BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1900-03-06
Cuban Feeling.
E

4
blished a letter in the New York
Evening Post on the feeling of the
Cuban people, from which we extract
the following remarkable statements.
The man who comes here expec-
ting to find the people demanding
the annexation of Cuba to the Uni.
ted States will be very much dis
appointed. He will not only be dis
appointed, but he will be astounded
at the strenuous demand for indie.
pendence and the strong feeling OF
resentment, at the continued pres.
ence of Americans in control of the
island. There is an annexation sen.
timent in Cuba. but it does not ex-
ist to an appreclable degree among
tie Cubans who have been selected
by the Americans to hold office or
among the masses of the. Cuban Pc
Ople. The Spaniards ofproperty and
standing are annexationIsts. Some
few of the Cubans who are holders of
large properties are likewise so.
rbe politicians of Cuba are for the
complete independence of the island,
and that to be accomplished as soon
as possible.
A year or so ago, when Cuba was
in chaos and the people confused as
to their political future, there was
qnite strong feeling that perhaps
annexation was the only safe sol,
unOn Uf difficulties then present.
During the past year, however, the
people have had a taste of peace.
Public and private affairs have set.
tied into something like a normal
condition of sequence. Public func
tions have been organized and car
ried'on successfully.
American restraint is already irk'
some to the CubanS and is becoming
more so every day that passes. They
claim that the time has arrived for
American evacuation. In fact, many
of them believe it is long overdue.
The arguments of the Cubans are
plausible, even to outsiders, but to
the Cubans they are incOntrOVertible.
They claim that the United States
accomplished its purpose when the
Spaniards were driven from Cuba
and order was restored. They clam
Jhat the United States is now col
lecting and spending the money of
the Cubans in ways to suit the Anne
ricans and not the Cubans. They
defy any one to prove that the Gu
bans are not as accomplished and
competent to govern themselves as
any other people in the world, from
their own point of view, at least.
They say that while the Cuban ideal
of government many not suit the
Americans it will suit the Cubans,
and that this is the only point at is
sue SO long as they MAINTAIN the sa-
fety of life, property and foreign in
vestment, which they claim they are
able to do.
Gen. Wood has made different i'm.
preston from that produced by Gen.
Brooke. Gen Brooke was simple
and direct almost to crudity and
brusqueness. Gen. Wood seems to
have gone on the theory also that the
wishes of the CubanS should be con-
suited, and that within very wide
latitude they should be allowed to
have their own way. Gen. Wood,
on tne contrary, came to the Office
of governor with well defined plans,
in which the American idea and
mis- will are the dominant notes.
The masses of the Cuban people
have already forgotten much OF their
grievance against Spain. The Gu.
ban nature does not harbOr a grndge
for long, and it is a nature at heart
much in sympathy, for obvious re-
asons, vita thar of the Spaniard.
This is shown in many ways, and
in none more clearly than in the
popular demonstrations at the the
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