The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-04-05
THE SITUATION IN CUBA.
Ihc CuDaDS Must Remain Under
the Direction and Protection OF
the UniIed States for the Present.
% Nassau ST. New Work

| the Direction and Protection OF
the Uni1ed States for the Present.
Mr.. j. g. Gariingtnn, OF the Spartan
burg Herald, has been on visit to
Havana with tho press CXCurSiOnists.
de went there with the settled belief
that the government Of the island
ought to bo unCcrcmOniOu5ly turned
over to the Cubans, but he came back
With that view somewhat modified
He says:
1t will not do for the United States
10 dream OF annexation. II cannot be.
The Cubans demand Independence,
and they W II have it but rs enc very
Intelligent Cuban remarked, "Wbiic
pothing short Of Il Republic Of Cuba
VIII meet the case, We oil realize that
we Will get Independence with string
TIED to IT," am Inclined 10 the uplu-
ION that this is the only sort they are
Capable OF enjoy ing and the sort they
should NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with d
string to it-iocal self governr ent for
the internal and domestic affairs OF the
island, under the direction aud protec-
tlon OF the United States. Just what
sort OF government will be finally
evolved no man at this time can say,
but to turn the Island over To tue
Cubans now, would be TO start Inc
wheels Of civilization moving in d con
trary direction. The Cubans would
first exterminatc ali OF the Spaniards,
the men OF means and ntelligencp,
anu then the Americans, and then
their own factions would begin to war
with each other, aud the end woulG
be ruin. They know nothing of gov.
crnment, except the corruption and
oppression which their Spanish mas
! tcrs taught them, and their only idea
OF government is TO get in power so as
| to treat the Spanish as the Spanish
treated them. IT, will require the
strong arm of the United States to hole
them in subsection.
1t is doubtful If there is SPOT Of
ground on earth that is capable of
greater development. With Drotec
tion to lie and property, and u liberal,
stable government, Cuba would bios
som like rose and would become
speedily the great winter resort for
The States. But, when that govern.
mont Will come and how, is the ques.
tiGn.
Secretary Root was in Cuba Il few
days ago, and came out in an interview W
in tho Cuban papers, in which he as,
surcd the people that the government
would be turned over to the Cubans
within few months. And yet the
authorities arc tearing down and re
modelling government buildings and
letting contracts involving thirteen
million dollars, and otherwise giving
abundant evidence that they have nc
ldca OF giving up within any reason.
able time.
We frankly confess that we do not
understand what the administration
proposes, and We doubt il the admins
| tratlon has any moro clcarly.dctined
idea as to the Gnal outcome. The Gu
bans seem to understand that when
they take charge as they say, tn at
they will have debt Of something
like $2l0 1000, 600 to pay to the United
States. They say they can pay this
in 36 years. The custom house receipts
now amount to q million and half q
month. They can stand severe tax
and still be far better OF than ever
| before in their lives.
The Cubans are fer behind the times
in many things, but they are naturally
very Intelligent and learn quickly.
The progress that has been made since
the conclusion OF peace, is marvellous.
They arc not naturally mean, as many
suppose, but they are ind-heartcd,
and In tho main, they try to be honest,
n city Of 2SO, 900 population thore.has
been but three murders in eignt
months. There are less than fortv
arrests day In Havapa for ali causes,
though there are 1900 policemen. The
law against carrying concealed wea-
pons is really enforced and drunken
ness among tho Cubans is unknown. 1t
Is looked upon as disgraceful though h
there Is no restriction on the sale OF
liquor and even the fruit vcnders on
tho corners ,dispense Intoxicating
beverages. The law deals severely
with the offenders who arc convicted
OF stealing. 1t has always been So, and
consequently few charges Of larceny
are lodged against the natives. There
is not q jew in Havana. There was
one before the war, but the authorities
taxed him out 0! business. They i'm
posed one tax after another, and he
paid them all, but after q while they
began to collect the same tax over
again repudiating the rocei PTS he held,
SO he had to move.
The Cuban's respect for woman Is
beautiful. The women too arc modest
and are never seen la public alone, or
In private eithcr, for the pa~ents nc.
company the girl into'the parlOr. Tho
man who accompanies a young lady to
q ball DANCES with her tho whole even
ing, and no other man would dare ask
for tho privilege. They wear dress
suits to tho theater and even visitors
| and spectators at anything like fash
ionable ball would bo promptly ej ectcd
If not clothed in the conventional
spike.tail. On Sunday afternoon all
the peoDle-young, old, rich poor, feel
impelled to don their best and appear
on tho PradO. Those who can afford
it, ride those who cannot, walk. For
two miles the procession surgcs all the
| afternoon. 1t Is worse than a circus
Tho people are we'll dressed, and they
like gay colors.
Cuba would be o most inviting field
for tho investment OF capital II one
could forecast the government. But
the future Is too uncertain and while
there are many capitalists on the
ground, few Of them are tisking their
money. 1t looks as II there Is bound