Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-26
CONDITIONS IN CUBA i
BY BISHOP WARREN a. GAMBLER.

ditions of contention and of carrying all
the people with him, the peace and pros
perfty of the Island would be assured.
But alasl Cuba has no. Bolivar, no
Juarez, no Porfirio Diaz! Cuban leaders
are not statesmen, but politicians. When
a country has no great leader, or Lead
ers. the times become the fecund mother
or politicians who grasp at power with
out the wisdom to WELD IL for the we;-
fare of the people, and at such times
since the politicians are numerous and
all or size they are liable to make a
mess of public interests in their strug-
giles for place and pelf. Our own coun-
try is suffering somewhat from an over
production of politicians and a deficient
supply of men. of the first magnitude,
and Cuba is suffering still more from
the same cause. 1t is Impossible to over
state the value of the services of Presi-
dent Porfirio Diaz to Mexico, and one
such mighty man in the Island of Cuba
would change the face Of the present
and turn the course of its future his
tory. l have sometimes thought that il
General Cal1xto Garcia, who a few
months after our war with Spain con-
tracted pneumonia at Washington City
and died at Townsville. had lived, hs
might have become such a leader. He
any of the Cuban leaders who survived
him. 1t may be a capable leader will
appear in Cuba at no distant day. In
the order of Providence such mens gem
orally appear when needed without pre-
arrangement on the part OF human wis
dom and with the help of the recognition
Of party managers. So the late PresI-
dent Cleveland made his advent into ma
tional service.
t.
our country there is another such man
hid away, and, that he win come forth
soon for our help. May Cuba also soon
grow man Of real power and of unselfish
patriotism. He would be an immeasurable
blessing to his own people as well as a
blessing to us in our relations to the Gu
ban people.
Among the things which make for peace
and prosperity in this fair and fertile
Island is the system Of public highways
which has been inaugurated and carried
almost to completion by the Provisional
Government under Mr.. Magoon. Nearly
or quite S14.00O.O 900 has been spent upon the
public roads throughout the Island since
October. 1906. These roads are well built
and they can not fail to promote the pros
perity of agriculture among the people.
In case OF Instructions also they win be
of great value in the matter of the rapid
and expeditions movement Of troops, and
this means much; for roads and revolu-
lions bear a relation OF inverse proper
ton to each other.
The Cuban people appreciate these
roads, and so far as can discover by
my contact and conversation with all
classes of the people, this part OF the
work of the Provisional Government Is
about the only part upon which they do
put much value. There is sharp and wide
spread criticism of Mr.. Magoon's admins
tration with respect to other matters.
There Is public criticism in some Of the
papers, and popular criticism which finds
no expression in print Some men who,
with the usual Latin habit of counscience-
less courtesy, have complimented him at
the banquets given him during the last
days of his stay in the Island, have not
hesitated to censure him at other times
and places. The people, as well as the
politicians, will not seriously lament his
departure when he is gone, and most OF
the resident Americans whom have
heard talking about the matter around the
hotels affirm that the feeling of the Gu
bans is justified by the facts.
was handed a publication the other
dav IN which charges Of jobbery and
graft under the Provisional Government
are definitely made. the dates ana ma
tIlre of the alleged transactions, IoBethcr
with the names of the persons involved
In them, being given. do not pretend 10
know whether the charges made IN this
printed document are founded in fact, and
have neither the time nor the DISPOSE
ton to investigate the business OF them;
am not in Cuba to seek occasion to
censtlre the representatives Of my coun-
try. 1 would rather believe good than
i'll of them. But lido say we ought
not TO allow any stain to rest upon the
history of our dealings with Cuba. II
we finish the work of Intervention In the
unselfishness which we have proclaimed
10 all the world inspired our efforts on
behalf of Cuba the record of our deeds
will make one OF the fairest chapters
in our national history. On the other
hand, IL under our professions OF hui
manity and benevolence we allow any
persons or associations. whether such
persons be private. corporate. political, or
ecclesiastical, to take advantage OF our
protection to make merchandise OF this
long-suffering people, we viii receive
and deserve the execrations Of mankind
II half that Is charged in the paper
which lies before me is true 1t Is shame
TO us. and Congress ought not to adj
journ until an investigation is provided
for in order that all men may know that
the charges are false II they are not
founded in fact or that all the evil
doors are exposed and punished IL the
allegations are found to. be true. Our
government should come forth from Its
work on behalf of Cuba without the
slightest smell of wrong-doing upon its
garments. W. A. GAMBLER
Havana, Cuba, January Is, 1903.