The De Soto County news., 1906-03-02

Ni'h" ehOJ aio 5uONellnB snow, ana
live from their cellars, we can 90 out
in our fields and gardens and gather
our fresh fruits and vegetables.
There is many thousands of acres of
land down here that can be bought
cheap and we invite the people in
the frozen regions to come south
where they will not have to shovel
snow.
advance has been made IN this re.
spect for more than hundred years.
They hitch oxen to the crooked bouph
OF tree AS did the Egyptians in the
days Of the Pharoahs. When you
consider the richness Of the soil and
Incompatible climate conspiring TO
produce so luxuriant a vegetation
without much labor, you may ac,
count for his willingness TO trust to
Nature for a harvest.
The Americans arc getting a foot
hold in the agricultural sections much
faster than in the cities. A great
| deal Of the farming land is now un-
der the control of men from the
United States, who in time will ac-
quire all Of the valuable part. Amer
ican labor is being imported to culti-
vate the land, since the laudholders
have no use for the lethargic Cuban.
The Cuban is ostentatious and when
vested with Office he becomes the en-
bOdiment of pomposity. He is very
much like the negro in the United
States, he has a great craving for
political office. In the army am
told, there is a desire on the part Of
every one to be an officer, none car
ing to be privates. And as a conse
quenoe, am informed that the off
GERS are almost as numerous as the
privates. The standing army OF Cuba
numbers about 5000 men, and one
solitary gun boat constitutes the
navy; but said Cuban to me. "We
have no need for a navy; we have
Uncle Sam"
The Spanish language prevails ev-
erywhere, both in business and 80.
cial circles. The Americans during
their occupation of the island, did
little toward foisting our language
or methods upon the Spanish speak,
ing people. Even the cabmen, who
derive a great portion of their rev.
enues from English speaking people,
know scarcely word of English, not
being able to understand directions
from an American, unless given in
their native tongue, and not then, if
your pronunciation does not closely
approximate Spaniard's rendering.
There is an opening here for Amer
ican labor. 1 met gentlemen en-
route for St. Louis to procure farm
labor for the plantations around San.
tiago; the price offered was, trans
portation, board and 81. so per day,
with the opportunity open to the
most capable to become overseers at
$75 per month. No negro labor is
wanted by the farmers here.
Few Americans have taken out
their naturalization papers over here.
They prefer to hold their nationality
in the United States. 1t is not a
matter of sentiment, but desire for
adequate protection that prompts
this course. Said one to me in con.
versation; There is no telling when
a revolution might spring up, and
then we would be amenable to the
government of Cuba and likely to be
drafted into the military service 10
fight for these lazy irresponsible Gu
bans" AT present with Palma at
the head OF the government there is
little danger. but with Palma gone,
then perhaps the deluge.
If the time ever comes when the
revolutionary spirit pervades the
island, as it does in the Spanish South
American countries, producing inseA
curity of property rights and unsta-
bleness in the governmental equis
poise. the United States will inter-
vene-a result wished for by many,
especially the Spaniards - and an
other star on our national emblem
will attest the benevolent assimlla-
ton" Of Cuba. e. &. MURPHEY.
The publication Of the above splen~
did article from Prof. Murphev. prin