The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
THE COLORED MAN
IN CUBAN HISTORY
Always a Factor in the ISL
and's Affairs.
A Tinge of African in the Best
Blood of the Land.
Soldiers. Educators. Scientists, Poets,
and Musicians of the
DuslSy Race.

Matanzas, Cuba, jar. 2O.-Speaking of
the trouble that Americans in Cuba are
encountering in their task of reconstruct
ton, it should be borne in mind that
there are two sides 10 every question, ard
the Cubans themselves may not be with
out their troubles at the hands of Ameri-
cans. So difficult it is for people OF differ
ent blood and temperament born and
reared to other traditions and customs, to
look at things from the same point of
view! For example, not least among the
problems of reconstruction is the social
and political status of the colored man
and brother" In benighted Cuba the
shade of a mans complexion has never
been greatly considered, and one finds
duslSv nthellos in every walk of life. To
the V. element of AmericanS-full
of the race prejudice which exists nowhere
on earth with such venem as in the Land
of the Free-the smallest approach to
equality is simply intolerable. The pres
ent cloud on the horizon of happy recon-
struction-at first no bigger than a mans
hand, but now foreboding a tempest
arose when restaurant keeper from Ala
bama refused seat at his public table
to the mulatto colonel OF a Cuban regi-
ment. The Southerner had been brought
up that way and was perfectly sincere in
the declaration that he would see himself
in warmer cline than Cuba before he
would insult his American guests by
seating id niger among them" To
the colonel in question 1t was a novel and
astonishing experience. and is. of course.
deeply resented by all his kind In Cuba,
where the color line has never been
thought of. for the reason that African
blood may be found. in greater or less de-
gree, in some of the richest and most in
fluential families of the island There
fore, as it is not probable that tempo
rary influx of foreigners will be able to
draw the line very taut in the land TO
which the colored man was born, it would
manifestly be the part of wisdom for
those who cannot endure IL to return to
the Home of the Brave. where their in
herited race prejudice may have full swing
The MulnttO Aristocracy.
Had the Moor of Venice lived in this
country he would have found no reason
for the remark, "MisIike me not for my
complexion" for few Brabantios would
have objected TO him as a son-in-law on
that account. In high life and low the
blood OF the aboriginal Indian. mixed with
the Latin, has been as often stained with
the African as adulterated with the Anglo
Saxon. Naturally the Swallowed livery OF
the FURNISHED sun is no disgrace among
these Creoles. In the creme de la creme
of the aristocracy are mulatto families
growing whittier with each generation
which have been rich and powerful since
away back to the days, of their forgotten
ancestors on the Congo; and others with
tolerably fair complexion, whose peculiar
kink of hair and shade OF finger tips betray
the dusky drop which in America would be
fatal TO social aspirations. In Havana you
need not be surprised to see Creole bellies
on the fashionable Prado-perhaps Cuban
Spanish, Cuban English, or Cuban German
blondes-promenading with negro officers
in gorgeous uniforms, or Octoroon beauties
with hair in natural crimp, riding in car
riages beside white husbands, or lighting
up an opera box with the splendor of their
diamonds. One of the finest houses in
MatanZas is owned by Yiscount of once
fabulous wealth, the color OF whose spouse
II would be a stretch OF courtesy to call
cafe au lat. There was a wedding in the
old cathedral the other day. attended by the
elite of the city, the bride being the lovely
young daughter of Cuban planter, the
groom a negro, black as the ace OF spades
Nobody to the manor born has ever
dreamed OF Directing TO this mingling CT
coiors; therefore when some newly arrived
foreigner-possbly an ignorant fellow, who
has no status at home worth mentioning
declares that nobody but those of his own
complexion shall sit in public dining
room there is likely to be trouble.
When the war began, the population of
Cuba was a little more than one-third
black; now the proportion is officially
reckoned as $751; S4 colored. against 1881
500 white. In 1898 two negroes We're serv-
ing as secretaries in the Autonomist Cab
met. The last regiment that B,anco
formed was of negro volunteers, to whom
he paid-or, rather. promised to pay,
which is quite another matter, considering
Blanco's habit-the unusual hire of $50 per
month; thereby showing his apprecia ion
of the colored man as a soldier. If Gem
eral Weyler evinced any Partially in Cuba
it was for the black Creole. During the
ten years war which ended twenty years
ago. his cavalry escort was composed en-
tirely of colored men. Throughout his
| latest reign in the unlueky island he kept
black soldiers constantly on guard az the
gates of the government palace. While
the illustrated papers o. Spain We're carl
caturing the insurgents as coal-b ack de-
mons, with horns and forked toa-nails
burning cane fields ana butchering inno-
| cent Spaniards-the Marquis of Teneriife
chose them for his royal bodyguard.
The Rise of II Chiropodist.
By the way, the Lieutenant colonel of his
guard was a Spanish French negro. born
| in New Orleans, who vas once servant
| of former Senator Pinehback of Louisi-
ana. Before the war he was peaceful
| chiropodist in Havana Today he displays
| a dazzling array of military decorations,
| is chief of the fire brigade, and an un-
doubted power in local politics. He also
owns a tri-weekly newspaper, which is
1
American press, of lynchings and roastings
al the stake OF negroes In our Southern
States, and invariably points the moral and
adorns the tale by arguments against an
| nexaton to the United States.
AS everybody knows, one of the greatest
| generals OF the day, considering his en-
| vironment, was Antonio MaceO. the Cuban
mulatto hero. who for two years Kept the
| Spanish army at bay and led them Il livo'y
| quickstep through the western proviI
| to the very gates of Havana. AS Swif
the march as Sheridan or Stonewall j.
son, as wary and prudent as Grant j.
| self, he had inspirations OF military gel S
| whenever crisis arose 1t is not Z IL
orally known that Martinez Campos, who
owed his final defeat at Coiisea to Maceo,
| was second cousin Of this black man.
| Maceo's mother. whose family name was
| Grinan, came from the town of Mayari, on
| the north coast of eastern Cuba, where
all the people have Indian blood in their
| veins. Col. Martinez del Campos, Iather
OF Gen Martinez Campos. was once mill
tary governor of Mayuri. While there he
loved beautiful girl Of Indian and negro
blood, who belonged TO the Grinan family
and was first cousin 10 Maceos mother.
Martinez Campos. jr:s:; the future general
and child of the INDIAN girl. was born
in Mayar. The governor could not marry
his sweetheart, having wife and children
in Spain, but when he freturned to the