The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-02
THE CENSUS ~ cupA.
Population VIII He Found to ne
Over Milton

This IS important news that comes 60
as from Mr., O. H. Olnlstca1 the assistant
director OF the census rccentiv taken in
Cuba He says Thar the outcome Of the
work done by the so enumeratcrs IA that
the present population Of Cuba Is about
100000 Let Us compare these figures with
those furnished fer The three previous GEN.
suses- The census Of 1851. taken a twelve
month before the outbreak of the ten years
war. and before TIE gradual emancipation
OF the slaves began, showed a total OF
i.S7o.2ii, to which the people Of color con-
trihuted eoS.46i, nearly a. per cent In
lS7t although nine years OF civii war had
interviewed. the total population had grown
to l,ioe.2al. the contribution OF the blacks
then being only $50 leo, or about. ~ per
cent. In lSS7 when the last regular census
was taken under Spanish auspices the ag-
grcsate population was l. 6si sST. the quota
furnished by the blacks being istas7. or
Sa,st per cent Had the inhabitants OF Gu
ha Increased since the date last-mentianed
at the rate observed during the ten years
war. they would now number about ITO coo
As they actually number only i,aomn. il
follows that Wcyler's reconcentrad0 system
cost $50 eA lives. Admitting that tho blacks
suffered less from Weyler's policy than did
the whites Il ~ stll evident that the form
er must constitute iesa than one-haf OF
Cubas population. There is no ground
pressed by US last week that Cuba has no
cacse 20 dread the fate of Hayti ard that,
consequently. there Is no serious objection
to adopting universal suffrage as the cleo
toral basis OF the convention which Is TO
frame constitution for the island. There
are two conclusive reasons why we shoa,id
refrain from imposing any restrictions on
the Cuban franchise. which. practically and
obviously, would operate to deprive tho
colored people 81 the right 10 vote. The
FIRST reason Is that our own constitution.
as amended after tho civil war. forbids us
TO withhold political rights from any citi-
zen on the score OF race color or previous
condition Of scrvitude. We are bound TO
treat the colored population ~ Cuba
we'll our federal constitution treats PEG.
pie OF color IN the United States The fact
that certain Southern states have cndeav-
ored by imposing educational or property
qualifications. 20 evade a constitutional
amendment, VIII not Justify the fcdeari
government In practicing the same evasion.
at the cost OF the Cuban blacks. The sec
end reason Is that at the root OF the auso-
nomst system which the Madrid govern-
meut conceded 10 cuba some months be-
fore the outbreak OF the war between the
United States and Spain was the princi-
pie OF universal suffrage. IL we treat tho
colored Inhabitants of cuha worse than tho
Spaniards treated them. shall Justify
them In reheiiing against the independent
government which we have pledged our
selves TO establish in the island II IL
impossible to exaEgsrate the gravity Of this
question IL we mean honestly by Cuba,
We shall make universal suffrage the hasis
OF Its provisional electoral system If va
mean dishonesty. and desire 10 provoke an
insurrection which VIII give us q pretext
for annexation. We shall Impose education
al or property qualifications for the franz
ehise. which will. practically. deprive tho
coiored people of political rights. Golfers
Weekly.