The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-25
CUn4Ns WANT MONEY.


Il will require a great deal Of firmness
on the part OF our government to prevent
the Cubans from placing upon themselves
heavy burden OF debt long before they
are capable Of carrying such a burden.
The 10000 which We have offered 10
.end them for their soldiers does not meet
their expectations. They will accept the
loan, but they want the privilege of bond
ing the cities of the island for 100000
more. all of which they propose shall be
given to those who were in the ranks OF
the insurgent army, Besides the forego-
ing sums the so-called Cuban assembly
wants the privilege of issuing $2,5OOGO0 Of
bonds for incidental expenses connected
with The war. These figures show that
The Cuban leaders want to create a debt
of S12 800 go even before any government is
organized. and for which there would be
nothing to show after il was spent
At this time bonds secured by Cuban
cities. or any other Cuban bonds could
not oe sold for anything like their face
value. It would seem TO be a mistake
therefore 20 issue bonds now. When
government is organized and fully estab-
lished il win be possible to sell bonds for
very much higher price than at pres
ent. If the Cuban people therefore really
desire to see their island prosperous they
win try and get along without mourning
heavy financial obliga lions But, as
matter of fact. are the Cubans who are
now at the head of affairs-that is the off,
GERS of the army and the members of the
so-called assembly--as anxious for the
prosperity of their country as they are TO
take care of their personal interests? That
is a question which we are not able to
answer, but from indications which are
cropping out the inference is that the flu
ture of the island is a matter of only sec
ondary consideration 90 them.
There is plenty of work for all of the
Cubans. The planters are in need of la
borers. The 100000 which our govern
ment offers to loan the Cubans will be
sufficient to sustain the men of the army
and their families until they can get set
lied and find occupa tons. Il is a great
deal more than the soldiers would have
received If they had succeeded in driving
the Spanards from the island without our
assistance They would not have sue
ceeded in getting their liberty without our
help. They therefore would have received
nothing. And they would have had to pay
a vast sum annually for interest on what
were called Cuban bonds, and, besides,
they would have had to pay the cost of
the war, Our government relieved them
~ all If he nj sot,
on the island under Spanish rule
For doing this and gaining for them
their independence they ought to be suffi-
GENTLY grateful to be guided by our adj
vice. However, they seem inclined to ig-
more us as much as they can in the man
agement of their affairs. They do not APP
pear to think they owe us anything.
What would be the result if $10,000,OOO
were distributed among those who claim
they were in the insurgent army? The
chances are that not one man in ten would
go to work until every dollar of his money
was spent. The Cuban laborer is not in
dustrious and thrifty. He works when he
has to, but not when he has enough to
live upon without work. 1t is said that
in the towns in which our government
has been issuing rations to the poor, our
soldiers are not able to get any washing
done. The washerwomen will not work
when they are fed by the government. In
that respect they are much like the col
ored laborers in the South. When the
government furnished rations to the sea
islanders after the great storm few years
ago it was impossible for the planters 10
get any of them to work as long as the
rations lasted.
So 1t would be if $40, 900 should be dis
tributed among Gomezs troops The up
building of Cuba would be set back a
year or more. In fact, the possession of
so much money and long period of idle
ness might have such demoraIizing ef-
feet that 1t would be much longer than
that before an earnest effort would be
made to rescue the island from the ruin
in which the Spaniards left it. If our
government is wise therefore it will resist
all efforts to burden Cuba with a debt in
order that the soldiers of the insurgen,
army may live in idleness for a year or
two.