The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-19
CUBAN AGENT HAS
FAITH IN ISLAND
TO FOLLOW UNITED STATES.
DESPAIGNE SAYS CUBANs WANT
AMERICAN METHODS.

Where He Has Been Looking After
Cuban Loan Tells Interesting
story of Cuba's Efforts to Redeem
Herself in Eyes of WOrId-Sanita-
tiOn Is the WatchwOrd Now.
Mr.. Manuel Despaigne, commissioner
for the government of Cuba, spent
several hours in Savannah yesterday.
He left his train upon it's arrival to
mail letter and buy paper, and the
train went on without him. He
took his delay good humoredly, and
said he could not have been put down
so Unexpectedly in a better city.
The delay of a few hours here means
he will be compelled to wait in Tampa
forty-eight hours longer than he had
| planned for a steamer to Havana. Mr..
Despaigne's card, which states he is
a commissioner of Cuba, conceals in
n measure his real connection with his
government. He is what is known in
this country as a fiscal agent. He has
been in the United States six months,
looking after some details of the last
| Cuban lean fioated in New York, and
is returning to his country, having
successfully accomplished his mission.
AS to the future of Cuba, Mr. De-
spaign4 is very enthusiastic. He talk
ed freely of the many problems with
which the country is confronted. His
belief that these will be solved wise
| ~ and promptly is strong, and he has
| good words for the resources of his
country.
Cuba Is Very Rich.
Cuba is rich,' he said. Even aft
er these few years of independence
we have enjoyed, we can say we are
immensely rich. Just to illustrate we
counted last year on $4,000, 900 from
| our revenue collections, and received
| $24,O00,000. This year we have count
ed on $22,0OO,000 and no doubt will re-
ceive more than that"
| Last year we really had $4,000, 900
surplus of public funds. We are plan
ming to expend this surplus and all
others on good roads, on bridges and
other internal improvements. We are
going to make Cuba a leading country
| in this regard.
Our oranges now compete with
| Florida oranges successfully despite
| the handicap of a substantial duty.
| This duty will not long persist because
American capital is behind our fruit
| plantations and it will accomplish the
| downfall of the duty. AS it is we get
| our fruit into New York and other
large cities of the country at a price
as low as the Florida fruit arrives In
| the same places.
Immigrants Are Badly Needed
What our country needs is the i'm
migrant. Do you know that over $780,
900 tons of sugar was wasted in our
/ fields last year just because there was
not the labor to gather it? Such is
a fact and to prevent the same state
| of affairs hereafter we have taken ma
tional action in promoting the settle
ment of immigrants by appropriating
$4,000 toward that end,
| We saw what the immigrants had
done toward developing the United
| States, too. The mingling of national-
| ties has accomplished much of the
strength of what the world now knows
as the American nationality. 1t is the
strongest nationality on earth and that
| is the kind we would emulate.
We have many rich acres, especial
| ly in the north of Cuba, awaiting the
coming of an agricultural class. There
is immense opportunity there for plant
ers who understand hard work and
wise tillage of the soil. Americans do
not emigrate and we do not expect
to draw from her population, so we are
| going to build up a farming class of
our own. The Americans will help
out with the capital that is sure to
find its way to our shores for invest
| ment
Appreciate SanitatiOn's Value.
Not long ago some New York news
papers published broadcast the
fact that Cuba was experience
ing another yellow fever cpl
demic. This did us injury as well
| as a great injustice. Since the Ameri-
| can invasion yellow fever has been
| doomed in our country.
You people taught us the great
value of sanitation. The one case on
| which the stories concerning the re-
| turn of the malady were founded was
| the case of Briton who came to work
| in Cuban copper mine. Investigation
| by the health authorities caused by the
wild stories showed that this laborer
| brought the yellow fever in his sys-
tenn and that he did not contract the
disease in Cuba.
"One other suspicious case was put
under surveillance as case of yellow
fever, but never developed. Havana
is clean, cleaner than most American
cities. Inland cities are not so clean
always, but steps are being taken to
| make them so. Our national congress
sanitation of these municipalities.
1t has been the case that cities I'M
able to promote the highest degree of
sanitation could appeal to Congress for
an appropriation. You can see that
this would take time and in many cases
the money was Immediately needed.
So certain sum has been put aside
to be Immediately available in in
stances where an emergency exists.
Mexico Meuace 10 Cuhn
our great menace is Mexico. where
yellow fever exists the year around
Steamers ply between Cuban ports and
Mexican ports weekly. Our quaran-
tine officers are at every port and sus-
pected passengers are detained until
their condition Is determined. went
out to your Ellis Island I'm New York,
and while IL is more beautiful Il Is
no better In appointment than many
we have I'm Cuba.
Our greatest task is to break away
from Spanish tendencies. We are
Spaniards by ancestry and have in
bred. many Of the traits that has
brought about their present day con-
dition. Understand there is no mall
Ice In my words for our war is over,
and we Will try to forget it's animosi-
ties. But our greatest national prob
lem is 10 get away from Spanish GUS
toms and traditions. We must do II
n we can ever hope 10 be known for
progress and prosperity.
II ana satisfied that as n nation Cuba
has awakened 90 the fact that now ls
| the time 10 convince fhr tvprld rba a.