Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-05-18
Letter from Cuba.
HAVANA, CUBA, May @, 1900

Editor .SeRti1el! will not invite you To
go with me for any more short walks in
Havana this spring, Tor the reason that the
rainy season has arrived, and we would be
liable to good drenching on very short no
tiCe IL sometimes begins to rain here before
the sun can get behind the clouds, and
when II rains in real earnest the best um-
brella on the market will hardly turn the
water. At this time OF year il IL generally
pretty warm or raining, and sometimes 1t Is
both at once In the streets and roads there
is either mud or dust, aud one IS about AS
disagreeabe ~ the other. The most delight.
full weather we have is when il is clear and
there il u sea breeze from the north.
But the people down here don't pay much
attention to the weather. They seem to
take il as matter OF course-as they do
their religion, leaving all the responsibility
with the priests and preachers. What the
Cubans like TO talk about just now is indie
pendence- independence.
have already told you that they are very
anxious to have u government of their own.
The politicians all want II because they
think there will be fat offices to be filed
the masses want ii because they are brim
iul Of sentimental patriotism and because
they think that Spain will laugh At and guy
them II they don't get what they fought for
some of them want IL because they imagine
that they can do just as they please when
they get il, and that nothing more will be
needed TO make them prosperous, contented
and happy. There are some who seem TO
think that all manner OF blessings will come
to them without effort II they can only have
Independence.
Last week Gen. Rus Rivera, Cuban who
held a position in the cabinet Of Governor
Wood, handed In his resignation. He had
been writing letters for publication Ia which
he severely criticised the present provisional
government (oi which he was himself an
important part) and which he insisted
that specific date should at once be sci for
the complete surrender OF the government
into the hands OF the Oubans, and the with
drawal of all American employees. Gen.
Rivera Is the same statesman who not long
ago informed the world, through the public
press, that In his opinion sugar would not
be good crop for future production in Cuba
owing TO the ease with which cane fields
can be burned BY insurgents While anx
iously striving iOr Independence he is con-
tideatly anticipating future Instructions -
II Is said thai his attitude towards the Amer
lean Government and his expulsion from the
cabinet have greatly increased his popularity
with the masses aud made II probable that
us Will Dt tlcCtCl huJOi VI havana ~ tuC
election to take place Ia June These facts
will give some insight into the present po
litica temper and acumen Of the voting pop
ulation Of Havana.
But, after all, how will an independent
form ol government actually benefit the
Cuban massesy What IL most needed in
Cuba Is capital 10 develop the resources OF
the island aud give Employment 10 the PEG
pc IT, ~ General Rivera thinks, sugar
crops are liable TO destruction by lnsurk ats
when Independence IL established, foreign
capitalists are not very likely 10 bring money
here Tor investment.
On the other hand IL n safe, stable aud
economical government we're assured 10
Cuba for stated period ol sufficient dura-
ton, an abundance of capital would doubt
lass seek investment here, as there Is NJ
question ~ 10 the great fertility OF the soil
and the enormous value OF the timber and
natural products upon thousands OF acres
~ yet practically unexplored. The manual
labor Oi developing these resources would
almost who ly tall 10 the natives, a. they
are best able To perform IT, Foreigners from
cooler climates are not well fitted for hard
work In the heat Of u tropical sun Asa
general rule, only natives Of tropical coun
tries can endure for any considerable length
of time sustained physical exertion In
climate such as this Even the natives do
not work with any great amount of vim,
but the climate does not inj lriOusy affect
them, aud they are able u keep pegging
away at their tasks, although they do not
seem u make very rapid progress. n their
and deliberate fashion, a pro |
portion of the Cubans ESPECIALLY the black
Onesl can work and will work, and, with
the necessary capital and Intelligent direc
ton, they can in few years make this
island very rich and prosperous.
Cuba as an independent republic will have
10 sustain an army, u navy, expensive coast
deien4es, u congress, lot Of departments"
and bureaus" and other luxuries that cost
a great deal OF money. The comparatively
small number OF people who would have 10
do the work and pay the taxes will soon
get tired Of this.
Cuba ~ y State Of the Union would enjoy
more real Independence than rs a separate
nation. She would control her own inter
nal affairs, select her own officials aud en-
pIoycs, and enjoy the protection and other
advantages which accrue 10 all who live
under the beautiful banner O the best and
greatest government on earth.
But for some reason or other the Cubans
do not take kindly 10 this view Of the sub
ject They seem TO think that as part Of the
United States they would be no ireer than
when they were subject 10 Spain that their
island would he dominated by the "Yan
KEGS" Of whom, on the whole, they do not
entertain u very high opinion. Many Of the
military aud civil officials who have been
sent here by the American government have
failed 10 win the undivided admiration of
the modest, proud and sensitive natives.
think know some Of the reasons why, bat
will leave them for q later date, when |
have more time and you have more space
10 spare. A. A. b.