Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-20

ANNEXATION" FAVORED
By the More Responsible
Glass In Cuba.
NEGROES OPPOSE IT
ANTIPATHY TO AMERICANS LESS
MARKED THAN FORMERLY.
Many Regard Cuban Independence as
Paving the Way for Annexa-
ton.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

ductory to annexation. Strictly speaking,
this contemplation Is on the part of those
who have views of importance-it Is that of
the influential class. The men who have in
terests at stake want annexation. They are
alike Cubans, Spaniards, Germans English
and Americans.
Exception to this, of course, is found in
the political class. whose members see cur
tailed personal opportunities in federal abb
sorption. The situation IS the same in Cen
trail America, where the offioe-hoding CO.
terie distrusts northern influence, and where,
ever since the downfall of the conservative
or business and pro-"American" party in
Nicaragua the old estate holders have
wished that while the United States is
nexing 1t would come down and annex
Nicaragua
The fellow in this turbulent province who
most frequently brandishes his machete and
shouts about ''Cooba leebray'' is the black
or clay-colored nhabitant of the bamboo
palm-thatched hut ont in the cultureless
wilderness. His city counterpart is the
"carterero," who hauls merchandise for a
dime or two per load, and the indifferent
laborer who gets along on an occasional
job of few hours or days. These citizens
constitute the preponderant mass, and read
lily follow irresponsible leadership into po-
litical mischief-Santiago province is credit
rections. But these citizens are susceptible.
likewise, to the circumstantial influence OF
the more successful few upon whom they
are economically dependent
Reason for Hope of Annexation.
Wherefore these last sentences bear upon
the shrewd idea among responsible men
that independence is to be considered as
step toward early representation among the
many stars upon the field of blue rather
than as final REIMBURSEMENT of a Washing
ton dictatorship. The assurance OF self
government, which will be realized next
Tuesday, has already palpably allayed con-
spicuous antipathy toward los Ameri-
canos." Just prior to accepting such assur-
ance antipathy had been greater among the
trouble giving class than toward the Span
ish. Even wish for return to Spanish
domination as a spite upon the Americans
had been expressed by some OF the eXc1taDle
lower crowd. =, ri
American Interference four years ago was
Viewed by the Irresponsible element as fully
compensatable to the country. which spent
its millions and Its men. by prompt and
unthanked withdrawal in favor of those
whose trouble caused the vast outlay. Lack
of appreciation grew into Impotence as the
federal government awaited mature time
for the critical step. The other night on
Cristina street an American business man
asked a cartman for what he was looking
anxiously with "a lantern that he held.
He replied: -, -.
For Cuba llbre.'
Men Of his kind looked upon the Ameri-
can as Cuba's oppressive enemy. Independ-
ence attained has been Viewed by them as
triumph over the United States. This might
very definitely be assumed from the manner
In which street jewellers hailed Americans
in the course Of the three days Fiesta"
with which President Palma's LIST TO May
visit to this southern port was marked.
Thus altogether aside from considerations
regarding national promises the disarma-
ment Of this budding Righteousness was
here held to be polite from the standpoint
of whatever desire might exist among d.
recting minds to effect merger between
Cuba and the United States. Nothing, to
this conception could so effectively disarm
this animosity as to let the Cubans try to
run their own affairs themselves.
Another Advantage Disclosed.
The plan possessed to such thought the
advantage, Furthermore. of liberating the
Washington administration fully from the
policy dictated by the hasty wartime
pledge in case Of proved autonomous in
competency and freeing the American gov
eminent for the future prosecution Of
policy based freshly and entirely upon &C
tual conditions better'understood.
Old family CubanS and mercantile Span
iards, In common with other foreign bust
ness men, have, not a few of them, given
the island from several months to several
years to force the United States Self-inter-
estedly to undertake conclusive particl-
patton in CubaS internal management.
Forecasts based upon what one hears in
any Spanish American country are valued
by experienced travellers as worth about
the breath required for utterance, yet the
ground upon which the expectation named
is built possesses interest now. Mainly it is
class ill will evinced between pure negroes
and those whose mixed descent awakens
superior airs.
This hatred, mutually shared between the
yellow and the black elements in town,
led to the abandonment of concerts upon
the Plaza Principal, as leading to rupture
prompting assemblages of inharmonous
groups. This class question is probably the
most difficult with which a Cuban govern
ment must deal, whether that of the lone
star republic or one after awhile more di-
rectly inspired from Washington than now.
Both the mixed and the black peoples
credited with resolution not to let the other
gain political ascendancy without test by
force more tangible than balloting. Col
ored help has been heard to make state
mentS that the negroes contemplate an
irsurrectionary movement early after the
sufficient withdrawal Of northern govern
ment troops. Even purpose to exterminate
foreign residents has been expressed
These things are here mentioned not as
probably pointing to anything of really Sc
rious import, but as remarks actually made
and perhaps more properly Interesting as
induces of the type Of populace which the
American protectorate is called upon to
educate to an appreciation of the real in
terests of the Antilles.
Such Utteraaneees Ridiculed.
Such utterances as those attributed to
some of the colored folks are freely ridi-
culed by Cubans of standing and by estab-
lished Americans The latter generally
express feeling Of entire confidence and
security, Notwithstanding the belief of
few that a mutually extermlnatory confiic,
is to be expected as IA, consequence of the
miitary's withdrawal. and that 1.-The Uni
ted States should just stand by and UNI
pire the fight until the Cubans finish the
job"
Conservative spirited, speculation here
among representative Cpbans. who in most
part consider ultimate political coalescense
with the United States. as desirable and
inevitable, pictures of growing realization
on the part of all Cuban classes of it's in
debtedness to ther United States and it's
economic dependence upon the business
structure of the north, fructifying within
the present decade In an internal and prac-
tically general movement toward juncture
with the states in government President
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