The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-02

Mobile. Ala. Feb 1.-Hannis Taylor,
ex-minister to Spain, who returned yes
terday from a two weeks visit to Cuba,
has given the Associated Press the fol-
lowing interview on the Cuban situa-
ton:
While in Cuba upon purely private
business, L came in contact with the
leaders Of every faction into which the
population is now divided. The eX-
tremeS of opinion are represented on
one hand by the Cuban military chiefs,
demanding immediate and absolute in
dependence; on the other by the pure
" Spanish element, seeking protection
under our flag. Between the two eX-
tremes is ranged the main body of the
people, standing in an eXpectant atti-
IuGe, ready TO give their approval 10
any plan that VIII re-establish law, or
der and material prosperity upon a
permanent basis.
Upon one point all agree. American
officers as well as CubanS. and that is
that outside of the cities the country is
in condition of want and misery that
can hardly be exaggerated. AS an ag-
gravatiOn Of that condition stands the
Cuban army. composed of at least 30,-
600 men, waiting with arms in their
hands for such q settlement OF their
dues as Will enable them to resume
work.
When I asked those who had right
to speak for the army what sum would
suffice for a satisfactory settlement,
they said 80, 100000 or S11 ,000, 600 at
least. a sum that would give about
$500 to each man. With that, they said,
the small farmers could proceed and
continue to live until they could make a
crop. The Cubans neither ask nor de-
sire for us to contribute a penny for the
maintenance Of their army. All that
they ask is that loan should be made
for the purpose, charged upon their
custom house. now yielding from $12,-'
600, 900 to $1,000. 900 a year. the proceeds
Of the loan to be paid 10 their soldiers
through our military authorities
SETTLEMENT DEMANDED.
Every class in Cuba is now demand
ing that a settlement be made at once,
so that a menacing and consuming body
of idle men may be converted into
peaceful producers. In that way the
industrial energies of the country could
be revived and Z. force dissolved which,
like the army of Cromwell. is not only
a military body, hut the dominant po-
litical power in the island.
L cannot doubt that if the just claims
of the Cuban army are treated with in
justice and contempt and the present
military regime continued indefinitely,
in a short time we will be hated by the
Cubans just as the Spaniards We're. and
a condition of things brought about
that will force Us either to withdraw
from the island or to govern there Just
as Russia does in Poland Wise and
humane as our military governors are,
the fact remains that they govern by
the sword, in defiance of the civil
power. and the result is that impatience
and discomfort are already clearly man.
ifested on every hand.
THE urgent needs in Cuba now are
prompt and satisfactory settlement
with the army of the revolution and
establishment as soon as possible OF a
provisional civil regime in which Gu
bans themselves can have a voice The
president should labor increasingly to
attain both ends, and in the efforts to
do so. he should have the cordial CO.
operation and support of all patriotic
and liberty-lOving men, regardless OF
party.
I'VE should learn from the English
how suicidal il is to carry our party
difficulties into foreign affairs The pa
triotic instinct of Mr.. Bryan hit the
mark when he urged the immediate
ratification of the pending treaty and
the settlement of all difficulties after
wards The senate should end at once
the present situation. so detrimental to
all our foreign interests. while congress
as a whole should give to the president
every facility necessary to enable him
70 settle every foreign question now
demanding an immediate solution