Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31

| HAVANA March &C. 1907.
Uncle Sam is very unpopular down here
| just now. Some of the people are dissatis-
| fed because he has remained so long, and
| the rest of the people because he will not
sGiee to remain longer. AS 1 told you in a
previous letter, by the terms of the procla-
| nation Of Gov Magoon when he assumed
| authority we agreed to retire as soon as
| tie Cubans have an opportunity to elect a
ne" president. There is not the slightest
| doubt that the liberal party will be sue
ctsstul at such an election and it is equal
| ly certain that when it. gets control it
will make it very hot for its opponents.
| The island is full of alarmists, and there
| Dlay be some foundation for their anxiety.
at any rate distrust and apprehension are
| UNIVERSAL
| The people who want Gov. Magoon to
| so outnumber two to one those who want
HIM to stay, but, SO far as the property
| interests concerned, the feeling is al
| NEST unanimous the other way. If
vote of the taxpayers throughout all Cuba
were taken it would be almost solid in
| favor of annexation, permanent occupation,
| or a strong protectorate by the United
States, because every citizen who has
hundred dollars worth of property Is al
ready satisfied that the Cubans are not
| ready for self-government, and that there
can be no progress or prosperity or peace
under an independent administration.
Three Different Views.
There are differences of opinion as to the
form of occupation.
L. The great majority of property holders
and business interests prefer complete an
neXation. 8
2 The next largest number in order to
preserve the Cuban pride, prefer an in
visible authority behind a screen, to direct
the aQmIriStr3 tOp nf ,ira ;,,5o
pendent government.
j. Those who realize that annexation is
impossible end see many difficulties in the
way of arranging a protectorate advocate
the continuation of the present arrange
ihent lnderLitely.-----s~-4------
There also is difference of opinion as
to the presence of "a military force. Many
THINK 1t abs oiutely essential; others insist
that It is not only unnecessary, but is ac-
tua!ly offci sive to Cuban pride. l have
talked with great many people represent
ing all OF the various points of view and
notice that invariably the foreigners advo-
cate the retention of the army and that
nearly all the natives think it ought to be
recalled. The scale is in proportion to the
value of the interests represented The
larger the investment, the greater the
wealth of the person, the more anxious he
is that our troops should remain in Cuba.
Absence of Free Speech.
The population of the island is classified
into three groups, according to tie above
divisions. They are called Annexationistas,
Americanistas and Independentias. The
latter talk very freely and indulge in good
deal of braggadocio. The other classes are
very reluctant to discuss the situation with
strangers ana Will not express an opinion or
say anything on any subject until they are
assured of the discretion of the hearer. The
native Cuban business men and property
owners do not warm up to the Americans
as we expected and wish they would They
have not responded to Gov Magoon's ad-
vances, either socially or otherwise They
seldom go to the palace. They dare not be
seen there. lest the object of their visit be
misconstrued by the liberal politicians They
are afraid of being called Americanstas.
Every man who goes to the palace suspects
that he is being spotted and that when
the army goes away he will be called upon
for a reckoning. If the public were con-
WINGED that We are going to stay perma-
nently it would be very different. This cool
ness is not due to any lack of interest or af-
lection, but to fear of revenge. Every Gu
ban property holder is compelled to wear a
mask to conceal his real feelings toward
the United States
The army officers report that the recep-
ton given to United States troops through
out the island when they arrived last fall
was cordial and in many cases enthusi-
astic, but Immediately afterward the peo-
pie assumed an attitude of indifference, in
strong contrast with their welcome, be-
cause they know they are being watched
and that they will be punished for the
troops are withdrawn. Cuban gentle
man said to me the other day:
Conference in Americans.
There is a hidden feeling of confidence
in the disinterested friendship of the United
States for Cuba, which dare not be mani
tested because it would be dangerous If
your government should announce that it
will occupy the island permanently and
would encourage or permit display of the
emotions this feeling would reach God
knows what bounds
The foreign residents are quite as careful
about expressing an opinion or taking any
tention of the troops the establishment
of a protectorate, because the members of
the liberal party do not concede them that
right, and have disagreeable habit of re-
membering such indiscretiops. For that
reason I have found great difficulty in per-
suad'ng foreigners. and especially Span
| iards. to talk They are willing to express
! their views privately with great freedom,
| but are not willing to be quoted. Several
gentlemen whom I have asked for inter-
| views have said frankly:
"Oh, 1 will tell you what / think, but If
you publish my name 1 shall be ruined
This terrorism is inherited from the
| Spanish. The liberal party and, in a meas
| ure, the other parties, showing the
same intolerance toward each other and
| toward the public generally that prevailed
during Spanish times. 1t has been so for
| three centuries. No man dare express
an opinion contrary to the policy of the
government, knowing that he was likely to
| be reported and punished by Imprisonment
| or by some other form Of persecution.
Political differences are longer pun
| ished by imprisonment The dungeons of
Moro Castle and the Cabanas are vacant
but there are other effective penalties.
Any one with box of matches can burn
| a canefield or sugarmil and hundreds of
millions of dollars in other forms of prop
erty are constantly at the mercy of spite
full and revengeful people. Hence, those
who are exposed to the spite and malice
of irresponsible men are extremely care
full what they say and do not like to be
quoted in the newspapers.
The Proposed Professionals.
One of the ablest Cubans, and one of the
most active and effective participants in
the war for Independence, suggested the