New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
GEN. WILSON TALKS OF CUBA
A GRAPHIC PICTURE OF CONDITIONS
IN THE ISLAND.
[pr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.I

washington.
Military Governor of the Provinces of Matanzas
and Santa Clara Cuba, delivered an address this
morning to gathering of members of the recently
organized American Auxiliary. Cuban Provisional
Red Cross, which has for its noble object the
amelioration of the condition of the needy classes
resulting from the revolution and the succeeding
war His remarks were characteristic of the man
concise direct, graphic and impresslve-and were
probably the most entertaining description OF reai
Cuba that has been heard in this country from an
authoritative source. General Wilson had been re-
ouested TO give his views on the best manner III
which relief could be extended to the people OIL the
island and in doing he gave an insight into the
social conditions of the population that was reai'
remarkable
When he went there, he said. he found country
that was starving TO death. Every farmhouse from
one end of the island to the other, every agrlcut
ural implement, had been burned or broken up.
Cattle stock and poultry had been eaten up oy
the Speniards and the Cubans, and the people had
been driven into the towns. No such desoation
had ever been witnessed. 1t was as though a. van
dal horde had swept the country and devas-
tated everything Only few plantations escaped,
and these belonged to the rich who could ahoru
to brfbe the Spanards and Cubans ahKe' anu
whose great owners fortified their possessions ana
managed to keep a few of their retainers. Inc eX-
tent of desoation. he declared was beyohu Hnile
comprehension.
The province of Matanzas comprised three th thou-
sand square miles and contained originally SVGOoo
head of neat cattle. Santa Clara Province CON
tanned 966 900 head of neat cattle. When ne too
charge Matanzas had 1000 head and santa ClhIa
5000 head. To-day Matanzas has about looOO anu anu
Santa Clara about 60OOO head. These cattle were
the basis of the agricultural wealth, and both prov
inces were pastoral paradise, but they W.
eaten up The streets of Matanzas were ci0"uSu
with those dying of starvation. DuIl"s ."T -,
years Of the rebellion one-fourth of the popuaton
Of Matanzas and one-seventh of that OF Santa
Clara had died Of starvation
SAVED BY AMERICAN INTERVENIlON'
''If Intervention on part had been delayed ten
months longer" he declared, 1.-The whole Oh the
agricultural district would have beeh oedu. N'
with our help the spectre of want mas Deeh uIA'si
avav want to tell you that the Cuban people are
lust as benevolent as you Tney mace the HioS'
heroic sacrifices. Hundreds of men dled OF s'ai va
ton in order that their wives and chlldreh Hish'
live"
C+o+,r, that tho work of redemption had begun
he told his hearers not to delude themselves win
the idea that Cuba land or DarDarlsIn.
school system prescribed by law III CuOa' Le
claimed as as good as ours" The teachers' ne
said were not so well equipped as ours pe1au-
there were no normal schools or such lnstlIuIlois
in the island but many of them had oeen euuo'.
in this country He spoke as an instance u
school taught by graduate OF Corheil III d '0 - -
his district HE had 1fty-four scholars ana an
spoke English as well, almost as we do ana eouIu
hold their own with any similar number OF scHoiai9
in the same grade in this country 1here were no
divided schools in Cuba. There We're no negroes III
il4N'>'N'00
called merlnos; those backer were caileu patuO7'
The word "nigger' was never heard in CUBA.
'In extending your assistance to the schoois u
Cuba" said General Wilson, "confne yourselves u
the matter of furnishing books and desks anu s
appliances There is necessity for estaphshlhs
rau, ones The books and appliances were ali worn
ont or destroyed during the years OF the reVolulo'
.I can tell you this" he declared, that the
school children in the city of Matanzas from lour
70 fourteen years old could not be equaled by the
in American
are the brightest little takers you ever saw, Inc
insular treasury has abuhdau a nIH5' With fn1ds The
way Tmeye you a help is by helping in securing the
SeneTai M wilson approaching the subject Of wid-
ows and orphans said the census taken unGer % ms
the fgures In sixty days the OFFICIAL census W6ua 6
be en Of 9rohan 9G asyums and homes
and the establishment OF more was ssfaSS
iished The Government could not supply many
absolute neceSSes STGh no as shoes and stockings
The latter were eninently needed
MONEY THE BEST THING TO SEND.
..Tetanus Is universal IN Cuba" General Wilson
said "A wound in tho .oot of a human being or of
an animal is almost sure to result in lockjaw Shoes
and stockings therefore, light clothing or the mate
rial to make up are chief requisites There is no use
sending castoff winter clothing down ss mere; &
for it cannot be worn Indeed tneTe Is no no use III
sending anything but money to Cuoa ana an. an IN
can quote the coon song of May Irwin very ap.
propriateIy as regards Cuba in the extension OF
S6 Shary m 0TT The m Red Cross 4 am sorry to say
has already wasted much money In eStabllshllS
were lacking 10 conduct them. Devote your heIp 70
assisting the the institutions already estabIshed.
Teachers and kindergartners may be sent with
wisdom but bear in mind that light clothing.
plenty of shoes and stockings. medicines that VIII
build up enervated systems. are what are needed.
Everything else would be a work OF superero-
eaCo33tinuing General Wilson spoke of the remark
able ability of the Cuban women ana girls IN needle
women Of this country what it Is, and if agency
could be established for the sale in this country
of their marvellous handiwork 1t would aid the
women there to become selt-supportng and dlrnln-
wealthy, worth their Millions" he said. 'are now
engaged in endeavoring to make both ends meet by
the art of their needless
General Wilson explained how the needs of the
widows and orphans in Cuba would rapidly dimin-
ish. Agriculture is starting up he said; and
in tobacco cultivation even a four-year-od
work picking worms off the plants: Four years
sibie to find orphans enough in Cuba to occupy
the asyums outside of the big cities.
Food there is remarkably cheap. The sweet
potato is simple food. With sharp stick man
can prepare the ground for planting and forty
days afterward the crop is edible, and remains so
are Industrious and benevolent. The proportion of
the whites to the blacks is as two to one 1t is
the only tropical country in which the social
efficiency of the white man has been proved Ben
jamin GilpS book to the contrary notWithStandng,'
The Cuban whites are just as strong just as
in this country. declare without reservation that
in the cities of Matanzas and Santa Clara. ranging
less violence, less lawessness than there is in any
cities of the same size in the United States There
Cubans. Every unkndly term that has been lev
elled at them has been unjust and untrue
MAY BE CAR STRIKE IN LOUISVILLE.
ToTn ON