The times., 1899-12-09
GARCIA ON THE MESSAGE.
The General Declares the Presiden
Has Pleased Cubans.

The General Declares the Preside ent
Has Pleased Cubans.
Gen. Carlos Garcia, who has been over
in New York comforting with prominent
| Cubans on the question of independence
for Cuba. has returned here, and will re-
main until Congress takes some action on
the subject as recommended by the Presi-
dent. In an interview last night with a
Times representative, General Garcia thus
! expressed himself on that part of the
Presidents message relating to Cuba:
The Presidents message is a loyal
! demonstration that the Administration has
been sincere all along as I have repeat
edly said, toward carrying out the will
| OF Congress, that Cuba is to be an inde-
pendent nation.
MIR. Mckinley has made an admirable
and conclusive statement which has given
confidence to the most pessimistic in my
country. OF late considerable talk has
been going on In Havana and in other
cities of the island against the establish
| ment of a civil government on the ground
that such a step indicated a purpose of
prolonging American intervention indefi-
| nitely. Although 1 am in no way con
| nected with the government yet I have
the firm belief that if such a scheme was
ever contemplated to be enforced in Cuba
| nobody ever dreamed of delaying Ameri-
can control more than was necessary for
! the people to get settled and in shape 10
! take charge of the affairs OF government
The agitatoTs of these wild rumors were
the employees themselves that are now un-
der General Brooke, with a view Of Great
ing an outburst Of patriotic protests from
the different organizations Of the island
Naturally these men do not relish a change
of the status quo which would mean a
probable loss OF the position and salary
that they have been enjoying since the
figure head cabinet council OF Brooke took
of the administration over there.
Il have been advocating for months a
change in the government OF Cuba--not
because entertain any personal animosity
against the officials. for I do not but
because of a long Gelt necessity to give
the CubaGs better show Of recuperating
their lost energies and reconstructing the
country. And this can never be done un-
der the present regime because the men
that are in charge lave no ability to I'M
dertake such a difficult task.
They have been nearly year in Office
and yet the administration Is just as full
OF Spanish red tape as in the sad days Of
Polavieie, BlancO, or Weyler.
The Presidents message has given con
fideuce to all and ! know that every Cuban
heart is today full of hope
Secretary Roots report does Justice to
the Cubans, too, and in a way that leaves
no doubt as to the good faith and intentions
of the American Government toward Cuba.
with regard TO the services of Gen.
Leonard Wood in Cuba and his promotion
to a major generalcy, 1 think that he weu
deserves It. His work in Orlente has been
marvellous He has done wonders in a
very short time. aided by the officials he
Jacttully appointed in Santiago. although he
was greatly hampered by the centralizing
methods of General Brooke, who interfered
constantly in the progress of the Santiago
administration"
General Garcia said the Cubaus. when
given the opportunity would demonstrate
beyond all criticism that they are capable
of selfgovernment and that the United
States made no mistake when they helped
them destroy forever the Spanish yoke