The evening times., 1899-01-06
DES0LATI0N And RUIN
~ OF A LOVELY COUNTRY
RAyAGED AND WRECKED .uBA
Senator Daniel Tells of the Islands
First Necds-Charity to SuccOr
Starving MuItitudes


Starving Multitudes.
New York, Jan. 6.-The Journal, of this
city. publishes the following dispatch from
Havana:
Senator John W. Daniel of Virginia was
present at the evacuation ceremonies at
the palace last Sunday and returned today
from two days visit TO Matanzas. he
Is studying the Cuban question" AT the
hotel ingiaterra he dictated the following z
interview on his Impressions:
our sources of information" he said
are SO numerous and / have read and
thought so much about Cuba ever since
the breaking out of the last insurrection
that there have been few surprises either
in the city OF Havana or the country over
which ! have travelled. The people and
the general situation differ little from
what had anticipated
Everything is now at the lowest water
marx. The country is rdvaged, so itary
and desoiate. The peopte outside OF ,he
wealthy IN the cities, are in the deepe-t
poverty and distress. Gen. DAVIS, who s
governor of Pinar del Rio, tells me tnst
one-haif of the people have pelished in
the war. A highly intelligent Cuban gen
uemah estimates that ons-tnird OF the
population OF the whole is and has sue
The city of Havana is beautiful. 1t
shows everywhere refinement. taste, cul-
ture and civilization, in many respects of
hlsh order, but curious.y mixed with
most srotesque contradictions. The ef-
lects or bad government are seen every
"here. Every community now wears the
gray and grief-worn aspect of the old
days The cities are in need OF a plumber
ana street commission. Everywhere
general housecleaning is the first naces-
sity for Cuba. Deiapidation is everyahers
manifest.
There is no word that can adequately
portray the utter desolation of -, poor
: The faces OF hundreds of women and chill
dren haunt me- | have never before seen
the like, and / hope never to see
the like again. 1t would turn stone to
tears to see the scores OF little ragged
girls and boys and many times more
equally destitute women stretching forth
their emaciated hands and peering into the
car windows at all stations with their
eager faces craving the least contribution
OF Dread or money. Such scenes have be-
come SO familiar to the people here and
those who sympathize with them are so
exhausted in their resources that the cal
iousness and indifference of despair has
settled upon many Were such scenes as
have witnessed today between Matanzas
ana Havana TO occur in any part of the
United States there would be rush of
provisions and money to relieve them with
irresistible impulse like the charging of
an army.
The hardness and cruelty of Spain's
rule in Cuba and the miseries of its popu-
lace cannot be exaggerated, and there is
still the constant and pressing need OF re-
lief FOR the scantiest necessities OF exist
ence.
The scene at the palace and in Havana
on January l was the most impressive
and thrilling civic spectacle / have ever
witnessed There has been nothing like
II to fill the breast OF an American with
unutterable pride in and love for his own
country, or to excite his sympathy for the
long oppressed people who welcomed our
nag as the harbinger of rescue. From the
commanding general to the private in the
American army, all showed at their best
and as the sturdy columns swept through
the streets of Havana there was no eve
that looked upon them that was net in
deiibiy impressed with the simp'e dignity
the irresistible potency and the far-reach-
ing and hopeful influence of the spectacle
The bearing of the captain general of
Spain in this trying hour of his abdica-
tiOn was that of a soldier and a gentle
man, and he and his officers demeaned
themselves Win Such simple, UNAFFECTED
dignity that every heart was touched. and
sympathy of respect inspired and dis
placed for the time all sentiments OF en-
nifty or resentment.
The American policy in Cuba should
be opposite TO everything Spanish The
church should be instantly and forever
separated from the state, and not a penny
remain as ligament between them. Ag-
ricuitural implements and public schools
are the first necessities of progress. The
intelligent Cuban identified with the Gu
ban people should be put as rapidly as
possible into public positions. The peo-
pie are kind natured, tractable and friend
ly, and Will be eonfiding as soon as they
are dealt with by those who do not cheat.
rob and oppress them
But before any Improvement is under
taken the work of charity has instant
CALL