The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

Cuba, whose sole business for centuries
has been that of money getting. at the ex-
pense OF the natives. Caring nothing what
ever Tor the island. except 10 wiring money
from it, and still less for its people except
as their toOls-then have held the Cuban's
nose TO the grindstone and kept him in a
condition as near TO slavery possible
Supported by church and state, they have
religiously prevented his appointment TO
any Office in his native island. and took
good care that his interests were never
represented at Madrid.
From time immemorial they have
bought up the judges and shared their
piunder with the venal politicians and mill
ltary authorities: and in short, had things
all their own way in Cuba. Their profits
were spent in Spain. where most of them
We're educated; and when the war broke
out they helped 10 form the great army of
spies and volunteers and gave large sums
10 assist the unnatural mother country in
crushing the land of their adoption To-
day they are the most bitterly uncompro-
missing, bigoted, and unprogressive element
IN Cuba, though their star is no longer in
| the ascendant, and Uncle Samuel will have
more trouble with them than with all the
crazy insurgents. Numbering not less than
100000. they will undoubtedly favor an
neHation rather than submit to Cuban rule
Their property interests here are too great
TO be abandoned, therefore they will re-
main instead OF returning TO impoverished
| Spain Naturally, the native Cuban re-
CARDS this class rabid dog does water
II allowed his own way in the premises he
/ would burn them all at the stake-at the
very best ne would confiscate their proper
| ~ and chase them off the island.
As showing the widely different views
Of these two elements. let me give you
some scraps of conversation which have
come to my ears. Cuban widow of high
degree, whose husband was an author and
scientist of repute, once possessed Of great
wealth, fed with other refugees to Wash
inGton when General Lee abandoned his
| post. She owned the most beautiful house
in Havana marble palace of vast pro-
portions. filled with rare paintings, fine
old furniture and costly bric-a- brac col
| lected in several foreign tours-the last
| remnants OF once colossal fortune 1t
| vas my privilege to be guest in this
| house just before the war. ana when the
dear old lady came to Washington of
course | went AT once to see her Ex-
| pressing my hope that the expected bom-
/ bardment would not injure her ancestral
| home, l was astonished to see her rise to
her feet with flashing eyes aud the man
I ncr OF an outraged queen. LIST it burn"
! she exclaimed. with dramatic gesture
! 1t is all ! have left on earth. except my
| dead daughters children. who are depend
| cnt upon me; but ! would gladly see it
reduced to ashes and ourselves made
| homeless AZ we are now penniiess, if it
would aid the cause of Cuba libre one
| iota,"
In Beloved Cuba.
| am happy To be able to add that tie
old-time palace was not injured, and that
today the patriotic dame and her or
phaned grandchildren are at home in thei.
beloved Cuba, at least sure of a shelter
One day, in the Hotel Paste. where my
room adjoined the parlor with only a lat
| ticed door, extending half way to the cell
ing between, / was the Involuntary lis
tener TO n characteristic conversation
Three four elegantly dressed ladies'
| residents of the city, were calling upon
the wife of a Spanish officer who was iiv-
ing in the hotel. Said one of them-whom
! knew to be the beautiful young daugh-
ter OF a prominent Conservative, at the