The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
AS Cubans
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HAVANA, April 1.-THE haggling
over the treaty which has been going
| on at Washington has had very I'M
| favorable effect upon the Cuban peoIee
generally. What they considered the
high mark of justice, including graft
tude to the United States was rendered
! in the treaty which has been so Woe
! fully tinkered in the American senate.
| While sentiment of deep gratitude
for timely and humane intervention
has pervaded all the people here eX-
! cept those of Spanish birth, it is not
felt that Cuba should have to pay the
price of the war through a tariff ar
rangement more favorable to the Unit
| ed States than herself.
| If some Americans who pride them
selves on the fatherly way in which
| they have acted towards Cuba would
spend few days here they would not
| feel so puffed up with vanity over what
| they have done
Cuba knows well that unaided she
never could have lifted the yoke of the
| oppressor, but a people groaning as
| these are today under economic dis
tress a nation, poor, hungry and needy
soon forgets the favors already vouch-
safed when disappointed in its desire
| for more. .
| There was great complaint at the
unnecessary prolongation of the mill
| tary occupation and the Platt law was
! passed unwillingly in order to end it,
| Many Cubans are even ungracious
enough to suggest that Porto Rico and
| the Philippines more than compensate
| the United States for the expenditure
| of treasure here. This perhaps is an
other instance of republics being I'M
| grateful. .-ug
To judge from present aspects there
| will be few American Office holders
| here a few months hence. Anxious as
| they are to have citizens of other
countries swear allegiance to Uncle
| Sam, Americans in Cuba prefer to give
| up position and vacate the country to
| becoming Cuban citizens.
The annexation of Cuba is a far away
| dream. 1t will never come by forcing
! any more than would that of Canada.
There is a strong sentiment in favor
! of it among the moneyed men, but
among the masses it is otherwise. The
| people say, emphatically NO" Natur-
| ally the politicians oppose it and many
people of standing say THE republic
| is doing well. We are learning the
| system of self government. Let well
| enough alone" These people have no
| desire to become a mere part Of a
| large republic. They prefer to pre-
! serve the individuality for which they
| have fought to remain their own mas
! tiers. Cuban patriots fought for years
! that they might be their own masters
anu w uOI see why they SilOuiu lOOh
| to any other future. The idea of
| protectorate is repellant to the Cuban
who has fought so persistently for alb
| solute independence. The radical ele,
| ment objected strongly to giving the
| United States the coaling stations.
| though willing to comply with sanitary
! demands, but not because it was a part
! of the amendment. They dislike the
| promise to make no concessions of ter
| ritory to any save the American ma
| ton, or to pledge to favor American in
| PREVENTION in case of trouble which
! they cannot control. Nor do they wish
to be dictated to concerning the amount
| of money they may borrow, with the
army, and the needy farmers calling
for financial aid. and the memory Of
| the $5S,O0O,000 the United States dis
bursed of their money during the era
of the military intervention fresh in
| their minds. They ask, What if at
| the close of the American Revolution,
| France, in recognition of her aid given
| to the colonies, had presented a docu-
| ment similar to the Plat amendment
| to the American congress for its ac-
| ceptance and permanent incorpora-
ton into the United States constitu-
| tion?"
| So far as the political situation here
| is concerned, 1T furnishes food for con-
| siderable anxiety.
| The Nationalist. now in possession
! OF all the offices, are eyed suspicious1y
| by the Republicans. Masso was their
candidate. President E. Palma, an
able, incorruptible president, has bitter
! opponents, even in his own party. He
Is regarded as the candidate selected
by the United States government
! rather than the one chosen by the will
OF a majority of the sons of Cuba. The
| dlSSensions in his cabinet which led
| TO the retirement. of two of his adj
| Vlsers, were unfortunate at this iunc-
! ture.
In the nature of the case he could not
| suit everybody in his distribution srfyf
patronage. Twenty thousand or more
patriot soldiers demand, and Justly.
| pensions; but the state of the treasury
makes 1t impossible. They fought I'M
paid and unprovided for, and rightly
ask for pittance due them; but Presf-
! dent Palma's hands are tied. ,a........
In the ranks of the Nationalist Ia a
! large contingent from the colored pop
| ulation who constitute at least one
| thlrd OF the Cuban nation and two
| thlrdS OF those who fought for indie
| pendence. These seek eagerly for office
| as In fact do almost all classes who are
In any way affiliated with or Interested
! IN politics. The bane of all parties
her, as in most places, is the inordi-
| nate thirst for Office and the use of
! the most reprehensible methods for oh
| tanning it. 1.tHESs
J Persons of wealth and influence who
| are, of course, in the minority are as
| a rule identified with the Union Demo-
cratic party and now affiliate with the
Republican.
This was the autonomist party of
ante-bellum days. 1t championed self
government, and sought to secure 1t
/ from Spain by peaceable methods, be-
Ing ever opposed to revolution and
| bloodshed
Such men as Gown and Montoro Ga
| millionaire and an orator. and DR.
Fernando De Castro are to be found i'm
| the Republican ranks. This is by no
means modelled after the Republican
party Of the United States The gifted
colored orator, Juan Gualberto Gomez
once a prominent Republican left that
| party when defeated and given no Of
tartan Cor one MANI party
OF late the Radicals have asserted
themselves. composed of elements from
| each Of the chief parties
| The Nationalist, now in power cam
| not remain If the coalition of the on.
posing forces is made thoroughly CO.
hesive. They are divided among them
selves and dfssensaOn rules In their
camp.
The opening of the new railway
Whlch traVerses the two eastern prov
lnces VIII eventually tend to improve
| conditions materially, but that. of
course, is matter of the future. Rut
present economic conditions are most
deplorable and the outlook is not a hit
cheerful. Business paralysis Is preya-
| lent and the working classes unable To
find employment, suffer greatly. Cant
tai seems to be afraid to venture 'ow-