The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-05
THE FUTURE OF CUBA.

Some of the Cuban leaders are in hurry
to get rid of the Americans and set up a
government Of their own. In our dis
patches yesterday it was stated that they
expect that our troops Will be Withdrawn
from the island by April Of next year and
that the Cubans at that time Will have a
government of their own. They have got
along so far in government making that
they have selected the man who is to be
the first President of the island His name
is Carlos Cespedes, a son of the first Pres
ident of Cuba in the ten-years war He
was a colonel on the staff of Gen. Garcia
In the recent war with Spain, and is about
forty years of age. From the account of
him given in the dispatches. he has a good
record as a soldier and is we'll educated.
The understanding appears to be that Gen.
Gomez is at the head of this movement,
and is doing what he can to promote the
interests of Cespedes.
II may be that our troops will be out OF
Cuba by April of 1900. but there is a very
general belief In this country that 1t will
be much longer than a year before Cuba
doubt that it is the intention of our gov
eminent to deal fairly with Cuba. Con-
gress declared that Cuba should have in
dependence, and that declaration will be
adhered to, provided the Cubans desire
independence.
1t is by no means certain, however that
they will insist on an Independent govern
l,a Il
ment is increasing rapidly, and it may be
strong enough before our government de
cides to withdraw our troops to control
the destinies of the island. The great ma
jority Of those who are insisting upon in
dependence are without any particular in
terestC in Cuba. Some of them are look
Ing forward to independence with the hope
of getting lucrative offices and others ia
vor independence simply because they have
been talking about 1t for many years. The
property owners and business men want
annexation, because it means strong and
stable government. They are well aware
that Cuba cannot prosper as long as there
is fear of revolutions and a weak and cor
rupt government
Those who are so anxious for the with
drawal of our troops do not seem to give
a thought TO our interests. 1t is doubtful
If any considerable portion of the Cuban
population feel the least gratitude to the
United States for freeing Cuba from the
rule of Spain. If 1t were proposed that
they should pay part of the debt incurr-
ed by this country in the war with Spain
it Is probable that there would be a pro-
test from the Cuban people from one end
of the island to the other.
1t is not known of course whether It
is the purpose of our government to
insist that Cuba shall bear a part of the
cost of securing her release from Spain,
but it would not be surprising if there
should be a demand OF that sort in the
event that Cuba sets up government of
her own. Just what 1t cost us to drive
Spain out of Cuba is not yet known with
any degree of accuracy, but according TO
the estimates it is not far from 100000 600
1t would be only just that Cuba should
pay a portion of this, If she becomes an
independent state. Stll, it will be time
enough to discuss that matter when 1t be-
comes apparent that the Cubans have de-
clded that their flag shall replace ours in
the island.