The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
GEN. WILSON ON THE CUBANs,
He Tells How Best to Relieve the Needs Of
tho Cuban People.


WASHINGTON. Jan. 13.-Gen. James II. Will
son. Military Commander Of tho Provinces o'
Matanzas and Santa Clara, Cuba. delivered an
address to-day to the members OF an American
Auxiliary OF the Cuban Provisional Red Cross.
Gen. Wilson had been asked to explain what.
in his opinion, would be the best manner 10 re.
lieve the needs OF the people Of Cuba. and In
his address he reviewed very fully the condi-
tions now existing In Cuba. He said:
III Intervention on our part had been delayed
ten months longer the whole OF the agricul-
tural district would have been dead. But, with
our help. the spectre OF want has been driven
away. | want to tell you that the Cuban people
are just a. benevolent as you are. They made
the most heroic sacrifices. Hundreds Of men
died OF starvation in order that their wives and
children might live"
The school system prescribed by lawin Cuba.
he said. Is as good as ours. The teachers are
not as well equipped as ours because there arc
no normal schools or such institutions in the
island, but many Of them were educated in this
country, He spoke. as an instance. OF a school
taught BY q graduate OF Cornell In a town in
his district. He had ffty-four pupils and all
spoke English az well. almost. as we do, and
could hold their own with any similar number
OF scholars in the same grade In this country.
There were no divided schools in Cuba.
In extending your assistance to the schools
OF Cuba" said Gen. Wilson. 'connne yourself
to the matter OF furnishing books and desks
and school appliances. There Is no necessity
for establishing new ones. The books and
appliances were all worn out or DESTROYED dur
ing the years OF the revolution,
-Ietanus Is universal In Cuba. A wound In
the foot OF a human being or OF an animal Is
almost sure to result In lockjaw. Shoes and
stockings, therefore. light clothing or the ma
terlal to make up are the chief requisites.
There Is no use sending your cast on winter
clothing down there. FOR 1t cannot he worn. In
deed. there, is no use in sending anything but
money to ,Cuha and an intelligent. representa-
tive. to direct its expenditure. | can quote
the. coon" song Of May Irwin very appropri-
ately as regards Cuba in the extension OF
come around The Red Gross. an sorry 10
cay. has aIready wasted much money In estab-
fishing eleemosynarylinstitutions and then find
my, yn iu xon, were SaD lacking ,d TO conduct then, De.
already established, Teachers and kinder.
g%artners may be sent with wisdom. but bear
stockings. medicines that will build up
enervated systems are what are needed
Everything else would be a work OF superero-
1T is the only tronI,al country In which the
social efficiency of the. white man has been
proven. BENJAMIN GtlPs, book to the contrary
Notwithstanding. The Cuban whites are lust
as strong. lust as industrious. Just as benevolent
as the same class In this country. ! declare,
without reservation. that in thu cities NJ Mntan-
gas aud santa. Clara. ranging in population
from $1,000 TO 10000 people there is Iess yio-
lence, less lawloSsness than there Il in any cit
les otthe same size in The United States. There
is no more humane. no more kindly people
than the rnbans. Every. unkindly term that
has been leyelcd at them has been unjust and
untrue"
Gen. Wilson was asked by one Of the ladies
whether the, Spaaiards or the Cuhans repre-
sented The best, class OF tho citizens Of the
Island. The Cubans." lie responded with en-