Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-05-26
AMERICANS WILL REBEL
Bloody Revolution on the Isle OF
Pines is Threatened.
CUBANS ACT WITH HIGH HAND
s. FL. Pearcy Comes to Washington
to Make Protest to the President
Against Present Conditions.

to Make Protest to the President
Against Present Conditions.
Washington, D. c., May 2l.-"A
bloody revolution in the Isle OF Pines
against Cuban authority within the
near future is bound to occur unless
the United States resumes control OF
the island"
This statement was made today by
&. III. Pearcy, one of the largest land
owners in the Isle of Pines, and an
American citizen who purchased his
holdings shortly after the treaty OF
Paris, which gave the island TO the
United States. Mr.. PearCy II his
brother. Captain J.. i. Pearcv. for
years one of the secretaries Of the
democratic congressional committee,
called at the White House today to
talk the situation over with President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Pearcy is fresh from
the Isle of Pines, havirg arrived in
the city yesterday. The president re-
ihbD0 W S6b biiS lf bAN VI tHSDs
TO Secretary Root.
Il did not come here 10 Threaten
the president with a revolution in
which hundreds Of American lives
would be endangered, =" said Mr.,
Pearcy. II merely wanted to tell
him the facts. AS for myself as long
as L hava breath / will advise my
neighbors ami fellow countrymen to
refrain from bloodshed, but | know
that the majority of the people are
tired of having their rights trampled
under foot of being arrested and car
ried to Cuba for trial, and that it
would only take a little more oppres-
sion to canse an actual outbreak.
"Americans now W nine tenths of
the property, which they purchased
solely upon the assurances from Presi-
dent Mckinley aud the wal depart
ment that the island was American
soil. One-half OF the population is
now American, aud all of them went
there relying upon the assurances that
the island belonged to the United
States.
"Then came the treaty with Cuba
ceding this island in consideration of
certain coaling stations in Cuba,
which we already had.
"For three years this treaty las
been held up in the senate, but Cuba
has exercised control over the island.
And what control it has been
"They keep a troop of negro soldiers
-quartered on the island all the time,
who carry things with a high hand.
American citizens are arrested and
carried over to Cuba for trial, because
of their protests against the manne
an which they are treated by these
soldiers, and because they protest
against Cuban authority IN general.
"Up to the present my taxes have
amounted to about $50 per year, but
recently | received notice that here.
after it will be about $3.50 per year.
an increase of nearly 700 per cent.
and not one . cents has been spent by
the Cuban government for the i'm
provement OF the island. The only
way in which the money is used local
~ is in the payment Of the negro SOL
diers who are quartered there. Not a
bridge has been built, not a road i'm
proved.
conditions have reached a critical
stage. The majority of the Ameri-
cans have sworn they will stand it no
longer, aud they have received all
sorts Of offers of aid from this country
in case the matter comes to blows. I
came here to tell tina president of
these condition. not to make threats,
and he refers me to Secretary Root,
this cold man who has given us no
sympathy and who insists upon the
ratification of the treaty, We cannot
see the American minister at Havana.
When we 60 to him with our com
plaiuts, he cannot see us, according
to instructions from the state depart
ment, and we have TO talk with some
subordinate clerk.
The Isle of Pines is about the size
of Rhode Island, and is exceedingly
rich in agricultural products, such as
fruit and tobacco.
The administration some time ago
announced tina the Isle of Pines be-
longed to Cuba and that the United
States had no claim upon it. That is
why the president refuses to see those
who call upon this mission. The Isle
of Pines people, though, continue TO
agitate their freedom from Cuba.