The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-25
Color Line in Cuba Discussed by
John 7. Lynch.
Not Closely Drawn as 1t Is in
the South.
PEOPLEARE CLANNISH.
Was Surprised at Goodness of
the COlOred People.
Over Halt the People of Island
Are Black.

1.-THE Cubans are a clannish peo-
pie" said Capt. John T. Lynch, col
ored, paymaster with the rank Of cap
tain in the regular army, who lectured
last evening at the Shiloh Baptist
church on Cuba and Porto Rico
The lecture, which consists of a series
of personal "reminiscences involving
the customs and habits of the people,
was given under the auspices Of the
Cosmopolitan club.
''The Cubans are a clannish peo-
pie" reiterated Mr.. Lynch. Between
the colored American and the white
Cuban, the colored Cuban is for the
white Cuban, and between the colored
Cuban and white American, the white
Cuban is for the colored Cuban. It
was a peculiar sensation which I exc
perienced when I went among the
colored Cuban settlements. I pre-
sumed in advance that I would be
made welcome on the same basis of
hospitality that I would be in the
United States that I would secure In
their midst the same prevalent feel
ing as whenever I reach settlem eTft
or colony of my own people in the
United States, to find that I was no
more welcome than a white Amer
lean. Whether they be white or coll
ored, Americans to them are Amer
leans. and color has no influence in
the Cuban's treatment of them.
Among the Cubans themselves you
do not find the color line drawn so
faulty as you do in this country. Race
differences are not so marked as in
the United States. especially as in the
southern part Of the United States.
Two things are responsible for this
7r,v
the habits OF the people The dis
tincuons there are based more on con-
d1tion than race. A coIored person
would not be prescribed on account
or color, while a white person whose
birth and condition was of humble
origin would get no more recognition
than the colored person in this coun-
try The climate forms the second
reason. Very many white people are
IN point of complexion much darker
than those who have African blood
in their veins. It is difficult therefore
to draw any line between the two peo-
pies based on the distinction of color:
IN fact it is impossible to do so. It
IS comparatively easy therefore to
take the colored person for the white
and vice versa On account of these
things the colored enter upon an equal
basis with the white in the political
and commercial activity of the eoun-
try In social amairs there is more
independence manifested there than
here. If it is ones wish or desire to
invite colored man to lunch or anv
other character of social entertain
menC, 1t is considered q private mat
ter and one which interests Won only.
comment is therefore superfuo1Is
The population of the island is abo1f
evenly divided between white and col
ored About IS per cent. of the pop
ulatlon consists of colored people: in
| addition about 10 per cent. of those
VINO would be classed as colored in
the United States, making a total COL
ored population of about SIS per cent.
or over one-half
The fact that the land is owned large
" by nonresident property owners haR
kept the colored people from becoming
owners Of real estate though a great
many have acquired property For gen
eFauOnS the great estates and planta-
tons have been owned abroad, in Spain.
and this is still true to a great extent.
I don't believe that there is anv
wider or larger possibilities for the
eoiored man in Cuba under their inde-
pendent form of government than undeA
the former Spanish rule; he has always
played prominent part on the island
zone of the great fiestaas of the island
is that in hono& Of Naceo, a co1ored man.
general, who fought for the cause of
freedom. Washington could not be re-
vered more in this country than Maceo
IN Cuba. Today. Juan Gomez, colored,
is one of the leading men of the island
ana one OF the most prominent members
of the committee who drew I'D the con-
stitution of the island government
Three other colored men, if I mistake
not, were also on that committee"
Captain Lynch is one of the most
prominent of the colored men of
the south. He has been actively in poll
tics since 1853 He began his public
career as q memberof the Mississippi leg
islature in 1859 and served two terms,
from 1871 to 1873. acting as speaker of
the house. In addition he served three
terms in congress. He served straight
through from 1872 to 1876 and then again
from 1880 to 1883. During Harrison's
administration he was auditor for the
treasurer of the navy department. After
this he retired to his plantation near
Natchez, Miss. until 1898 when he was
appointed as major and additional pay
master to serve with the United States
volunteers In 1901 he was transferred
to the regular branch as captain He
served three years in Cuba, two at San
tiago and one year at Havana.