Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-20

question the S3,oo0ee0 cash in hand will
seem respectable sum. What further ar
rangement they can make is an open ques-
ton. The radicals will talk about bonding
the revenues of the island indefinitely. but
it will be only talk. In the end some plan
may be submitted to the United States gov
eminent for pledging the customs revenues
to the amount OF S1o.@o.on or Sl2ht"n-
/ have been asked by Americans VISITING
Cuba how much it would take 10 clear up
all the Just obligations CT the island to Its
soldiers and settle all legitimate demands.
4 full answer can only be given by anafyz-
ing the obligations and also the economic
resources Without going into the details
on which the opinOn1s based II is my opln-
ion that S200DJ,OCo is the limit The tax
of SJ0eoo, 900 and S1O0.9oO,0D leans is Wild.
The richness Of the Cuban soil is bound
less. but the poverty Of the great mass o.
the population is extreme. They must
struggle heruically to better their own con-
dition and their instinct Is against hurdeh-
ing their island with heavy mortgages.
When A reasonable payment is made to
the insurgent soldiers they viii call a nalt:
This is not the common view. 1he general
impression is that Cuba is only waiting
the chance to enter upon a carnival OF
mortgages and that a S1Oa0G0,0o0 debt Is
to be the first creation Of the new govern
ment whether it be that of an indepenu-
ent nation, a protectorate republic or
state.
The assembly, in its discussions. is likely
to enter upon this question. This VIII he
one OF the beneficial results of Its sessions.
While the assembly has no power " create
obligations in formulating plan for future
adoption ii cannot propose a loan without
examining into the means by Wnlch Ine
loan is to be met. Then il 1t Is proposed
to mortgage the revenues heavily, the IN
h7hitants can determine for themselves
whether thew want to assume such bur-
dans. Most of them know what II Is 10 be
in debt as individuals, and to pay interest.
That has some influence on their opinion
OF the creation of island debt. TEey
have not vet given the matter much
thought. For months back it has been Just
a well that the people should not be think
ing of public affairs. The time has now
come when it is desira bic for them TO in
terest themselves in matters of policy, be-
cause Industrial questions are now a part
of the politics. They cannot separate the
political future of Cuba from It's Industrial
and commercial future. When this is
thoroughly understood something like a
definit4 tendency in political affairs may
develop.
influence of the Assembly.
1 have already stated that the degree to
which the proceedings Of this Cuban as
sembly are respected will depend upon the
attitude which 1t takes toward Maxine
Gomez and the attitude which the public
takes toward 1t. The assembly is repre-
sentative of the Cuban PEOPLE only in the
figurative sense. Its composition is not
purely military, because civilians are
among its members. Nevertheless, 1t was
chosen solely by the Insurgents. The "eiec-
ton" was held last October. The assem-
bly, succeeded the provisional government.
Its first sessions were held at Santa Cruz,
on the south coast. Objection was made
that the insurgent army was only a frac-
ton of the Cuban people, and that The as
sembly was merely d case of frdc ttonal
representation. But other factions indOrsed
it, and the assembly came TO represent
unit Its members complain that they do
not receive sufficient consideration, but
they are representative. The majority of
the Cubans are disposed to accept the as
sembly a representative body until it
takes some action that does not reflect
their wishes. Then they will fall away
fl ON it. But the disposition is to treat 1t
as an authorized legislative body fulfilling
legitimate functions.
CHARLES M PEPPER