Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-18
Self-Rule in Cuba


TTTHITlNG from Havana toward the close OF the
wv last American occupation gave Il as my opin-
ion IL reduced to the alternative of coming into
the Federal Union going back to SPAIN the Cubans
would vote to 20 back to Spain
such IL the fore OF perversity operating racial
lines We had liberated them; had set them up
free Government; and we had put ourselves 70 many
pains and outlays showing them or trying TO main
tain and to manage H. But, In the doing Of these
things we had offended their propre. They
resented superiority. which. truth 60 say. at
times too decately asserted. Many OF them
came TO hate us-none to love
left here with the Army and the Civil Admins
tration the last Of March, 1908 Curious what
the natives might be doing with their Republic and
themselves, the present winter has afforded me my
first opportunity.
Msgoon left Havana province in perfect shlpshape
II is tumbe-down again. He left II clean. 1t s
degree dirty. Yet building apace in every d.
rection; there signs Of movement sluggish indeed
but real and of Improvement taking it's time; whilst
business, albeit depressed bravado air as II
TO say. See what Cuba do when left to herself,
the single bugbear being the threat OF return of
the Americans. That IL all that keeps the Govern
ment intact that makes for order and law. that
strains the factions and holds them within bounds
Hell would break loose in Cuba in Mexico, except
for a nauseating memory and latent fear.
IL Is their own, az Woodrow Wilson says, and
they have the right TO do whatever they please with
it. Nevertheless cannot help thinking they would
be infinitely better on-at once happier and moro
prosperous-h we had taken Cuba along with
Porto Rico and the Philippines at the end OF the
Spanish Wandering here and there, up and down
-southward far the Isle OF Pines. southeast
ward to Cienfuegos and Manzanllla--talSing in the
whole country between Pinar del Rio and Santiago
de Cuba-especialy the regions about Santa Clara
and Cana guey-one catches himself murmuring with
Chfde Harold:
20. Christi II is a soodly sight 70 see
And how little man has done to improve the work
Of Heaven.
The Cuban is something more than nsular. He is
tndiN and nth nnfH teal A Mt
as cookney, he is equally pig-headed. Very polite
the surface he lie disobliging at bottem-especiay
In business.
The spaniard in Spain is a child a thousand years
old. Dignity. like his cloak, folds him round and fits
him well. Transplanted in Cuba his progney grew up
to a thin venser of enterprise and jointly. The Gu
bans took loose colonial ways In time many grew
up to become insurrectos Few OF than could tell
precisely why At length the travail and sorrow Of
sixty Of alternating outbreak and repression
brought them independence and the joke we have
nicknamed self-government. What will they do with
II? How long will II last?
As I write the tumult OF a great demonstration
rises the air and An immense and noisy pro-
cesson moves up the Prado Crowds hurrah-very
motley crowds-mostly and half-breeds Brass
bands bare and kettle drums rattle Resembling shots
fired from overhanging roofs. 1t is in honor Of
the pardon and release OF General Asbert that Gov
ernor OF Havana and Chief OF Police who murdered
General Riva a Conservative leader two years ago.
and who. condemned to imprisonment of fourteen
years has just been liberated by Act OF Congress
ovation to Thaw in Boston 1t does not become
American to make faces at Havana. But Lord. the
vogue Of murder and the popularity OF assassins
Squalor? A good deal OF it. High priest Same
here Yankee money. having a premium OF from three
TO five cents, Is the coin of the realm" Spanish
money however at discount goes. In Cuban cur
rency you pay three cents for Cuban postage stamp
worth two cents; In Uncle Sans curreney only two
cents, its face value Curiously enough the only
thing cheap in Havana 10 the cab whilst the poor
cabbies the sole victims OF the congomerate sys
tenn OF exchanges. 'peseta" twenty cents. carries
two persons wherever they want to 20. within the
walls" and cabby must take this in Cuban. or Span
ish money As II this not little enough they
moving to cut 1t one-halfl All else is OF sight
and mainly shoddy.
Isolated-unfrendly-m elancholy-slow by the
lazy lagoon beneath the leafy shade of fowery
patio brood OF self-lndulgent stoics. the Cubans
reok not save In a langud way the movement of the
world without; care. wish FOR change The
Yankee IL gone. hang him Madre de Dols may he
again. They tell me Society is with
the Germans. But have not heard note OF die
Wacht Am Rhein." The street organs continue to
play the ''Marseillalse." whilst the dining orchestra
trolls Tipperary" TO beat the band! II were asked
90 make motto TO hang the gates Havana
would beneath the customary 'Manana write
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow,
To the last syllable of recorded time,
all yesterdayH lighted