The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-02
DEMANDS OF CUBANS
THEY ARE STATED BY MIR. HANNIS
TAYLOR, FORMERLY MIN
ISTER TO SPAIN
GRAVE DANGER IN DELAY
Cuban Army Should he Paid and
Disbanded - Cubans Want No
Charity, but Ask That Americans
Advance "a Certain Sum of Money
and Reimburse Themselves From
Revenues of the Island.

MOBILE. Ala, Feb. 1-FIannis Tay-
lor. ex-minister to Spain, who return
ed yesterday from two weeks visit
TO Cuba. has made the following state
ment on the Cuban situation:
While in Cuba upon purely private
business 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 Cuban military chiefs de-
manding immediate and absolute indie
pendence; on the other by the purely
Spanish element seeking protection un-
der our flag. Between the two extremes
is ranged the main body Of the peo-
pie. standing in an expectant attitude
ready to give their approval to any
plan that will re-establish law, order
and material prosperity upon a per-
manent 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 aggravation of that condition stands
the Cuban army, composed of at least
10000 idle men, waiting with arms in
their hands for such a settlement of
their dues as will enable them to re-
sumo life again.
when asked those who had a right
to speak for the army what sum would
suffice for a satisfactory settlement
they said $10,O00,000 or $11,000,0 900 at
least. sum that would give about $500
to each man. With that they said the
small farmers could proceed and con-
tinue to live until they could make a
crop. The Cubans neither ask nor de-
sire us to contribute penny for the
maintenance of their army. All they
ask Is that loan be made for the pur-
pose charged upon their custom houses
now yielding from twelve to fifteen mil
lions a year; the proceeds of the loan
to be paid to their soldiers through our
military authorities.
SETTLEMENT DEMANDED.
Every class in Cuba is now demand
ing settlement be made at once so
that a menacing and consuming body
of idle men may be converted into
peaceful pursuits. In that way the in
dustrial energy of the country could
be revived, and force dissolved which,
like the army Of Cromwell. is not only
military body. but the dominant po-
litical power in the island
Il cannot doubt that If the Just
claims Of the Cuban army are treated
with injustice and contempt and the
present military regime continued in
definitely. in a short time we will be
hated by the Cubans just as the Span
iards were. and a condition Of things
brought about that will force us either
to withdraw from the island or to gov
ern there just as. Russia does In Po-
land. Wise and humane as our mill
tary governors are, the fact remains
that they govern by the sword, in de-
fiance Of the civil power. and the re-
suit is that impatience and discomfort
are already clearly manifested on ev-
cry hand
1.-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
Cubans themselves can have a voice.
The president should labor increasingly
to obtain both ends and in the effort
to do so he should have the cordial CO.
operation and support Of all patriotic
and liberty-loving men. regardless of
party. We should learn from the Eng
lish how suicidal it Is to carry our par
ty difficulties into our foreign affairs. "