Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

much inclined to ignore its representa-
tons to them. Cuba is also inclined to
resent the idea of the American govern
ments right to intervene. 1t feels that
it has a right TO manage its own affairs
without let, hindrance or suggestion from
anywhere.
x
Another unfortunate factor in the stua-
ton is that the quarreling elements al
ways take the
Warninc, Sounded word that comes
by Secretary Knox. ton as applying
to the other side and not to themselves.
AS an instance of this one might mention
their reception of the straight talk hano-
ed them by Secretary Knox on his recent
visit He told them that people hoer-
ated from oppressive tyranny nave not
improved their situation If unrestrained
selfishness, which almost invariably Ieaos
To anarchy. is the result He further
warned them against renting the des-
TIMES of their country to the hands or the
few, who. with everything to gain ana
nothing to lose, make business Oh the
politics of their country.
After Secretary Knox had thus spoken,
each faction straightway .oplied the ao-
monition to the other side. The party IN
power took it powerful arraignment
a conspicuous text from which every ad-
ministration organ in Cuba preached SER
| mons by the column against those VINO
| opposed President Gomez and his admin
| istration. On the other hand, the conserV-
atives saw in the words of Mr.. Knox
shrewd castigation of the rule OF Presl-
dent Gomez. One of the conservative or
gans said the admonitions applied most
to the very men who held the prominent
seats at the banquet table from which it
was delivered and who have converted the
national politics into vile traffic. If
both sides took the warning home to
themselves and acted accordingly they
would be in little danger of third inter-
vention.
There are many elements in the present
situation of Cuba which might lead to
another n
Bankruptcy Is terv ention.
Worst Danger Faced. inston gov
eminent expects Cuba to heed its warn
ings against governmental extravaganza.
In point of fact. the worst danger that
now threatens the island is bankruptcy.
One warning after another has been
brought to the government, but down to
date they have availed but little. There
is some hope that the private converse
tons Of Secretary Knox with the officials
of the Cuban government have awakened
them to the fact that they must stop their
reckless use of the public funds and will
lead them to saner financial policy.
There are many Americans in the
island who would like to see Intervention.
Most of the property-owning Cubans
would not be averse to such course on
the part of the United States. They say
1t would be best for Cuba in the long run.
I,,l~
proud of the national independence and
seem to regard the United States rs wait
ing for an opportunity to seize it out Of
their hands.
The negro question Is one that may
have an important bearing on the future
ofCuba. A
Negro Question pr m / n n t
May Have Bearing. was born VIM IN
Havana, and who has spent most of his
life there. declares that the effect of the
enfranchisement of the negro in Cuba
was almost as bad as in the reconstruc-
ton era in the south. and that it has
made a political issue in Cuba the end
Of which cannot be foreseen. Some years
ago law was enacted, with a negro as
4
hold political meetings as race. This
was intended to hold in check the dan
gers OF race war.
More recently the negroes of Cuba
have come to the conclusion that they
can secure their rights only by asserting
them as a race. So they have organized
what they call the Independent colored
party. They have sought to hold pOlit-
ical meetings. but the government has
reminded them of the existence of the
Morua law, and soldiers have been sent
to prevent them from holding meetings.
The negroes cast approximately one
fourth of the vote Of the island, and hold
the balance of power.
President Gomez has promised them to
work for the repeal of the law, although
! some of the negroes doubt his sincerity.
The leader Of the negro party recently
stated that it was up to the government
to find some means of allowing the ne
groes to maintain a separate political
party. SO that there might not be any
black clouds for the republic of Cuba
| or clouds of blood for the independent
colored party The negroes, while in
sisting upon the right of using the word
''colored' in the designation of their
party. have protested against any race
distinctions in the census returns of the
| island. They bitterly resent the publ1ca-
ton of figures showing the number OF
| colored and white people in the island
4
| While the Independent colored party
makes more noise than any ether move
ment in the
Veterans Radical island. it
in All Their Demands. not as much
a menace to the continuation Of Cuban
| independence as is the organization OF
the veterans of the war Of independence
The veterans are extremely radical IN
| their demands. and II all of these de-
mands should be recognized it is i'm
possible to forecast the result. In the
first place. they demand that the civil
service laws of the island shall be sus-
pended for a season, during which those
who took no part in the war OF inoe-
pendence shall be removed from once
and their positions filled by veterans.
Another demand of the veterans is that
the Cuban congress shall enact law Tor