan on Nov. 8, after a te
dious trip of nearly five days. The yes
sells OF the ocean Steamship Company
would make this trip in three days, Mr..
Roth says.
Mr.. Roth found that the inhabitants of
Porto Rico and Cuba are not altogether sat
ished with the sort of government which
Uncle Sam has provided for them. The
Porto Ricans are disconnected with mill
tary government which now controls the
island and are anxious for the establish
ment of civil government to which they
feel they are entitled, as now being part
of the territory of the United States. Much
greater dissatisfaction exists among the
Cubans, who are anxious to set up a gov
eminent of their own, and who are tired
of waiting for the government TO give
them this privilege.
Among the wealthy Cubans and land
owners and the Spaniards, who are the
business class" said Mr. Roth, 'there is
but one sentiment, and that is for annex
alton 10 the United States. Among the
very large class of mixed population,
which makes the bulk of the population
there is but one desire and that is for
an Independent government, one which
they viii create and control themselves.
Jcyba Libre still means as much to them
as it did before the Spaniards were driven
from the island, and they now look upon
the Americans as interlopers and sue
cessors to the Spaniards rather than as
their deliverers. The population is very
unsettled and restless, and unless control
is exercised with a firm hand and wise
discretion, there Will be trouble sooner or
later"
Notwithstanding Porto Rico is one of
the most beautiful as well as one of the
richest in natural advantage to be found
anywhere, Mr.. Roth says that the bulk
of the population exists in poverty. One
reason for this is the large population, the
island having 100000 souls within an area
of $500 square miles. AS great part of
the country is mountainous, only a small
percentage of the land is under cultivation.
The valleys, however, are exceedingly fer
tile, producing sugar, coffee and tobacco
in quantities, while the forests are filed
with mahogany, ebony and other fine
woods. Having existed under an oppres-
siVe system of government for generations
with system of excessive taxation the
people are naturally backward, ignorant
Tho how
ever are very well disposed toward this
government, and appreciate the advant-
ages which are likely to accrue to the
island from the more benehcient admins
tration of an enlightened government. All
classes show a desire for the extension of
American institutions and government to
the island, and the younger people are
rapidly acquiring the English language.
1.-The climate of Porto Rico" said Mr..
Roth sit without doubt the most equa-
bic one that a person could imagine, the
thermometer averaging rs degrees, never
exceeding 80, nor falling below 70. san
Juan is a quaint city. Its streets are
narrow, but are all paved with vitrifed
brick and are as clean as 1t is possible
for them to be. The famous military
road from San Juan, running eighty miles
through the island, through valleys and
over mountains, is perhaps the greatest
feature of the island, and an inspiring
sight to every traveller
From San Juan to Santiago de Cuba
is 600 miles by water and from one eX-
treme to the other in the way of SANTA
ton, Notwithstanding the great improve
ments which nave been effected by Gen.
Wood Cuba and the Cubans furnish a
big problem for Congress to grapple with,
and what the outcome will be no one can
tell now. However, one thing is very evil
dent to the traveller in Cuba, and that is
that the masses are all impatience for
self-government. How capable the peo-
pie are for assuming such responsibilities
is probably better appreciated by the OBJ
server and the powers mat be than the
casual reader. We all believe that liberty
IS a good thing for those who know how
to enjoy 1t, but when a nation is respon-
sble for the acts of a territory which it
has delivered from the thraldom of its
supposed oppression that nation has es-
sumo responsibilities in this connection
which canot easily be shifted aside, and
this includes responsibility for the lives
and property of alien residents of the ter
rtcry. The Cubans should have patience
OF course, but how much patience they
will exercise I will not venture TO esti-
mate, but it seemed to me that the words
Cuba Libre' are heard more frequently
than the occasion would warrant. This
is only the impression of an observer 1
may nave been mistaken as to it's i'm
port.
I found improvements going on in all
the cities that l visited and the coun ry
looks as if It is taking on new life. There
are large crops of cane in the fields, many
of the cd sugar mil 5 are being rabuilt
and a large amount of machinery fer this
purpose is being brought into the Island
from this country. TIE island has several
magnificent harbors and wi Savannah
the nearest port of this country where
vessels drawing 20 to "a feet of water can
n Nga eba1rlA OCT
The trade which is bound to deve'oo with
the Cuban cities. Havana is being paced
in a good slni airy condition and i'm a few
years that terror of our Southern cities
yellow fever, wiz be no more heard of
there than in our own forts. Taking il all
in all there is much Improvement visible
over the island aud SO long as old glory
waves there Cubans, Spaniards and Ameri-
cans may feet sat SIZED that their interests
will be wei taken care Of"
Plague Victim in Science.