The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-13

in fact and actively a part of the
nghtlng force of the Cuban army dur
ing the late war. / should consider
these limitations essential, both for
the reasons previously stated and also
because, since. from my point of view,
education is the first requisite, every
stimulus and pressure should be ap-'
piled to indHee all inhabitants of the
Island to acquire at least the educa-
ton OF the primary school. The people
are extremely apt, and the acquisition
OF that amount of literacytwo ould cost
them lite trouble If they gave 1t time
and attention.;
I'm this department it has been in
timated, for examDle, to the Rural
Guards that it would be we'll for them
to learn to read and write, both as a
preliminary to advancement in their
own service Sand as having possible
bearing uponetheir future status. | am
informed that jas matter of fact they
are busily Studying their primers and
rapidly acquiring at least a primitive
comprehensive of letters.
Estimsate of Population.
The popasation of-Cuba is current
" estimated at from 1850, 900 to 1,5O0,-
900, but thiSis little more than guess
Ing until ths. results of the census are
known, theSlast census being consld-
cred defectfse, and the subsequent da-
ia as to deaths and immigration not
being matteE of record. Possibly the
census maAEshow 100000 people; in
other wordsTa state larger than Penn
" vania With little more than the pop
ulation of Philadelphia, while capable
of supporting population of 10000
900 or 15,0O0,000."
do you think majority Of the Gu
| bans are in favor of the annexation Of
The island to the United States?" Gen
| eral Ludlow was asked.
Very few of the inhabitants of the
island declare themselves in favor of
annexation to the United States re-
piled the General. How many are in
favor of 1t would be purely surmise.
Any proposition to this end, if pre-
bsented at this time, would, in my judg-
ment, be overwhelmingly voted down,
whether the franchise be general or
! limited, as above indicated.
| THE most important immediate
question before the responsible Ameri-
can administration, AT this time, as
may be inferred Hom what has been
said previously, is that of education,
inssmuch as the entire future of the
island depends upon the proper train
| ing and enlightenment Of the children
of today, thus assuming continuance
of the maintenance Of order and re-
spect for authority, which has now
| passed hss1nd the stage of uncertain-
| ty.
| Question of Self-Government.
| "The next important question Is the
Organization of government in the
Iisland-this to begin at once, and at
the foundations, and be confined for
the present to the organization of town
governments, based upon the voting
population.
"The sole method of instructing the
people in administrative matters of
this kind is to intrust to them the act
ual task and responsibility of doing it.
Theoretical instruction is beyond pos
lsibility and experience must be the
teacher, requiring a given community
to profit by its own mistakes by let
ting it bear the consequences, If, for
lexample, a dishonest city treasurer be
chosen and the safe be emptied, let the
lother officials go without their salaries
and the people suffer a certain measure
of deprivation in order to realize their
independent responsibilities and &C
quire the conviction that they must Sc
| lect honest officials, other considera-
ticns, personal or political, being made
subordinate.
/ 81 have no doubt that IL these prin-
cipies of administration, of education
and of the gradual building up of the
sense of responsibility in the use and
eni oyment of the suffrage be pursued
perSistently and without wavering OF
variation, the people of Cuba will
rapidly acquire the art of self-govern-
ment and be able to manage their own
affairs as independently of exterior
control or guidance as are the states oi
the Union, which are legally and polit-
ically held to be free and independent
sovereignties
Experience All That is Needed.
81 believe this because the people
have an unusual measure of intelli,
lgence with natural respect for author.
ity, Notwithstanding that they lack the
usage Of seff-government and need tC
lSiNAUAAC LAC HAUL VI " EChNA a.
principles of action, not permitting
subordinate issues to imperil the main
one, upon which must depend the per,
sistence and success of the adherence
to given political line of conduct.
Il see no reason to believe that the
Island of Cuba should not in course OF
time have as orderly, as responsible, as
law-abiding ani as serious a govern
ment as any other country, whether OF
her own accord, as a member OF the
American Union, or independently
thereof, should such conclusion be
reached by the concurrence of those
concerned.
Il do believe, however, that this con-
dition cannot be reached Immediately
or in the immediate future The per-
centage of illiteracy should at least be
reversed, and time is needed to habitu-
ate those who enjoy the suffrage to
the instructive guidance and regulation
| of individual self-control and respect
for continuity of administrator"
J. d. WHELPLEY
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