The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-11
THE NEEDS OF CUBA.
The People Should Be Given Chance to
Govern Themselves.

Govern Themselves.
New York, April 1O,-A dispatch to
the Herald from Washington says:
General Breckenridge. who has just re-
turned from an inspection trip in Cuba
and Porto Rico, in an interview. says:
Since the United States has been in
possession of Cuba the condition of the
island has naturally mmeasurably inn
proved. l have no idea that there is
any danger of an instruction against
the United States. The minds of the
people at this moment are on the ques-
ton of the payment Of the $3,OOO,O00 to
the Cuban insurgents. After this has
been settled they will devote themselves
to discussion of thu kind of govern
ment Cuba shall have after the Amer
lean troops have been withdrawn.
There will be no trouble from the Gu
bans as people during military oc-
cupation, but l feel sure that after our
troops are brought home there will be
disturbances. We are negotiating about
the matter of giving self-govern-
ment to Cuba right away.
What we ought to do the first thing
Is to have an election by the people of
convention to draft constitution.
II that constitution is not satisfac-
tory we can set it aside. But we ought
to find out what the people are willing
and able to do. As it is, the island
IS governed by American soldiers en-
forcing spanish laws, on which are en-
grated American ideas. the result be-
ing confusion. Our constitution guar
antees every man the right to a fair
trial by jury of his peers at the place
where the crime shall have been COM
mitted. An offender against the law
in Cuba has no such privileges. He is
examined by an official who represents
h ifrt ,f l1 i
grand jury, and if his report is unfa-
vorable. the prisoner is brought here
before judge for examination, who
certlhes him to appellate court. Six
months have been taken up in these
operations. Besides the prisoner may
be sent for trial far from the point
where the crime was committed.
Unrest pervades cuba because the
people have no voice in their govern
ment They know that the United
states cannot at present take the ISL
and, no matter how much we would
like to do so. I am confident that if
vote were taken in cuba to-day on a
proposition of annexation to the United
States it would be adopted by vote of
two to one. The Spanish element pre-
fers annexation and many of the Gu
bans also, for they do not know after
the eNpirati of the United States rule
whether 5000 or 10000 former insurgents
will rule the island or whether they, the
people. will.
Il have served on the plains many
years, and l found the quickest way to
unite people was by effecting prompt
communication. Keeping the provinces
of Puerto Principe and Santiago de Cuba
isolated retards their development. If
under the terms of the Foraker amend
ment railroad cannot be built, then
good roads should be built. We are
pauperizing the Cubans by giving them
rations. The construction of roads
would permit their employment and
would soon make them self-support-
ing. Furthermore, the building of
roads would result in the return to cir
culation of more than a million dollars
which has been collected in payment of
taxes.
Gomez desires to be the Bolivar Of
Cuba and he knows that to be such the
island must be independent He is the
Cuban army and His word is the unani-
nous wish of his subordnates. 1t may
be accepted, therefore, that he will OPP
pose with all his strength the an
nexation of the island to the United
States. I do not believe that he had
under his flag during the nsurrection
10, 900 men, practically all of whom We're
negroes.
1.-The people of Porto Rico are much
better situated from climatic point
of view than are those of Cuba but
it is evident that unless congress takes
action, under which the products of
the island may find a market in this
country there is great danger of star
walton. The Porto Ricans are a con-
tented people and General Henry is do
ing all he can to aid them to gain a
livelihood by spending money in public
improvements"