The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22
Cuba in the Future.

future OF tndt lSlaId. III uealS Win tnt
past history Of Cuba. its present coIdition
products, Inhabitants, and customs, in al
impartial and unprejudieed way. There is
not so very much that is new in the work
compared with others on the same sub
ject, but on the other hand there is nc
waste matter. All the information is in
teresting, and some of it is valuable to the
student OF current affairs.
1t begins with sketch of the ten-years
war and the movement in favor of au-
tonomy. The second chapter deals with
the western invasion under Gomez and
Maceo. The third gives a general view OF
the career of Campos and Weyler. This
will recall much war literature published
two years ago, in which the deeds and
policy of these generals were wildly set
forth. Mr.. Pepper having been a war cor
respondent in Cuba and spent some time
there before the outbreak OF the Spanish
American war, gathers his facts largely
from personal observation. An interesting
passage is that which describes the feeling
among the Spanish population in Cuba in
regard TO the destruction of the Maine.
Mr.. Pepper was in Havana at the time,
and this is what he says Of it:
A very large element of the Spanish classes in
Cuba rejOiced in the destruction Of the Maine.
II was not alone the ignorant popuaee. The feel
ing was manifest amcng the army officers. Out
side OF the possible conspirators none might
know whether the explosion due 10 accident
design. But the satisfaction felt the same
The higher officials from the Cdptan-General
down depored il in itself and in its consequences
Many Of the Spanish merchants were sincere in
their sympathy. Yet this did not obscure the
more common sentiment of satisfaction. The
violent anti-American circular which dis
Fri led he day last civ by
General Ice to taptain sigsbee and the officers
Of the Maine Is sometimes cited evidence Of
the plotting that was going on. My own belief
IS ihat TINS circular was IKE others OF the same
character, invention. IL a coincidence.
Genuine circulars occasionally circulated,
but they were Of a different kind. They were
short, and usually typewriter struck off from
handpress. The resentment. which was capable
Of the deliberate destruction of the Maine WAS too
deep for utterance in infammstory circulars Re
parding the higher officials. while they sought TO
exculpate Spain, my impression that they did
not feel sure Of their ground. They hoped
the explosion was Que to accident and they
advanced the grounds for the theory of an acct
dent, yet with the apparent fear that there were
Spaniards capable of causing the destruction Of
the American warShip.
1t was impossible for the people of the United
States TO understand that the Spaniards in Cuba
believed that in the event Of hostilities there
would be another war of secession and the South
States would revolt. Yet that delusion existed
1t found uttersnce in the newspapers and in num-
erous pamphlets. These pamphlets described sup
posed invasions of the North American nation,
and their repulse. Some of them were flied with
contempt for the bargaining Yankee.
One pamphlet told how the North Americans
achieved success after success over the Spanish
arms, but were finally compelled to withdraw. be-
cause the spirit Of Spanish resistance impreg-
nshle Other pamphlets were filed with Don
Quixotism The knight of La Mancha really
seemed 10 walk abroad
Another rather interesting chapter is on
The Race OF Color" Mr.. Peppers opin-
ion is that race prejudice will never be IS
violent in Cuba as in the United States, (
and that determinations along the color
line, now forbidden under the Civil Rights
bill, will never be allowed II this view IS
correct, it will inevitably have some inilu-
ence over the conditions existing in the
Southern States, since many OF the intelli- /
gent negroes of those States will, If they /
tnd Cuba a desirable place of residence |
migrate thither instead of continuing 10 /
live in subsection to the various Gisabili- /
ties imposed upon them in this country |
The author does not believe that any large !
migration from these States to Cuba |
VIII ever take place, or any colonization |
scheme be successful, and it is true that |
the ignorant negro will shrink from leav- /
ing familiar surroundings for a land where
even the Language is strange to him. If |
any go, they will be the intelligent and /
well-to-do, who see a chance to make /
money in Cuba, and TO enjoy it as they
please after they have made it.
Some Of the bits OF information given
about the Spanish population are interest,"
ing. OF the Andalusians it is said that
they, with the Madridlenos, were the Of
hce-holding class, and the Spanish proverb
is quoted as proof that the former will
never be very popular among their COM
patriots. 1t is this:
The women for beauty. the men for wit and
all Andalusans for lying
Another illustrates the stubbornness Of
the ATagonese:
When an Aragonese says two and two make
i've, don't dispute 1t: for in AFagon two and
two make five.
or the productions Mr.. Pepper SAYS that
the fertility and commercial productiyeness
OF Cuban soil, though great, has some
times been overestimated. He says Of
certain statistics:
Their figures show the limit Of capacity O. 4
eaoallerl2' or thiriy.three and third acres, and
The number Of families which may be supported
from that area Of land Sugar coffee. tobacco. CO.
Goa, corn, hay, potatoes, rice yucca or starch !
piant-Which stayed the hunger Of Columbus and
lis mariners-evcn wheat, cotton, bananas, and
other fruits may all be raised on one farm. besides
the pigs and the poultry which can be fed but the
limitations OF this productiveness in practice /
must he noted Cotton grows on trees instead |
OF bushes, but II is not gong 10 be produced IL,
Cuba 10 compete with that raised in the South
ern States nor viii wheat be eoa1ed from the
ground when il Is cheaper to ship sugar and |
fruits 10 the Mississippi Valley and import -four |
and cotton goods in return TIE diversity Of
products IS great, but in the lifetime Of the
producers a. today they viii not be producing |
everything that they want 10 cat.
Regarding the condition Of the Catholic
Church In Cuba the author has nothing
very encouraging to say. and it seems evil
dent from his statements that IL is in a |
degraded and corrupt condition. He tells
OF priests gambling in public, and engag-
Ing In other doubtful occupations, and says
that in the Havana theatres many OF the
farces ridicule the escapades Of the clergy.
He sees, however, hope for reform
through the devotion and energy of zeal
Gus priests intent upon purifying the
church from the abuses now existing. and
says that there is no reason to suppose
that Cuba will ever be Protestant
In speaking Of Havana he says that it is
not only the Paris but the San Francisco
OF the West Indies and that, since vessels
from the four quarters of the world drop
anchor there. one can hardly expect that
II will escape a certain measure of corrup-
ton and immortality. He insists that Ha-
vana is not to be considered representa-
tive of either the civilization or the NOR
ality of Cuba. and this is probably true.
The general tone and scope OF the book
may be seen from this brief sketch. It will
be an interesting addition to libraries OF
war literature. or OF books dealing with
the economic future Of this country and its
colonies. lNew York: Harper g. Bros
s2.00)
Wild Work of Fancy.
1t is lamentable. but it is true, that
sometimes a brilliant author perpetrates |