The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-04-11
IMPRESSIONS OF CUBA.
What a Nan Who Ought to Know
Says of the Island,

DAY O1 LUe ASIaUOs
Lieut.. Marcus B. Stokes. q. 8 A.,
who is now detailed as coli Of the
port at Cardenss, Cubs, while in Co.
lumbia recently talked interestingly to
representative of The State about
Cuba and the Cubans. Among other
things he said: II went to the island
year and half ago and have opportuni-
| ties to observe the people and their
characteristics. The popular idea is
that the Cubans are very excltable
people. l have net observed anything
specially Of this character among them
The typical Cuban countrymsn is just
the very opposite. They are good,
steady workers both on their plsnts-
tions and on the public roads and works
that are being constructed. They are
the most temperate people have ever
seen, and that as people, too. 1t is
the policy to give every position svails-
bic iu the island to native Cubans,
preference always being given to Cuban
officers and soldiers. They are taking
the places in the telegraph and postal
and other service, and Seen, to be FILL
ing them satisfactorily. In ali cases it
i, impossible to secure of course. the
best men on FIRST effort, but those
obtained are, as a rule, doing their
work most satisfactorily.
''rhe color line among the better
classes. as far as [ eau judge, i. just as
sharp as it is in this cpuotry. Socially
the people are On par with those
fouud IN our own couotry.
There Is at present. clauoring and
discon enred element in Cuba. bu. ,hi,
elemrnti Is NOT part Of the class OF
people | have lsr referred to-the 50
Der. thinking prople
Crime is almost unknown, and this
applies to all classes upon the islauG;
inc I'D ng the Sp.oiards. Aud as to the
SpanisrdS there is large proportion Of
the population Of the cities made up Of
them. They are in fact the merchant
class. They are apparently contepted
with the way things are gnnng, at least
accepting conditions. Oaly short
tiue ago l noticed one Of the newly ap-
pointed Spanish consuls apparently
perfectly at home at q reception aud
dance at the house of a leading Cuban
family
ID, you think the Cuban white peo-
pie will ever allow the negroes to govern
them?'
II certainly dc not think so; if any
political color question ever ARISES it
will never come up in the western half
of the island.
The masses of the people are snz-
ious for work. % sll public works sll
the laborers needed can be secured"
rs there much hatred for Americans
in Cuba?'
Il never End any hatred expressed.
In Hsbaua we hear of 1t. that is all. F"
Is business reviviug?"
"a great many sugar plantations are
beirg built up. Ism In the sugar belt
of the island. The destruction has
beer fearful; the great need is capital.
Absentee landlordism and foreign
ownership of lands seem to be the
trouble. 1t is case of inde6oate lease,
aud ills holiing great zeal Of the
progress Of the island back.
"rhe winter climate in Cuba is sim
ply ideal-most delig ghlful. In the SUM-
mer found that it is more pleasant
than here 10 South Carolina. provided
you keep out Of the sun in the middle
of the dey. 4 white man can work in
the fields all the year, morning and
evening.
''The United States government is
turning over all the Offices in sntlcipa.
,ion of transferring the governmnet of
the island to the Cubans as soon as it
is practicable. 1t is necessarily slow
process. I an, for instance, the only !,
American who is in ou, custom depart
ment at Cardenas. The force consists
Of about 81 men. All the chiefs are
Cubsns, and they are giving satisfac
ton.
''It is pleasure to see the streets
alive with school children now attend
ing the public schools. The children
are brig and keen"