The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-03-09
THE CUBAN SUFFRAGE.

THE CUBAN SUFFRAGE.
We referred briefly in yesterdays
paper to the proposed restrictions of
the Cuban suffrage. A late number of
Harper's Weekly contains some par
ticulars which we quote in full. They
come from Mr.. ]. d. Whelpley, Havana
correspondent of the Weekly, and are
of local value as showing the influence
now bearing upon Congress to create
separate electoral status for outlying
island territories of or subject to the
United States:
On the first day of May will be held
the first election in Cuba of a general
character since the Spaniards relin-
auished the island. At that election
each province will select delegates for
a sort of local legislature or govern
ing body. Each provincial government
will be independent of the other, and
responsible only to the general govern
ment as represented by Governor
Wood and his civil cabinet. There
will be no attempt as yet to organize
an island congress; for, as General
Wood says, 1t is best to try the pro-
vincial form of government first and
see how that works. The matter of a
general representative body can be
considered later
Apparently the most interesting po-
litical question to the Cubans at this
time is the matter of suffrage. This
will be finally decided in Washington,
but the Administration will undoubt-
eddy follow the recommendations of
Governor Wood, into whose hands has
been given the responsibility of sue
cess or failure. Governor Wood has
decided, and so states, that the voters
Will be included in three classes, to
wit, those whose names are on the
payroll of the Cuban army, those who
can read and write, and those who can
show $3.50 or more in real or personal
property.
In default of definite returns from
the census, General Wood estimates
the population of Cuba to be between
100000 and ! 100000. Allowing one
voter in five, this would be an average
of 100000 men of voting age. There
are 10000 men on the pay-rolls of the
Cuban army. This leaves 100000 to
whom the educational and property
qualification must be applied. Govern
OF Wood believes that about 80 per
SGul vi lutSt VIII Dt uudDlt W uuilllN,
thus leaving $4,000 voters, who, with
Cuban soldiers, make a total voting
strength OF about 100000. At an cleo
ton the actual vote turned out would
probably not exceed 10000 at the very
most.
1t has been predicted that If any at
tempt was made to limit the franchise,
trouble would result from the disaf
lection OF the dsfranchiSed, but on re-
Election it is apparent that this is not
likely. In the first place all the men
of fighting tendencies are on the rolls
of the army and can vote. In the sec
ond place, those who did not enlist to
fight, cannot read. or have no property
are necessarily Indifferent and with
out ambition, and many of them very
low in the scale of humanity. This
class includes many blacks not long
from the Congo, Chinese and Chinese
half-breeds and in fact, nearly all
of the most undesirable citizens, who
are political nonentities, and who are
without sufficient energy, intelligence,
and ambition to make trouble.
There Is great unanimity among
those occupying high positions In Cuba
in favor OF limiting the right of suf-
frage in the island. Governor Wood
takes the position that the privilege
of voting should not be cheapened in
the eyes of the Cubans; that it should
be held out to them as something to
be worked for and cherished when Sc
cured. He would have the elective
provincial bodies so constituted and
authorized as TO enable them to pro-
vide all the necessary legislation to set
the machinery of the proposed local
government in motion, These bodies
will provide day schools for the child
rem and night schools for the adults
and will say to the latter, Here is
your chance to go to school, free OF
cos, and as soon as you can read and
write you can become a voting citizen"
The Governor expresses great admira-
ton for the adaptability OF the Cublns,
the ease with which they learn things
when given the chance, and their will
lingness to take advantage Of oppnr-
tunity NJ that kind.
Brigadier General Ludlow, now in
charge OF the Department OF Havana,
and under whose able direction work
has been done which makes Havana
a fit place TO live In. has occupied his
present station for over n year. He
has formulated very decided opinions
as to the future OF Cuba and her neo-
pie. He SAYS, with universal suffrage
on the island OF Cuba at this time
should consider its future as a self