New-York tribune., 1902-03-25


| plant sweet potatoes. and wait patiently for bet
ter times, others will begin to rob. The planters
of this neighborhood express a high opinion Of
the character Of the peasants, and l think with
good reason. 1t is true that the latter are too
intelligent to blame their employers for mis-
fortunes which all share, and that, other things
being equal they prefer to he law abiding; but
the members of this family say to US: zone rea-
son why the planters are striving to keep their
men at work is that they fear the consequences
of dismissal-fear for their personal safety and
that of their households, fear that desperate
men will take by violence from their former en-
pIoyers what they will require to keep their
I families alive"
Now, let say that I could quote other
statements, made to me in the same province.
which far pleasanter to hear. Other plant
ers have told me that they trust in the loyalty
/ Of the colonsts and their patient endurance of
suffering. l have listened attentively to the
divergent opinions and balanced the arguments
in favor of each The typical case just presented
is made prominent here because l am con-
vinced that this view Is worthy Of our accept
ance, while the peasanter, more comfortable
view is misleading
Now, let to the great estates-the
| few great ships that can defy the waves-such
| as those of Rafael Fernandez de Castro and the
Mendozas l have been in consultation with
planters of this class also. of course; the com
parative security of their positions lends addi-
tonal value to their views certain matters
as to which naturally suspects the infiu-
ence Of panic among those whose personal
anxiety is so much greater, and whose struggle
for existence has been so long and, toward the
last, so heart breaking Let US now choose for
our special attention statement made by
Senior r. Fernandez de Castro. who is not mere
ly one Of the wealthy planters Of Cuba, but is
widely and honorably known as a statesman
and conservative leader. ranking in this respect
with Senor Rafael Montoro, who has also been
consulted. Senior de castro writes to me from
his estate. called Loteria Jaruco, as follows:
The situation Of the agriculturists is most
grave, and involves immense periIs If the delay
to which matter is exposed continues much
longer. the decision Is commensurate neither
with the honor Of the United States nor with
Cubas just claim for recompense in the eco-
nomical adjustment equivalent for the
| political advantages in the island which the
States have reserved for themselves then the
government at Washington can make ready a
! plenty of rations Gnuchas raciones) TO succor
the starving, or many thousands Of soldiers and
millions Of dollars to be used in exterrninating
the people, driven to desperation by resentment
and hunger. And all this in a very short time "
This is not single voice or the voice OF a
! panicstricken person. Of a man given TO sen
| sational eXaggeration. Quite the contrary
! Every student Of political economy, as that in
teresting science is Illustrated in the recent his
| tory OF Cuba, will be inclined 70 take into the
account SehOr dc Castros services to his coun-
| try and the thoroughly representative character
I OF his social position He is speaking as a man
| of high attainments and marked ability for the
| people whose dearest interests he has made his
| own I am ready TO admit, If any cynical reader
insists upon II, that there is emotion in this voice
| raised IN behalf Of distressed neighbors-and l.
for one honor Sehor de Castro the more for
! that The sentences OF his letter are very far
| from comprising a cold. scientifically exact an
| alysis Of the troubles which are assafing or
threatening his neghbors and friends in the
country around Jaruco. II Senior de Castro had
been able to speak write without feeling Of
such a situation l myself find TO he really
present or impending, the colorless words ap-
propriate to a cody intellectual effort would
nave seemed TO me unnatural that I should
scarcely be disposed now to defend him from the
charge Of calculating their effect and Of speak
Ing or writing not from his heart but in the
hope OF making a certain impression and secur-
ing certain ends Of his own. Warmly coorcd as
II Is regard this declaration as entirely
trustworthy, absolutely sincere utterance
a German resident of the island to whom
have read. in Spanish, a part Of the foregoing
passage from Sehor de Castros letter. objects
that the same phrases are used by the native
orators when appealing to the populace. That
Is, think. not quite accurate, for these par
ticular phrases have the stamp OF my CORE
spondents individuality. But suppose that simi-
lar expressions are used by Cuban orators when
speaking to the Cuban people What right have
we to say that such phrases are purely rhetori-
CALI The facts, l regret to admit. are barb and
venom for the shafts of Cuban Wit and Cuban
oratory, # the native speakers see fit to employ
the facts alone. And when. let us ask in all the
history of islands, neighboring or remote in
habited by not utterly abject has it been
proper or wise to ignore the appeals of native
orators addressed to the passions of their hear
ers?
At the moment, however. are discussing
the language OF one Of honor in a letter to
another-a letter which. 1t is perhaps needless
TO say. was written with full knowledge of
the Importance that would be attached to it and
the public service to which it might be put
And the Tassage which has been translated is
only, | nave said, a sincere utterance: IL
is also utteranCe which cannot possibly
regard merely mpulsive and unreviscd 1t is
prefaced by a careful statement Of Senor de
writing instead of calling upon me personally
and it is followed by this paragraph
You may make Of these declarations in
any form that suits you, asserting that they CON
| tain the essence of Zen elias Sc condensa) the
| opinion of the rural pODuatiOD Of