Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30
The Civil Governor of Havana Re-
views the Present Situation.
FIRST NATIONAL ELECTION SOON
One Party Wants Sovereignty
Without Our Interference.
o 7 IL Z r. ILDER VIEW S


Nunez. Civil Governor of Havana.
HAVANA. Cuba, November 20 1901.
With the first election OLA chief magis-
trate of this new nation only few months
away, and with the practical assurance of
independence, there has come a weakening
of old party lines Questions that were
vital two years ago and less have died and
have been forgotten. The issue now is not
one of policies so much as one of men. Ar
rayed for one or other of the leaders will
be voters representing population of con-
flicting ideas, but unanimous interest.
There are about 900 600 white Cubans on
the island, 400, 600 Cuban negroes, 1000
Spaniards and $1,000 foreigners of all other
races. The negroes of higher grade
of intelligence and are considered as being
more nearly on a footing with the whites
than are most of the negroes of the south
ern United States. They have fought,
hoped and struggled for independence with
as much sturdiness as any. The Spaniards
resident in Cuba at the time of the surren-
der of the island to the United States, who
have declared their Cuban citizenship, will
enjoy equal rights with the natives, stip-
ulated in the treaty of Paris. Foreign
born residents who have complied with the
regulations are likewise enfranchiSed.
The crystaliZation of the leading policies
has led to the formation of three parties
the national, the republican and the demo-
cratic. The two latter names are fresh
from the United States, and mean nothing
in so far as the platforms of its two great
parties are concerned. The republican party
comprises fraction of the patriots who
were active in the war against Spain; the
democrats are survivors of the old autono-
mist party, which supported Spain in the
war for independence, declaring for allie
glance to the mother country, with the
privilege of home rule. Spanards and the
old Spanish sympathizers largely compro-
prise the democratic organization.
Demand Independence
The national party-by far the strongest
numerically-is made up of the Cubans who
demanded absolute independence. Their
platform is practically the same as that of
the republicans; indeed, the two parties are
almost one. The difference is this: The
leaders, and not the policies, have been op-
posed The assembly which followed the
evacuation of the island was made up of
patriots who, while they had the same end
in view, favored different men. The ma
tional party organized and claimed Gen.
Gomez as its head. The republicans COM
prised those who broke away on the ques-
ton of leadership. Gen. Gomez has proved
his sincerity and unselfishness, and has
won the hearts of all his countrymen. To-
day he is by far the most popular man in
Cuba. Several times he has refused the
c3nQlQacy Tor the once or president. should
he remain firm in his determination the
choice of the national party will be Senior
Thomas Estrada Palma. He enjoys the
confidence of Gen. Gomez, and is high in
the esteem of the people of the island. Not
long ago 1 was informed that there was a
fusion movement in his favor on foot in
Havana. 1t was to comprise the national
and republican forces and fraction of the
democratic party.
But in some parts of the island there has
been an understanding between the demo-
cratic and the republican parties that they
shall unite in the support of Gen. Bartol
ONE Masso. Gen. Masso is the head and
front Of what / might call the anti-Platt
Cubans. He typifies the spirit of revision,
which stirred so many when the Plat
amendment was put through. Those of the
patriots who could brook no interference in
the islands affairs still revisionists-
and anti-Platts.
influence of American Politics.
The people of the United States, general
ly speaking, have but small idea of how
directly and deeply the movements of
American politics affect Cuba and its fiedg-
ling parties. Indeed, if we examine deeply
into the feeling in Cuba we will find that
all the platforms, and parties, and views,
and dissensions, are sharply divided by
that one line, which is not seen. and, logi-
caly, is not supposed to exist in Cubas in
ternal politics-the Plat amendment.
In the march of events the controversy
over this piece Of legislation has been left
to old memories. But, none the less. its in
fluence is still keenly felt and supplies the
only real issue which has taken definite
shape. The third clause in the amendment,
giving the right to the United States to in
tervene in case Of any trouble in Cuba, or
in the event of invasion by the forces of
another country, offended two widely diff
ferent classes of people. On the one hand
the revisionists were inclined to fight ii as
a thing in the nature of an unlawful privi-
lege; on the other, the friends of the
United States felt aggrieved that that