The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-05
CUBA FULL OF UNREST.
The People Ask United States to Define
Its Policy.

Its Policy
Havana, Feb. 4.-Values on the local
bourse and general business confidence
were reviewed yesterday by the eX-
elusive news of the Associated Press
from Remedies of General Maxine Go
mez' acceptance Of the proposition of
Mr. Robert P. Porter, President Nc
Kinley's special commissioner, for the
payment of the Cuban army.
Prominent Americans who are study
ing the Cuban question express the belief
that if the United States Government
would define it's Cuban policy it would
do much to ameliOrate the feeling of
unrest, uncertainty and fear and the lack
of confidence which prevail among all
elements in the island. Occasional
scraps Of news in partial explanation
Of Americas future course, they say,
serve political opponents with grounds
of speculation and cause misleading and
incorrect statements to be made.
From the Cuban standpoint the ac-
tions of the United States are full of
mystery and evil portent. If the Gov
ernment's policy were more definitely
defined, it is urged, Cuba would know
who is to pay the American army of
occupation.
La Lucha prints a long list of Cuba's
alleged ills, from the pen of General
Enrique Collazo, from which the follow
ing extracts are taken:
Tine Treasury Department expresses
the intention of giving an honest admin
stration, but it employees men who were
used to the dishOnestles of the Spanish
regime, and the Department of Justice
is administered as under Spain. We
hoped, but vainly that the Americans
would teach us new and better ways of
government. 1t was logical TO believe
that they would break the old moulds
and build on methods prevailing in the
United States. There laws based Upon
the demands of the people prevail; hut
in the American administration in Cuba
caprice rules with the sword and the
Cubans are thrown aside and also ex
communicated.
THE Cubans demanded with one voice
the payment of their army, and the
United States responded with insufficient
charity and food. The United States
come to instruct us in governing; but,
they will not let us try to show what
we can do. They come to give us in
dependence; but seem to prepare for an
neXation, we may eventually vote upon
the question of annexation, but with the
reins of government in the hands OF the
Americans there is little hope of a fair
expression of the peoples wants. The
Capitalization of power is established
by the fact that General Brooke, or the
Washington Government makes the APP
pointments.
I'VE are growing to oe a nation of
petty office seekers; we have no poll
cal personality. The ways of the All
ericans are daily becoming more incom-
prehensible. We hoped to see the re-
turn of prosperity, but the country
cannot pay even the reduced taxes de-
manded,"
Major General Ludlow, military Gov
ernor of the Department of Havana,
yesterday wired Secretary Alger that
the death rate for Januury was reduc-
ed forty per cent. below that of the cor
responding month last year, through the
measures adopted for the sanitation Of
streets and houses. the cleaning Of local
points of infection, the vigilance eXer-
cised in watching for and isolating chi2s
of contagious disease and the supply of
medicines to the sick and food to the
starving.
General Alger replied today as fol-
lows:
''Your despatch of yesterday is most
gratifying. Accept congratulations and
keep the good work going"
Much suffering exists among the dis
charged men of the Spanish army who