Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-13

so he gave an insight into the social con-
ditions of the population that was really
remarkable. He was introduced by Rev.
MIR. Stuart, who remarked that Gen. Will
sons administration Of the affairs in his
charge had been so splendid, so statesman
like and so successful that his name and
fame had become sources Of pride to his
countrymen and Ills countrywomen.
What He Found in Cuba
Gen. Wilson, after acknowledging the
compliments, stated that the conditions OF
Cuba had been apparently thoroughly ex-
plotted through reports Of an official char
acter and by the press. When he went
there. he said, he found country that was
starving to death. Every farmhouse from
one end Of the island to the other, every
agricultural implement, had been burned or
broken up. Cattle stock and poultry had
been eaten up by the Spaniards, the Cubans
and the people, and the latter had been
driven into tn. towns No such desola tion
had ever been witnessed. 1t was as though
a vandal horde had swept over the coun-
try and devastated every thing. Only few
plantations escaped, and these belonged to
the rich. who could afford to bribe the Span
lards and Cubans alike. and whose great
owners fortified their possessions and man.
aged to keep few of their retainers. The
extent Of desolation, he declared, was be-
yond finite comprehension
The province Of Matanzas comprised 3 900
square miles, and contained originally 3O0-
600 head Of neat cattle. Santa Clara prov
fnce contained 966, 600 head Of neat cattle
head and Santa Clara 5000 head. Today
Matanzas had about 10000 and Santa Clara
about 10000. These cattle were the basis
of the agricultural wealth, and both prov
inces were a pastoral paradise, but they
were eaten up. The streets of MatanZas
were crowded with those dying from
starvation. During the four years of the
rebellion one-fourth OF the population of
MatanZaS and Of ha ofS S.p
Clara had died of starvation.
Eject of intervention.
"If Intervention on our part had been de-
layed ten months longer" he declared,
'the whole Of the agricultural district
would have been dead. But. with our help,
the specter of want has been driven away.
l want to tell you that the Cuban people
are just as benevolent as you are. They
made tha most heroic sacrifices. Hundreds
OF men died of starvation in order that
their wives and children might live. -
Stating that the work of redemption had
begun, he told his hearers not to delude
themselves with the idea that Cuba was
land Of barbarism.
The school system prescribed by law in
Cuba he exclaimed, "is as good as ours"
The teachers, he said, were not as well
equipped as ours, because there were no
normal schools or such institutions in the
island, but many of them had been edu-
Gated in this country. He spoke, as an in
stance, Of a school taught by graduate
OF Cornell in town in his district. He
had fifty-four scholars and all spoke En-
gltsh as 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.
There were no negroes in our acceptation
of the term. The mulattoes were called
marinos: those blacker were called pardoes
The word 'nigger" was never heard in
Cuba.
"In extending your assistance to the
schools Of Cuba" said Gen. Wilson, CON
fine yourself to the matter of furnishing
books and desks and school appliances
There is no necessity for establishing new
worn out or destroyed during the years of
the revolution.
Bright Cuban Children.
II can tell you this he declared that
the school children in the city Of Matanzas,
from four to fourteen years old, could not
be equaled by the same school children in
any American town. They are the bright
est little takers you ever saw. The insular
treasury has abundant money to support
these schools: it is overf1owing with funds.
The way you can help is by helping in Sc
curing the books and appliances as have
stated"
Gen Wilson, approaching the subject of
widows and orphans, said the census taken
under his direction was SO startling that
he could not give the figures. In sixty days
the official census would be published and
would speak for itself. There were plenty
of orphan asylums and women's homes
and the establishment of more was unnec-
essary. Help should be extended to those
already established.
Absolute Necessities.
The government could not supply many
absolute necessities. such as ladies' under
clothes bed clothing, towels, pillows, shoes
nd ha lat
Ieeded.
'"retanus is universal in Cuba" he said
"a wound in the foot Of human being or
of an animal IS almost sure to result in
lockjaw. Shoes and stockings, therefore
Light clothing or the material to make up
are chief requisites. There IL no use send