The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-11
aUEsADA's CONFIDENT TALK.

The Cuban minister, Quesada, in an
interview in Washington, speaks con-
! fidently of the future of Cuba. What
he says is intended evidently as an
offset to the opinion expressed a day
or two ago by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, who
was our Consul General at Havana
during the last administration of Mr..
Cleveland, and up to the time of the
beginning of the sSpanish-American
war.
Minister Quesada says that there
is peace throughout the island
and that there is a determi-
nation on the part of all
classes of the people to maintain or
der for the reason that they know
that if disorder of serious nature
should break out there would soon be
says that President Palma has re-
ceived from all parts of the island
the most encouraging reports from
leading men, and that after Cuba over
comes her present financial difficulties
the republic will be on a solid basis
and prosperity and contentment will
follow.
1t is but natural of course that Min
lister Quesada should take hopeful
view of the situation. He would make
himself unpopular at home if he should
express any other view, but it is a
safe statement that thinking people
agree with Gen. Lee. AS matter of
{- -
faction in the island, and it is likely
to increase, for the reason that the
causes of the discomfort promise to be-
come more pronounced.
There are about seventy-five thous-
and names on the rolls of the Cuban
army of freedom-twice as many
probably as there were Cuban soldiers
actually engaged in the war against
Spain, and their claims amount to
more than S7O,00O,OO0 They want the
money which they insist is due them,
and if they don't get it pretty soon
they will, in all probability, make trou-
BILE. They are quiet now because they
are still hopeful that a way will be
found to raise the money, or at least
a part of it, but just as soon as it
becomes certain that it will not be
forthcoming it is about certain that
Minister Quesada will not be able to
say that there is no sign of disorder
anywhere in the island
The revenues of Cuba are not nearly
as great now as they were during
American occupation, for the reason
that the merchants will not send their
goods to the island except for cash.
They have no confidence in the sta
bility of President Palma's govern
ment, and believe that goods sent to
the island on long credits are likely
to be lost. If there should be discord
there would be no force sufficient to
protect property, and warehouse and
stores might be broken into and looted.
great cause of dissatisfaction is
the fact that there are many more
people who want offices than there are
Offices In fact, there is not money
enough to pay the officials already APP
pointed, and as pointed out, there is
a steady decline in the revenues.
Minister Quesada says that Cuba will
maintain her independence. Gen. Lee
is of the opinion that the signs of the
failure of self-government are already
apparent, and that it is a question of
only a short time when the failure will
become so apparent that the question
of annexation will come to the front.
1t is probable that before the end of
another year the world will be able
to determine whether the foresight of
Gen. Lee or Minister Quesada was the
better.