The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-29
A Disgrace to the Flag.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, March 15.-
William Willard Howard, general man
ager of the Cuban industrial relief
fund, of. New York, passed through
Jacksonville this evening on his way
home from Cuba. He goes North to
purchase agricultural implements and
seeds for the use of the industrial relief
station which he has just established at
Guines, Cuba. Mr.. Howard said:
''The condition Of Cuba, so far as my
observations have gone, is really worse
than it was at this time last year,
when I made my first Investigations.
In the rural districts little has been
done to restore the island to it's normal
condition. The fields are vacant and
the farmers idle. The people still re-
main in the towns and cities, where
army rations are issued to them. They
cannot return to theirabandoned farms
because they have nothing to return
with.
"Our Government has done, and is
doing. nothing to enable farmers to re-
sumo the cultivation of their lands. All
that it pretends to do is to distribute
rations through local committees OF
Cubans. Governor General Brooke and
the officers under him realize keenly
the condition OF things, but they can
not give any assistance except food.
Ours is not a patcrnal government.
.Trhe condition of the widows and
orphans Of Cuba are heartrending.
There are thousands upon thousands
of these poor creatures scattered over
the island. They have neither homes
to live in, food to eat, nor clothes to
cover them. Onecannot think OF their
future without a shuddcr. am espc-
.cially concerned for the poor little or
phan girls, who roam the streets, scan
tily clad, asking for a bit of food with
which to keep their little bodies and
souls together. What will become of
these girls Their future, for good OF
for evil, lies with the people OF the
United States.
"Among these widows and orphans l
have MS lately us last week seen indi..
vitlual'cases OF fdestltution and dphyslcal
emac;ation worse than anything that.1
saw in Armenia during the two years
that / gave to Armenian relief work.
And to have these wrecks of humanity
stand and look up to the Stars and
Stripes waving over their City Hall
gives one a queer sensation. The gem
| crols American people surely cannot
understand the condition OF Cuba. or
these poor creatures wonldzhe taken
care OF.
"I do not speak of the sick, the in
firm, or of those who hobblc about,
covered witllloatllsolnc. sores, resulting
from starvation. cannot speak OF
them, fortlc English angnagcis is mad
cuuatc to the task. They should have
becncarcd for in hospitals long months
ago. Why it has not been done c;ill-
not understand.
..Thc condition of Cuba is Il rcproncll
TO the American people and Il blotllpon
civilization. We are going t0.dU solne,,
thing to improve that condition and
We invite all lovers ofllumanity in tll;
United States to help MS for the good
name Oft American flag. Our flag
should mean something to those home
less. helpless orphans and destitute
country people. Money for these or
phans or for our industrial relief work
Should be sent to the Continental Trust
Company, 30 Broad street, New York
City, marked, "For tile Cuban Indus
trial Relief Fund.
i