Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-01-30
fro1s lie N r Ladepeadeas.)
THE NEED FOR TsEcEPRocr
TY WITH CUBA.
Br LEONARD WooD, MIIrARY Gov
ERsoR OF CUBA.


ERsoR or CUBA.
Ine relationsof the United States
with Cuba are not for today alone
they are for the near fnsure, and for
the distant future as well. They
are the relations between two peo-
pie, near to each other hitherto IN
location, but only recently brought
close TO each other Ia thought ana
IN interests. The sentimental as
well as the material relations which
these two people bear TO each other
should be taken earnestly into &c
countand should be considered with
not only a wise. but with kindly
solicitude, II ne zonla arrive at
conclusions and Il we would forsn
decisions which shall have conse-
quences worthy of our traditions
and be Of genuine advantage to the
people of the continent on the one
hand aud Of the island on the other.
/ lay stress upon the considerations
of sentiment as well as upon the ma
terial aspects Of the question Of re
ciprocity with Cuba, because at this
juncture there comes the fortunate
possibility of removing much thai
has been misrepresentation, and more
that has been intentional misrepre-
sentation.
In Cuba the personal relations be-
tween Cubans, as Cubans, and Amer
leans, as Americans, have never
been better than they are today.
The references which have been fre-
quently made to the existence of i'll.
feeling have no foundation whatever
in fact. Reference may be made
merely in order TO adhere TO the
strict letter of the truth-io the ex-
istence in Cuba of radical element,
very weak numerically, whose men,
bers are approached by some poll
ticians that made bids for votes on
the score OF declarations of opinion
that is intensely anti-American.
The declarations of these politicians
are not considered in Cuba, and are
not worth considering here; every
one on the island understands thor
oughly that they are designed for
campaign purposes merely, aud TO
one on the island pays any atten-
tion to them. In effect they amount
to appeals, for election purposes,
formulated for the ears of the total
ly illiterate class, and they are sum
med up in the oft-repeated phrase ::
The Americans are not going TO
leave.
Throughout the island all social
intercourse and all personal acquain-
tance are on very excellent foot
ing. The Cubans as a people have
very natural desire to form their
own government and TO see their
flag fly over Cuba's fortresses. So
far as the question OF independence
is concerned, the national spirit OF
Cuba is pronounced one, yet there
are many who believe that at some
future time annexation will not only
be desirable, but will be the most
effective form for the solution of the
several problems which the young
country finds of vital moment. 1t
must always be understood, howev-
er, that the Cuban national spirit
feels that an independent govern
ment, free to deal with the island 5
affairs according to the will of the
majority, is their right.
The tranquility and. good order
that have existed during the term
of Cuba S occupation are remarkable
when it is remembered that the oc-
cupation brought into contact two
peoples distinctly different-differ-
ent in religion, in traditions, and in
ways of thinking. For the first two
years, perhaps, neither party 10 the
occupation-Cuba and Americans
understood the other thoroughly.
But courtesy, Kindness and tact in
variably bring from Cubans ready
response toany reasonable demands
or requests.
There has been too much coloring
of the reports of Cuban sentiment
through the instrumentality of men
whose knowledge OF the Cuban peo
pie has been obtained through the
medium of disgruntled adventurers
in Havana and other seacoast cities
In Havana, especially, we find grear
numbers of disappointed American
Cuban and other people OF the ad
venturer type whoare bitter towarl
both the Cuban people and the mill
tary government. 1t is the way 0
human nature very often. Instance
cannot fail to happen where men ar,
checked in their greed for some con
cession which is irregular, or 0nde
niably fraudulent. Disappointed
chagrined and, perhaps, in som
small degree hopeful OF retrievin.
lost enterprises, they make it thei
special purpose in life to denounc