Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-09
CUBAN FOLKS OF TODAY.
Present Strength and Status Of
the Social Glasses.
NO PROMISE OF HARMONY.

The Spanish Element Dominates and
Always Will-Cubnns Are Clever.
but Not Thrifty, and Are Dying Ont.
Annexation Rest For All.
Copyright, 1899, by the Author.l .
/.
In his message Of December, 1896,
President Cleveland, speaking of Cuba,
said, at is so near to us as to be hardly
separated from our own territory"
While Cuba is no nearer geographically
than it was then, it is much nearer pc.
litically, and its annexation to the Unit
ed States would be the greatest boon
that could possibly befall the island
from the standpoint of industrial, social
and intellectual progress.
The contention on the part of Ameri-
can sympathizers and advocates of Gu
ban independence that the Cubans can
not rule their country as badly as the
Spaniards have ruled it, and should he
given a chance to show whether OF not
they are capable of self government,
while excellent in its way, does not
offer practical solution to the Cuban
problem, involving as it does world
wide interests aud affecting the stagna-
ton or development of the agricultural
and mineral resources of the island its
commerce and its industries.
The population of the island today is
about 800, 600, one-half of which is
colored and the other half evenly di-
vided between Cubans and Spaniards.
That gives total population of bona
fide white Cubans of 200, 600.
The total area of the island is II. $50
square miles, exclusive Of the Isle of
Pines, and other small islands, the for
mer containing 1900, the latter aggre-
eating $40 square miles.
Thus in dimensions the island of
Cuba closely approximates the state of
New York, which supports popula-
ton exceeding 100000.
Considering that of its total extent
only 1900, 900 acres have been hitherto
placed under cultivation, it is safe to
estimate that with different conditions
the population of the island would in
crease tenfOId.
The reports of the Compania General
TrasatlaDtica, running between Span
ish ports and Cuba, show that emigra-
ton from the mother country has not
ceased or even fallen of since the war,
their steamers taking to Cuba hundreds
Of laborers on every trip. This, together
with the emigration from the Canaries.
daily increases the Spanish population
of the island in strong and ablebodied
men and women, while on the other
hand the Cuban population, sickeDed
and diseased through prolonged abuse
and starvation, decreases daily in alarm
ing proportions. This is evidenced by
the reports of the bureau Of statistics,
which estimated the rate of births and
deaths in the island for the month of Oc-
tober, 1898, as one birth to every 30
deaths reported by the health depart
ment. The official death report can
hardly be taken as an accurate record
Of mortality, owing to the fact that
many hundreds die and are buried in
the country Of which no notice is given
to the local authorities.
The inevitable result must therefore
be the numerical preponderance Of the
Spanish element in the white popula-
ton of the island, the continued pres
ence of Spanish influence, Spanish thrift
and Spanish dollars outweighing native
power, Incidence and perjury, and the
continuance of Spanish methods and
practices in free and independent Cuba.
All the constituents which make up
the mixed Cuban people, whether IN
surgents, native born, autOnomists or
resident Spaniards, would have a voice
and vote in the administration of gov
eminent, and it would be found that
the native Cuban being minority in
his own land the island would continue
to be controlled and run by the Spau-
misunderstanding progress, thwarting
reforms and preventing its commercial
and industrial growth.
The Spaniard in Cuba will never be-
| come Guaranteed and will retain his old
| time hatred aud contempt for the in
sular descendants Of his race, who i'll
turn will ever look upon him as an
enemy, hypocrite and turncoat.
The racial problem in Cuba, strange
as it may seem, is the least dangerous
point at issue. 1t is not in tho Cuban
negro's disposition to struggle FOR con-
troll, his late emancipation from slavery
being of too recent date for him to
have acquired that spirit of equality 60
evident among his brethren OF other
chimes. He demands only justice, proper
treatment and the prospect of suffi-
GENTLY we'll guaranteed salary to enable
him to cover his daily wants. Under a
stable government and an era of re-
turning prosperity, with employment
for all, the Cuban negro. satisfied in his
wants, will prove quiet, orderly and
submissive, the really Woodworking
element in the native population. But
under disturbed political conditions,
such, for instance, as would probably
obtain in Scuba libre," the colored
| ,,oorlo roaIizinp ar being made to realiZe