The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-02
sPANIARDs IN CUBA.

I New York Tribune.
Some extravagant estimates were re-
Gently made Of the number OF Spanish
immigrants to Cuba during the year,
The exact figures have now come to
hand. They are much lower than the
estimates. but are nevertheless decld-
edly impressive and significant. In the
last fiscal year. in a total immigration
OF 2l.107. no fewer than 1855 came
from spain. The number from the
United States was only 12Ss. Since the
date Of this report. now nearly 1--WE
months ago. similar conditions have
prevailed and similar process has been
continued. ami the outlook Is that it
will be continued indefinitely hereafter.
According to the particularly COM
plete and accurate census OF the island
taken a year ago by the war depart
msnt there were then in the island l.
5727s7 inhabitants. OF whom no fewer
than 1920 were natives Of Spain. or
something more than 5 per cent. There
were. moreover. III, ,s9s male inhabitants
OF voting age. Of whom ss.OsS were Of
Spanish birth. or nearly % per cent.
OF these. as We now know. large ma
jority have decided to remain Spanish
subjects rather than become Cuban cit
liens Now. the immigration is large
enough TO cause marked increase in
the Spanish born population. and as
it consists chiefly Of adult males It is
causing still more marked increase OF
the Spanish born population eligible 10
citizenship. But as the immigrants, or
most Of them. win probably follow the
example Of the spaniards already set
tied in Cuba. and decline to accept Gu
ban citizenship. the condition presented
win be that Of large and increasing
mass Of inhabitants alien in birth and
remaining alien in politics.
The existence of 50 considerable an
alien element in the state is obviously
undesirable. yet 1t is difficult to see
how it is to be avoided at the present
time. Cuba cannot compel spaniards to
accept her citizenship and to renounce
their Spanish allegiance. Neither can
she prohibit immigration. The remedy
for the evil must be found. II at all.
in moral suasion and an appeal to en-
lightened self-lnterest. These Span
iards remain in Cuba and the new i'm
migrants come to Cuba because the
conditions there are more favorable
than in Spain. Taxes. especially. are
much lower. there is no burden Of mil
itarism, and the educational. sanitary
and other policies Of the government are
more progressive. So long as such Is
the case they will come to Cuba and
Will remain there. II they were as
sured that such would permanently be
the case they would renounce allegiance
to Spain and become citizens Of Cuba.
Had the United States acquired pos
session Of and sovereignty over Cuba
they would have had such assurance.
and would doubtless have become Gu
ban citizens at once. But the doubtful
experiment Of self-government in Cuba
is what gives them pause.
This is a feature of the situation
which Cuba cannot afford to ignore.
These spaniards form a considerable
part Of her population. They form a
much larger part Of her potential citi-
zenship. And still larger, to signih-
cant degree, is their percentage Of the
intelligence. industry and wealth Of the
island. Such an element Of the popu-
lation is not lightly to be disregarded.
conciliated, inspired with confidence
and brought into loyal and active
citizenship, it would be Of incaIculable
value to the state, while remaining in
its alien attitude it must be source
Of weakness and dissatisfaction. Among
the problems that confront the Cuban
constitution makers today, therefore.
conspicuous rank must be given to that
Of Transforming these spaniards into
cubans. There was, as we have said.
one obvious way in which this might
have been done. but It was not fol-