Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-19
mcny with such surroundings. Those who
feel as he does had better stay away.
In the Insurgent Ranks.

In the lnSurEent Ranks.
The part taken in the instruction by the
blacks has unquestionably strengthened
their future influence. In order to depre-
oiate the white Cubans the Spaniards were
in the habit Of giving all the credit for the
warfare CT the bush to the black insurgents
Some Americans have thereby been led into
error. When the insurrecti0n began the
population of the island was about two
thirds white and one-third black. That pro-
portion was maintained among the insur-
gent troops In some of the regiments more
than one-half were black, but in others they
did not amount to 20 per cent. In the be-
ginning Maceo drew a large following in
the eastern provinces, and tins was almost
entirely Of blacks. When the insurrection
spread over the entire island the dispropor
ton between the two races was removed.
Many of the officers among the insurgents
today are blacks. They have few officers
of the higher rank, because most of these
were killed. OF all the insurgent generals
who are see-I in Havana-and there is a
legion of them-the one who attracts the
most attention frcm Americans is Gen.
Ducasse. He is a .nulatto, and was ed
ucated, l think, at the French military
school of ST. Cyr. a brother, more famous
than he, was killed during the last year of
the instruction in Pipar del Rio province.
This Gen. Ducasse is of polished manners
and undeniable force of character. few
weeks ago ! read an address of his to the
black insurgents, in which he counseled
them with moderation and impressed on
them the duty of preparing for their new
responsibilities
Not CInmoring for Recognition.
These colored Cubans have at no time
been clarnorous for recognition" They
seem disposed to ask less than is due them,
At least they are not forward in their de-
mands. Back of all this is a consciousness
of their own strength. In the states
iOVial piece Of advice used to be given the
negroeS-"DOnt hit the white man, but if
you do hit him. hit hard Such advice
would be unnecessary in Cuba. 1t is not
probable that q temporary influx of Ameri-
cans with inherited race prejudices will
ever succeed in creating a color line in Pc
litical affairs. If that should happen the
black Cuban would not need to be advised
about hitting the white man hard. He
would hit both hard and quick, and it
would be a long time before AnglO-SaXon
civilization recovered from the blow and
proved its superiority. Fortunately this is
never likely to happen. The black man will
share the future of Cuba with the white
man The race has far more than its pro-
portion of criminals. Some tendencies to-
ward retrogression have to be watched.
But in the midst Of many diScoNraging cir
cumstances the unprejudiced student must
recognize the great advance that has been
made. When Cuba has a system Of COM
mon schools the advance will be greater.
What is significant in the present is that
the black man has been doing very well.
He viii continue to do well. and even bet
ter, II too many people do not stay up
nights worrying other people with their
fears of the future.