Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-04-13
Letter from Cuba.



Editor Sentinel The season that you call
beautiful spring, aud that Is here called prt-
1laUerd, is now well under way in this part
of the world AT this time OF the year II is
not advisable to do much walking in the
glare of the tropical sunlight; but when the
air 10 not too damp and is tempered by fresh
breezes from the sea the tropical moon light
is Il "a Joy forever" 1t is best at this season
to remain all day in the shade. and sally
forth ia the evening.
A cannon shot from Fort Cabanas pro
claims the hour of 8 p. M. We are stroll
ing through Central Park, where throng the
gay and Joyous, the homely and the lair, the
black aud white, the yellow, brown and
DUNN the mellow moonlight and the
balmy air, perfumed by the scent OF roses.
The city band is playing, the children
playing at their games, the throng moving
hither and thither through and around the
park. Let us linger here moment and
lake look at the crowd. There is nothing
esp ,cially remarkable about it, except that
the people are generally small OF stature I;
that they are OF great variety OF colors /;
that the faces Of nearly all the WON en- are
literally plastered with powder, and that
many OF them, even the older ones, have
lustrOus eyes and fine, glossy hair.
We note especially dandlhed individual /,
fit Tor prize winner at u heightened cake
walk, out tor an airing, with his best girl on
his arm He is as black and shiny as a new
ly polished stove; his companion is come.
ly mulaLto lie wears a high hat, collar
almost rs high, a flaming red necktle, a long
tailed coat aud patent leather shoes. She Is
resplendent 10 scarlet robes, with wealth
of brilliant feathers on her hat, and more
than her lair share Of powder on her lace.
These are Cubans. whose ancestors were
brought here in the days OF the African
slave trade. The young mans name is not
Pompey Smash nor Josephus Orange Bios
SON, but Senior Don Juan Domingo SalianO,
or something equally as imposing lie Will
probably be u politician when the CuOans
begin TO have elections, and is now u strong
ad VOcate OF absolute Independence.
But the park il not the best place u study
the subject which is now uppdrmOst IN the
minds OF those who are especially Interested
in the future political history OF Cuba-the
question as 10 the capacity OF the CuDans 10
conduct AN independent government oil
their own. Stepping across the Prad0, we
enter the large cafe In front OF the Tacon
theatre. Here We lind representative specl
mens Of the speculative, commercial and
political elements Of the Cuban population.
lucy bft CiuSIotou III poHoioso Si"hN e'"NNN
small tables, smoking cigarettes or slipping
q little coffee or cognac, and discussing
among themselves the latest phases Of the
situation according TO their understanding
of IL. There seems to be among them great
diversity OF opinion, and at times every
member Of particular company IS trying
10 outtak every other member. some OF
them seem 10 grow almost frantic, and all
Dunctuate their remarks with the most ex
Iravagant gestures. The appearance and
manner OF the majority are such ~ 10 indi-
cate that the Cubans, as II rule, are enthu-
siaslic, impulslve, sxclLable people.
Some Americans think that Tor this rea
sOu il will be very difficult for them U
maintain popular form OF government.
II is frequently asserted that they lack tbs
faculty which enables the defeated u bow
10 the will OF the majority, and the preilc-
ton IL often made that alter the nrst hotly
contested election the defeated elements
will all stake W the wOods'-that Is " say,
will rise 10 rebellon.
But all this, OF course, Is mere speculation
and remains 10 be tested by iutnre events.
From what | have seen OF the Cubans, l
do NOT consider them vastly different from
people ! have seen elsewhere. doubtless
there Is al element who are selfish and am
thereof, who Will kick II they cant have
their way-just a. there are many such pso'
ple in the United States. Doubtless there
are those VINO will never be satisfied unless
they occupy good lat office who will hes
utt. at uOtnlnS 10 accomplish their object I;
will seek and accept party nonlnatlons and
betray their best friends alter they get into
otfice-just US there are sucn among our
own people. IL Is not improbable that
now and then the meanest people will get
| into the best Off ;es, and that there may DO
| o ,IiticaI RIOS and disturbances Ia Cuba,
| inst a, there are In Kansas and Kentucky.
There are plenty Of honest, well meaning
| Cubans tor the mountebanks and deml.
gogues TO impose upon, and there Will
doubtless be plenty OF the latter classes when
there is profitable field for them 70 work
1t will take little time, but the Cnban'
will eventually catch on 10 all the tricks o
the trade OF politics. They are already be
ginning 10 catch on. At tue trst conVen
ton held 10 Santiago there was q row,
split, and bolt.
The question Of greatest importance l.
whether Independence will be best for thu
island Of Cuba. We will talk OF that late
on A. A. Il.