New-York tribune., 1901-08-26

here. Spain thought to crush our desire for
liberty by pretending to find in the black race
a permanent danger for the white. Her efforts
were futile. The revoutiOnsts Of 1868 knew IT
for a stupid artifice. The of 1895 was con-
elusive proof of confidence and faith in the
patriotism of our brothers in black which had
been doubted only by the enemies of Cuban IN
dependence The Cuban republic cannot with
out dishonorng itself accept this legacy from
the Intervention.
The existence Of the blacks must he reckoned
with in every phase of the reconstruction Of the
island. This is the testimony OF one competent
American observer who has spent much time in
studying the conditions the island The
colored population of Cuba to-day, including the
negro and mixed elements amounts 10 only -
per cent or less than e-third This will he
surprising 10 some persons. hut 1t is the finding
Of the Cuban census If 1S99 taken under the
direction cf the War Department 1t is less
than the percentage Of negro population in most
Of the Southern United States In every
province in Cuba the native whites form a ma
iority Of the population. The proportion or
native whites is creates: in the province or
puarto Prf7cipe the sparsely SETTLED pastoral
rrcvince where II reaches n little more than -
per cent. or mors than three fourths Of all the
inhabitants. :: ir next largest in Pinar del
Rio which is mainly farming province, where
II reaches 6 per cent or nearly two-thirds
Santa Clara has 60 per cent. Hahana - per
cont and Manta7as - per cent. or a tri'e more
than onc-half From the earliest times ther"
have beer largo numbers Of free negroes IN the
island They existed here in varying numbers
and proportions up to the time Of emancipation.
During the last half century the negro popu'a-
,io, has steadily decreased relatively 20 the
whites This is an illustration Of the inah'lty
OF an inferior race to hold its own In oompeu-
ton with a superior one a truth which Is being
demonstrated on a much larger scale in the
United States.
IIeutenant-C Colonel J. p. Sanger, inspector
! general director Of tho recent Cuban census. IN
| his report to tho Secretary Of War thus
| summed up what he had 70 say about the black
| population in Cuba
Their condition for many years has been far
better than the colored population ot our Sru'i,
| CO. S+atee or Of any of the West India Stands
under foreign control, ard tn".r PERSONA pILtI
| leges much greater. y" hard ana iasl 49, 49,
line has separated tn" co!"red ana Whl'" NuuaIl
| ronulation although outEide of tho Cuban army
/ there has not been much Of what may ne ca!itu
| social intercourse. but IN resueCt to all punHc
! benaste whether ecclesiastical civil military
! they have had about the same consderatloh
! from tie Spanish Government as the "h''s
| No doubt the free association of colored and
| white Cuhars resulted largely from the common
struggle which they were engaged against
| Spain and the fact that the laws made no as
elimination between them. coored men made
! up a large proportion OF the Cuban army or
! 1Sq5-'9S some Of them, like Antonio Maceo
holding high rank.
| While the statistics Of Cuba show a larger
! proportion Of Colored than white criminals. the
| colored population is in some respects superior
10 the coored population Of our Southern states
! being more self-reliant. temperate. frugal ana
| Intelligent and since the abolition OF slavery
| showing a strong desire 10 own their homes. 10
educate their children and 10 improve their con
ditfon. In certain kinds Of agriculture they are
| preferred to any other race ana IN every dis-
| cussion Of the labor question in Cuba they must
| be seriously considered.
The black race has no future separate from
that Of the other inhabitants OF Cuba. Pro-
| prietors of cafes and similar public places are
of color. Blacks have the privilege Of travelling
! on the railways the same terms whites.
Spain distinctly recognized the civil status OF
the African race and a Spanish captain general
proclaimed IT, The Spanish code OF civil rights
has more than once been invoked in the negros
| favor and has been enforced Cubans say that
| until General Wood conceived the present plan
the American military authorities generally
| showed regard for the civil rights Of the blacks
| The idea OF a black republic in Cuba is un-
| thought Of The black population of Cuba can
| only be swelled by colonization or immigration
| on a colossal scale. Both whites and blacks are
| opposed TO negro colonization. Caste feeling is
| not absent in Cuba. social equality does not
| exist but there is social toeration The pres
ence of the negro is not an offence to the whites
| There is little or no prejudice. and the
| negroes In Cuba are homogeneous. The political
| and Industrial standing of the negro in Cuba
| for all time to come is that Of equality II may
| be delayed temporarily but 1t cannot be per-
| manently put Off