The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-02
CUBANS WANT A REPUBLIC.
ALL CLASSES LOOKING FORWARD
TO INDEPENDENCE.

Senator Plat of Connecticut Speaks
for the subcommittee which
Visited the Islnnd-Municipal EIec-
tons in May viii BE Test-COn-
servative Citizens Are willing to
Wait Until the Proper Time-WoOd
Giving a Good Government.
Washington. April 1.-The sub-comnit-
tee of the Senate, consisting of Senator's
Platt of Connecticut AIdrich and Teller
which went to Cuba for the purpose Of
personally investigating conditions on the
island with view of intelligent action by
Congress with respect to Cuba. has re-
turned to Washington.
| Senator Plat, chairman of the sub-com-
mlttee. tonight authorized the following
statement concerning the subcommittee s
| observations:
! eve inquired as carefully and complete
| ly as we could with the limited time at
| our disposal, into the condition of the peo-
| PIE of the island, their needs and prospect
of establishment of an independent. salts
| factory and stable government by and for
! the people of Cuba. We We're in Havana,
| in all, five days. We also visited the prov
inces of Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and
Santa Clara, being unable to so TO San
| tiago and Puerto Principe, as we very
| much wished We saw and conversed with
a great many prominent and leading men
from all portions of the island, men who
| represent different IDEAS and interests,
! from intense conservatism to decided rad
icalism, and returned with a much better
| understanding of the problem 10 be solved
and the steps to be taken in its solution
| than we could possibly obtain Ctherwise
| than by a personal visit.
| All Want Independence.
1T may be said of all classes in Cuba
| that they are looking to The establishment
| of an Independent government, Cuban
| republic. few are impatient and wish
for immediate and complete independence.
| Others are less impatient, believing that
sufficient time should be taken 10 avoid
| mistakes and to set up the new govern
| ment upon such a firm basis as to in
sure its success and permanence,
"All are looking forward to theFmunidl-
| pal elections that are to take place In
| the latter part of May, regarding such
| elections as the first step toward the es-
adjustment Of the new government. Much
| will depend upon the result of these cleo
tons. If they take place without disorder
| and good Cffcials are elected, that will
| go far to prove the capacity of the people
| for self-government, and steps can be TAX
| en- without great delay for further pro-
| gress in that direction. The problem Is
complicated by The fact that self-govern-
! ment is an untried experiment by a peo-
pie who have had little opportunity to
study its principles or its details its neces-
sites or its responsibilities. Many of the
more conservative citizens and business
| men. unfortunately, show too much dis
| position to hold aloof
Wood Doing Good Work.
1--WE were much impressed by the evil
dences Of good administration of the af-
fairs of the island under Gov. Gen. Wood.
| He has a very difficult and compiled ted
problem to deal with; conditions growing
out of 800 years Of Spanish misrule and
the consequent character of the people
of Cuba make every step in its solution
embarrassing, but we are convinced that
he is the right man in the right place
and that his administration, though firm,
is as gentle as possible, and calculated to
| lead the people wisely to the establish
ment of an independent government which
| shall have close relations with our own.
| and in which the interests both of The
people of Cuba and of the United States
shall be subserved. 1t is not too much 20
say that the people of Cuba in respect TO
the formati OF a stable and beneficent
| government, are very much like children
who have to be taught and led. They re-
gard the United States as their friend and
teacher and as a whole, are quite willing
| to be guided
There are great possibilities in the isl
and 1t is fertile, has great natural re-
sources and is capable of supporting a
| population four or five times larger than
it numbers at present. On the whole
there has been marvellous recuperator
since the declaration of peace, but il
needs American capital and American en-
terprise, which hesitate yet to go there
English and German capital seems more
confident, and is being invested. Surely
our own people ought to have as much
confidence insthe future of Cuba as for
eigners have.
ION the whole we We're much pleased
and encouraged. The people of the Unit
ed States and of Cuba should alike exer-
else patience, being assured that thereby
progress will be most certain"