The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-01-18
PALMA INTERVIEWED
Cuba's First President Tells of the
Islands Needs. :
Foremost Are Reciprocity and Edu-
cation-Tarin Reduction VIII he
of Aid-wants No Armed Force
One Term for Presidency.

Tomas ESTRADA rama, recently elecb-
ed president Of Cuba, is remark
able combination of Spaniard and of
American, and as such is peculiarly
qualified to guide the destinies OF
the infant republic in the days be-
fore il learns to walk alone. He
taught school here in New York
state for 20 years or more, and
Though he has never learned to talk
English without pronounced Span
ish accent, he has imbibed the spirit
of American institutions, and, as
consequence, the two foundation
stones of the new republic are to be,
first, commercial union with the
United States, and, SECONDLY, the ed
ucation of the masses.
Not an Annexntionist.
The president-elect is not an an
nexationst. but a most jealous pa,
triot. lie began fighting for Cuba
more than generation ago, was inn
prisoned in a Spanish Jail, has lived
in the bush, knows the way of the
reyolutionist, and yet mates war with
al Of the hatred of a good and pence
abb" man. lie recognizes TO the ut
NEST extent the debt due to tho
United states on the part of Cuba;
hui at the same time he assumes
that in attempting to free Cuba the
United Ssat,S has done only part
of - work in driving the Spaniards
OF, Of the island. He believes in an
exclusive commercial union, amount
ing to Il business annexation. be-
tween the United States and Cuba.
Wants No Army Nor Navy.
He does aot believe in wars nor in
armies nor In navjes for the new re-
pubic II he has his way Palma will
have no armed forces on the island
except tire so-calltd rural guards or
ir,ular police. Re takes the ground
that the Platt atne udment was really
the best thing which could have hap
plncd to Cuba. because il pledges the
U&it,d S,atcs 70 defend and protect
the independence" Of the island.
Fer Commercial Union.
As 10 commercial union with this
country, Gen. Palma assumes that Gu
ba is so near the United States that
il must have in this country its best
pos :he market. and, on the other
hand, that the United States can nat
urally control the market in Cuba.
On this erCuud he favors the negotia-
ton by the new republic Of a treaty
giving to the United States tariff priv
ilegcs such as are not extended to
any other nation in the world.
Cut In Tariff Most Needed.
AS preliminary to this Gen. Palma
urges that the first step should be a
reduction on the part of the United
States of its tariff on tobacco and
sugar. In return he hopes that Cuba
will admit American machinery and
agricultural implements either entire
~ free or at so low rate of duty
as to give the United States the ex-
elusive control of the Cuban market
One Term Enough.
Gen. Palma does not expect to serve
more than one term Of four years as
president of Cuba. He hopes in that
time, in a modest sort of way, to see
the revenues of the island on a sound
basis. lie. is pledged to pay off the
old Cuban republic debt of 100000
and also to pay the arrears due to
the insurgent army, both of these OBJ
legations having been recognized by
the new Cuban republic.
Island Not to Borrow Money.
Nevertheless, Gen. Palma is strong
" opposed to any immediate issue of
bonds or other securities. He thinks
that as the Cuban revenues have prov
en- sufficient for the government Of the
island under the direction Of the Unit
ed States military forces, as command
ed by Maj. Gen. Wood, the same thing
ought to be true when the Cuban gov
eminent is organized on the first day
of May next. He proolaims that econ
omy shall be his watchword through
out the entire term Of his administra-
tion, with only a single exception.
views on Education.
This exception is Characteristic of
the man. Gen. Palma would spend all
the money he could gather together Oh
giving the masses of Cuba common
school education. While he was an ex-
Sic in this country for more than a
score of years, he supported himself by
teaching. He made close study OF
the American public school system,
and he firmly believes that the peace
and the prosperity of the republic of
Cuba can be guaranteed forever only
by means of the general uplifting and
education of the masses of the people.
All educational funds he would spend
for the plainest, simplest and most
useful common school education. He
believes il will be some time before the
government can spend any money on
high schools oil. universities; but he
does believe that liberal appropria-
lions for the common schools should
be absolutely the first work of the new
Cuban congress.
Tariff Reduction.
Washington, Jan. 13.-Canvass
among members Of both houses of con-
rress shows that there will be prac-
tically no organized opposition to tar
in reduction on Cuban sugar and to-
L,ooo II will amount IN n bout 25 DER