The Washington herald., 1906-10-14

quated arms-iit only for historical mu-
scums-laid down by the Cuban insur-
rectos. who have about concluded their
disarmament" are anything but con
vinciug proof to the people of Havana
that the uprising is all over. No one
here believes that there win be any Sc
riOus trouble with which the force of
American arms in the island al the pres
ent time cannot deal adequately, or that
there viii be any battles that a dozen
Irish-American cops could not win with
night sticks. but It IS confidently eX-
pected that brush fights win be OF fire.
Iucnt occurrence.
ANY disarmament Of a Cuban rebel is
bound 10 be ineffective. for the reason
hat his chief engine OF war-his reyoiu-
tionary Spirits in his blood and can
not be taken from him. When a Cuban
feels fight coming on him. he is going
to 'revolutc'' If he has TO DO it with a
Hatchet
Revolution Profitable Vocation.
When We think Of a revolution in the
States the idea includes Paul Revere's
ride. Valley Forge. and Yorktown. In
Cuba the word more iittingly conjures
scrap with a village constable. mas
much as fights Of these latter varieties
are dignified with the title people in the
States are apt to hear a great deal of
'inSuTTPCtiOnS during the next few
months. In fact. Is proven by the re-
cent war, revolving Is. Tor man
without capital, "A much more profitable
vocation than any form Of manual labor
In addition. it : easier and more dig
nitied
\ certain mulatto commander, whose
share of the lO0ting Of town treasures
In Pinar del Rio few weeks ago
amounted 20 something like 5000 dining
in "a leading cafe here the other evening
boasted 20 a party Of friends that lie
was going 20 New York and blow him
self \ friend suggested that now that
he had a stake, 70 might be Well FOR him
TO invest it and settle down.
oh. what's the Use2" was the re-
sponse. By the time I have this spent
there will be another revolution, and ]
viii be able 10 get more.
IN that very answer is found the rea-
son why many Cubans wish for annexa-
Jion. The popular impression is that
it is the wealthy plantation owners who
are the principal sufferers by the insur-
rections when, as q matter Of fact, il
l. the small farmer who is the greatest
sufferer.
Poor Farmer the Loser.
When a big land holder has his planta-
tion burned and his crops destroyed. he
collects in full from the government
with all interest. When a poor farmer
loses the family mare, one sow, and her
pigs. together with his few chickens-his
1ortune-General ShermaH's definition of
war is quoted 10 him and he is forced
20 whistle tor a settlement.
BY the terms Of the peace agreement
Letween the liberals and the moderates,
the rebels upon laying down their arms
we're allowed TO retain the horse they
Lad stolen. The good points OF the bar
Esin appealed 10 all Of the insurgents
and hundreds Of poor farmers from whom
the animals had been borrowed, were
robbed. At about the same time the
French charge d'affaires here presented a
claim Tor $500 damages to some inter-
csts of French citizens, and Secretary
Taft decided To appoint d court Of claims
O, consider the matter
Cost of the Revolution.
As to the revolution itself and the cost.
estimates vary. Many men in q position
10 know insist that not more than -
men were killed during the entire insur-
rcction, while others more liberal in their
estimates. place the number OF fatalities
70 the vicinity Of 2J0 A figure midway
between these two would probably be
nearly right.
4 fact worthy of note in this connec-
on is that nearly every man killed died
of mlCheto wounds in fight where the
forces were mutually surprised ut meet
ing each other.
Even the Ousted AIOdeTates do not deny
that the recent elections. which really
led 10 the revolt were stolen. Their de-
Tense is that both sides were out TO steal
thcm. and that. being defeated at their
ogH game, the Liberals assumed a won't
play attitude. and finally took to the
brush.
Americans in Cuba say that President
Pvlma personally was as honest a man
IS could be found on the island. but that
some of his Cabinet officers would have
stolen his hat if he had laid il down,
not because they needed IT, but from
force Of habit.
Race Question in Cuba.
Should an honest election be held in
cuba now there is no doubt but that the
Liberals would be found to be in the
majority, but there are many who say
that there VIII never be another fair
lection in Cuba, owing to compare
Itvely new element in the affairs OF the
iSiand-the race question.
Eighty-live ger cent of the Liberal par
~ is composed Of negroes. according to
lie best estimates. Many OF these col
oyed men are industrious and prosperous
-tludiDg high IN business circles, but a
large pc cent of them are the scum OF
the island, worthless riffraff. whose aver
sion to work amounts almost to a reli-
gion. Patriotism and political principles
mean nothing 20 them They are Liberals
not because Of any convictions, but be-
oause the Aioderates are in power and
rIey ale barred from the graft Should
t-e Liberals get control and they stIll De
,efr out they would at once become Mod
c!ates
First Test of PncificAtIOn.
The business men and the men of edu-
satiOn on the island have avOWed that
notwithstanding TIE fact that these ne
sroes are In the majority-or at least hold
The balance Of pOWer-they shall never
dominate the elections even II corruption
at the polls is necessary to prevent it.
one OF the lrst acts OF Gov. 4Iagoon's
new administration viii be the appoint
ment OF a cabinet This same act is ex-
pected to be the occasion OF the first TAX
ing 10 the bushes BY the disgruntled ones
Whoever Is selected for the cabinet will
DC unpopular with some faction. As the
popular method of expressing dissatisfac-
tiou Is with a mschete or a rife, the nam
ing Of the new cabinet will AFFORD the first
opportunity of seeing how thoroughly the
dose OF Americanization administered BY
Secretary Taft has soaked in.