Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-30
Negroes, Now Become Wealthy,
Demand Full Enjoyment OF
Constitutional Rights.
ELECTION METHODS CORRUPT
Eighteen Years Of Freedom Has Not
Put Cuba on Anything Approach
ing Plane of United States or
the Great Nations of
Europe.

is largely to blame for the revolution
AIRY developments which have conferred
attention on the rich little island re-
public.
There is no color line in Cuban suf-
frage laws. There is not even denial
of the right to vote.
And it is common observation in
Cuba that the negro goes to the polls
more regularly than his white COM
patriot. The negro is proud to vote,
while the white is often too proud to
vote. The latter is Indifferent and
often lets election day go by without
exercising his right of suffrage.
The negro goes to the polls and
votes-but whether his vote counts Is
another matter.
Cuban election methods are hope
lessly corrupt-at least, IS years of
freedom have not been sufficient to put
them on anything approaching the
plane of the United States and the
great nations of Europe.
Through these methods, the Liberals
In sympathy with the revolt say, their
party was cheated out of the recent
election.
The Liberals constitute the party OF
the masses, especially the negroes. 1t
is generally admitted they have a ma
jority of the voting population. In
| fact, RaOul E. Desvernine, counsel to
the Cuban legation at Washington
said few days ago with a certain
amount of cynicism:
1T is perfectly true as he CDR. Ores
ties Ferrara) says, that so per cent OF
Cuba's population belongs to the Lib
eral party, but it is equally true, al
though he does not say so. that the y
per cent is composed largely of thu
peon class and that the brains ant
breeding of Cuba are affiliated with tn
Conservative party"
Tenacious of Rights.
Senior Desvernine is not the onl.
Cuban in this country who takes tn
stand that intellect and birth
should control Cuba-for Cuba's bene
fit. They point to the undoubted fac
that the present administration o
President Mario Menocal has been ez
ceedingly honest and efficient whe
thrown against the dark backgrOun
Of the frauds perpetrated In the &C
ministration of Jose Miguel Gomez.
But Cubans, like Americans, do nc
like a rule imposed upon them. eve
| hn
gro, especially, is tenacious Of hi
rights. He is far different from tn
American negro-more ambitious an
more independent.
Negroes formed a large share
the army of independence. These We
Grams of the war with Spain do m
allow any man to take precedence I
them simply because he is a Will
man. 1t Is also to be remembers
that there is not the distinct COLI
line drawn In Havana and other Cuba
towns which we take for granted
the United States. Many negroes ha'
. held high offices In the government
Their social position is often one
which few American negroes won
ever dream.
If the present revolutionary spiI
is Quelled with the help of Americi
. troops 1t is bound to break for
again. This Is the opinion of the m,
here best acquainted with condition
In Cuba. The germs Of unrest, fee
ing on feeling Of injustice, cam
easily be destroyed.
The negroes in the last few yea
!. have increased so in power and
}, wealth that they now demand t
! complete enjoyment Of their constit
= tional rights and they are forcing t
! issue.
Santa Clara and Oriente, two pro
: inces that are traditional Libel
! strongholds, are the centers Of t
|. present trouble. Santa Clara is {