Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-03

the cabinet on account of his well known
energy, integrity and executive ability. Gen.
Rivera speaks good English, and stands as
the representative of everything that is
progressive in Cuba. His views with refer
ence to the present condition of the island
its needs and it's possible future are highly
valued by Governor General Wood
Hard Lines in Eastern Cuba.
Those provinces which lie east of Ha-
vana. namely, Matanzas, Santa Clara.
Puerto Principe and Santiago de Cuba
said General Rivera a day or two ago,
have always been given over to the max
ing Of sugar and the breeding of cattle.
The herds of the great meadows of CANA
guey and adjoining provinces We're entirely
destroyed by the armies of Spain ami the
insurgents. None was left for breeding pur-
poses even. and to introduce new stock
from outside sources will necessitate an
expenditure of much money.
TO replant the vast cane fields % those
provinces and to rebuild the great sugar
plants which were burned during tie reyo-
luton Will require a still larger amount of
capital. Up to the present time this much
needed sineW of peace as well as war Las
not been forthcoming except in a few for
tunate localities As natural result the
condition Of the people Of the 0riente today
is serious. AS there are but few mills to
grind cane and no cattle to herd there is
little or no work for the country people to
do. And as the cities and towns depend
upon tIt prosperity VI iilt
country they also in straits The city
of Sanctu Espiritu. Santa Clara, situated in
one of the richest and most beautiful re-
Sions In all Cuba is almost depOpulateG,
owing to the enforced emigration Of peo-
pie who must leave or starVe to death.
Each gaujiro, countryman, who owns
or can rent a piece of land raised enough
sweet potatoes, corn. yucca, etc, to fill the
mouths of shis own family, but having
neither farming implements nor animals
with which to cultivate a large tract and
totally lacking in means of transportation
TO a market he has been debarred from
the privilege of trading farm products for
shoes and clothing and compelled to live
a life closely resembling that Of the saw
age. In one respect he Is worse off than
the savage, for the latter can bear and
use arms, but the Cuban has not the priv
ilege of owning shotgun with which to
provide meat for his household.
Cuba's Great Need is Money.
"Of course this state Of affairs produces
more less discomfort, not OF necessity
with the American administration, but with
conditions i'll general; with life itself. Hun
ger is the greatest demoraliZer and breeder
of crime in the world. To be hungry and
at the same time to be good, to be your
natural. your better self. Is very difficult.
/ know whereof ] speak: l have been
there OF course, the remedy for the pres
ent condition Ia money. And. OF course, the
chief reason for the present lack of capital
in Cuba Is an absence of confidence on the
part of capitalists, because OF what is called
the political situation to speak more def
nitely. the capitalists are afraid of posi-
BILE uprisings which would render property
insecure.
This lack Of confidence may be attribut-
ed almost solely to the criminal and ma
nciously false reports which have been sent
from the island since the fall of Santiago
nv men who have been either msinformed
or malicious, and disseminated through the
public press and by word of mouth through
out the United States. These reports have
made sensational reading matter, and, nat
urally, many Of the people have believed
them. correspondent who sends such
matter from Cuba at the present juucture
! ia as culpable the man who cries fire
| In the theater or circulates falsely story
| of a banks financial embarrassment. Cap
< ital is proverbially timid, and every indi-
! vidual who has lent his tongue or pen to
\ the creation of such false reports has been
| guilty, directly indirectly, Of causing
/ much unnecessary suffering. If not actual
| death by starvation.
UnenterprisinE Cuban Capitalists.
Lack of enterprise on the part of some
| OF the Cubans who have wealth remaining
| to them has also stood in the way of the
| islands progress These men, following In
the nut Of the old Spanish regime have
been Withholding their own capital instead
Of lending 1t to the needy farmer. hoping
| that in a moment of paternal benevolence
| OF the small farmer and establish q bank