The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-03
GOMEZ's TEARS
Are Those of the Crocodile Says Gen
era1 CoIlazo.

Havana, Aug. General Enrique
COllazo, who was a member of the staff
of the late General Calixto Garcia,
writes to La Lucha saying that the
statement made by General Gomez that
the American gratuity Of $3,000000 was
a plague to Cuba, etc, forces him to
reply. He denies that there was a Gu
ban on the commission which asked
President Mckinley to advance the
money and saws it is incredible that
the Cuban army in the east, which
taught General Shafter the difference
between where discipline ended and dig
nifty began, taught the Americans to be
noble and chivalrOus. They could not
descend to accept. much less to ask, aid
from anyone. He blamed General
Gomez as the man who called the sol
diers to come and take the money, and
says that GOmez's tardy tears seem
very like crocodile tears. He quotes
from an interview of General Garcia
with President Mckinley in which the
Cuban commander gives his opinion of
various officials here. but omits to
speak Of Senior Desvernine. COllazo
supplies this omission, describing DeS-
vernine as the same dreamer as ever.
President Mckinley, General CollazO
says. thinks we'll of the CubanS who
will soon have cattle and agricultural
implements if they behave. 1t reminds
him of what Marti said: IF you be
have well you shall marry the daugh-
ter OF Marti; if not, the daughter OF the
mulattO, Tomasa."
General COIlazo remarking that the
Cubans were obliged to return the
horses they acquired during the war,
20 their owners. asked what right the
Americans had to keep ships and other
booty which they took during the war.
Returning the horses, he said, falls
upon the poor soldier who fought beside
those who are now deSpOiling him. He
declared that the peasants of Pinar del
Rio are almost in a state of beggary.
The NeuvO Pals remarks editorially
that the best solution Of the Cuban
problem is the establishment of an in
dependent government under the pro
tectOrate of the United States. The pa
per says that if the island was annexed,
it would lose fifteen millions income
from duties, thus necessitating heavy
direct impOsts upon the leading indus
tries of the island. In case of absolute
Independence, Cuban sugar could not
compete with European beet sugar and
America would be the only market re
naming. Under a prOtectOrate, how
ever, Cuba could obtain facilities which
would enable it to compete with the
beet sugar produced abroad.
FL Diario de Ia Marina says: 8
American sugar, namely from Porto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines, can
under sell Cuban sugar. The point is
to know if the facilities granted Cuba
by the United States would allow Cuba
to compete with other American is
lands"
The Patria asks why Cuba could not
obtain preference by a reciprocal treaty
with the United States without a pro-
tectOrate.
The Patria says: Cuba quiet and
prosperous, would have much to offer
the United States in exchange for the
facilities granted the sugar trade. We
can not see the necessity for convert
ing an economic problem into a politi-
cal one"
TheLeague Against Ignorance recently
founded four schools in the city of
Pinar del Rio and all the country is re-
spending to the necessity for educating
children