The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-11-24
the south coast and building railroad
through the island.

the south coast and building a railroad
through the island.
Mr.. Pearcy is one of the strongest
advocates that the island must remain
part of the United States. He is test
ing the question in the courts, having
sent 10000 cigars to New York, his con-
tention being that the government could
not seize these as being more than the
law permits, as they are not from for
eign country.
"We are fighting for justice" he con-
tinued. ''Wood sold us out, lock, stock
and barrel, for two coaling stations at
ter he had assured us the island would
be retained by the United States. Gu
ba's only interest in the island is to
afford snug berths for few officials
There are about twelve offices thereon,
all filled by carpetbaggers, as no ma
tive has one. The Cuban government
has collected taxes and not spent five
cents except for salaries. 81.
Personally, have just lost $1,000,
as flour and other merchandise which
bought from Mobile had passed
through a warehouse without a roof and
nothing to protect the goods from rain
They have refused to repair the dock or
roads. When bridge between the
chief towns rotted the alcalde would do
nothing and tried to stop us when we
started to make the necessary repairs
out of our own pockets. ja @
eve were pleased when Cuba got her
freedom, but we do not wish to link our
destinies with hers. We claim the rights
which were guaranteed to us. We have
set up as an American territory and
purpose to maintain that status. Any
person who has in his blood any of the
spirit displayed by those in the Boston
tea party will sympathize with us in
our effort for freedom"
Washington, d. c., Nov. lG.-Admin-
istration officials believe the insurrec-
tionary movement which has been start
ed in the Isle of Pines has for its OBJ
ject American intervention and the de-
velopment of a feeling which will pre-
vent the ratification by the senate Of
the treaty for the cession of the island
to Cuba. In other words, the move
.nent is due to the conspiracy of in
terested persons who want the United
States to break it's word to Cuba and
retain the island.
There are several hundred Americans
who have gone into the island since
Spain withdrew from the West Indies
as a result of the war with America,
and they and their friends ceaselessly
have been agitating to have the presi-
dent declare that under the treaty of
peace signed at Paris the island was
coded and belongs not to Cuba but to
this country.
The president has been bombarded
with petitions from all sections and
with complaints from Americans resi-
dent in the island that they are subject
ed to harsh treatment by the Cuban au-
thorities. A campaign has been going
on in almost every state in order to
have senators instructed to vote against
the treaty recognizing Cuba's owner
ship of the island.
The president has stood fast in his
determination to push the treaty
through, and he has received assurances
from prominent senators that they will
vote for the convention.
1t is expected that the Cuban govern
ment will take energetic measures for
the suppression of the instruction. The
United States will have to be neutral in
spite of the fact that Americans are
involved, but the situation is embarrass-
ing because of the sentiment which will
be aroused throughout the country in
case American blood should be shed.