THE POPULATION OF CUBA
The number and the characteristics of the people of Cuba are matters of
doubt. If not of doubt exactly, at least there seem to be many
discrepancies in relation to the numerical side of the problem, and
great variation in opinion as to the qualities and peculiarities of the
several classes of inhabitants which constitute the people of the
Island. Before attempting to discuss the traits of the people, it may be
advisable to ascertain, as far as practicable, the component parts of
the population, and for that purpose recourse must be had to such
statistical data as may be found available. The census report of Cuba
can be obtained, but it is not issued, like our own, in book form, or
even as printed reports. The results, moreover, are not worked out with
any degree of detail as to age, sex, race, marital condition,
occupation, and such other data as make an analysis of the population of
the United States a comparatively easy task. The first census of Cuba
was taken as far back as 1774, and since then the population has been
enumerated at various periods, apparently when it suited the convenience
or desire of the authorities at Madrid. The last count of the people was
in December, 1897, but the returns from this enumeration have not been
tabulated. The authorities admit they are imperfect in the four
provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara, and that
they lack entirely the population of Puerto Principe and Santiago de
Cuba. It may, therefore, be expedient that this work should be abandoned
and that the United States authorities should take a complete and
satisfactory census of the Island in December (for it cannot be taken
in the month of June), 1899, or December, 1900, either of which dates
will be near enough to the date of our own Twelfth Census, which will be
June 1, 1900--the earlier date will probably be better for Cuba and
nearer our own census. Such an enumeration should elicit information in
relation to occupations and such social topics as will aid in
constructing a suitable government for the people of Cuba. The method of
taking the Cuban census has been crude and the returns not very
reliable. The organisation for the work has always been made in Spain
and delegated to a Central Board in Cuba, which board is presided over
by a Cabinet Minister--the last by Mr. Montoro, Secretary of State. The
Secretary to this Board is the Director of Census. The schedules are
then forwarded to the municipalities, who thus control their own
enumerations. Fortunately for Cuba, there are no "boom towns," so the
returns are not unduly padded. The schedules for the rural districts are
handled from the capital of the province. When the schedules are filled,
they are sent to Havana, where the work of tabulation is performed. The
completed work is sent to Spain for approval and promulgation. The
method seems roundabout and cumbersome and must result in a large
percentage of errors. The official who had charge of the last census
admitted it was not exact--excepting possibly for some places where the
municipal authorities took pride in the work. This was the case in
Matanzas, where a census was taken in 1893, which seems on the face to
be careful statistical work. A study of the census columns of
unfortunate Cuba reveals the story of that Island in unmistakable terms.
(See table on page 92.)
Disease and war have performed their fatal work and from time to time
decimated the inhabitants. The cheerful side of the picture is the
constant increase of population from 1852 to 1867. These few years were
called the Golden Age of Cuba. The cholera visited Cuba at the end of
the year 1868, and the Ten Years' War began October 10, 1868, at which
time many Cubans emigrated. This will explain the decrease of the year
1869. From 1870 to 1877 Spanish soldiers poured into the country, and
not less than 200,000 Spaniards were sent there to crush the
insurrection of 1868 to 1878 (Ten Years' War).
POPULATION OF CUBA AT THE SEVERAL ENUMERATIONS OF THE POPULATION OF THE
ISLAND
----------------+-----------+-----------+----------
| | Increase | Decrease
YEARS. | TOTALS. | Per cent. | Per cent.
----------------+-----------+-----------+----------
1774 | 171,620 | .... | ....
1787 | 176,167 | 2.64 | ....
1792 | 273,939 | 55.49 | ....
1804 | 432,000 | 57.69 | ....
1810 | 600,000 | 38.88 | ....
1817 | 635,604 | 5.93 | ....
1819 | 553,033 | .... | 12.99
1825 | 715,000 | 29.28 | ....
1827 | 704,487 | .... | 1.47
1830 | 755,695 | 7.26 | ....
1841 | 1,007,625 | 33.33 | ....
1846 | 898,754 | .... | 10.80
1849 | 945,440 | 5.19 | ....
1850 | 973,742 | 2.99 | ....
1852 | 984,042 | 1.05 | ....
1855 | 1,044,185 | 6.11 | ....
1857 | 1,110,095 | 6.31 | ....
1859 | 1,129,304 | 1.72 | ....
1860 | 1,199,429 | 6.20 | ....
1862 | 1,396,470 | 16.42 | ....
1867 | 1,426,475 | 2.14 | ....
1869 | 1,399,811 | .... | 1.86
1874 | 1,446,372 | 3.32 | ....
1877 | 1,521,684 | 5.20 | ....
1887 | 1,631,687 | 7.23 | ....
1899 (est.) | 1,200,000 | .... | 2.65
----------------+-----------+-----------+----------
[Illustration: A COUNTRY VILLA.]
Then came the last war, which has been even more disastrous, and many
competent authorities put the loss by disease, starvation, and slain at
400,000. It is impossible to verify these figures until we shall have an
accurate enumeration of the population, so it must remain guesswork
until then. Whatever the result of the next census may show, the fact
remains apparent that the population of Cuba, by reason of its
misfortunes, is far behind the natural increment; that is, the growth by
excess of births over deaths. This is shown by the following table,
giving the estimated population of the Island of Cuba from 1774 to 1894,
by decades, taking the average rate of increase of the _native_
population in the United States by census decades:
-------------------------+-------+------------|-------------------
|YEAR. | Estimated |
| |Population. |
-------------------------+-------+------------|-------------------
|1774 | 171,620 |As by Mr. Bonnet's
|1784 | 216,928 |table as increased
|1794 | 274,197 |by United States
|1804 | 346,585 |census rates,
|1814 | 438,083 |estimated averages.
|1824 | 554,537 |
|1834 | 700,934 |
|1844 | 885,981 |
From 1850 to 1890 native |1854 | 1,119,880 |
and foreign were given |1864 | 1,459,204 |
separately by census |1874 | 1,772,718 |
takers; previously no |1884 | 2,336,442 |
such count was made. |1894 | 2,869,150 |
-------------------------+-------+------------+-------------------
In the opening chapter of this volume the point was made that Cuba, had
it been permitted to remain in peace and enjoy its advantages, should
have had a population ranging from 4,500,000 to 5,000,000. That this
statement is borne out may be noted in the subjoined table, which gives
the estimated population of the Island of Cuba from 1774 to 1894, taking
the average rate of increase of the _total_ population in the United
States, by census decades:
--------------------------+-------------|----------------------------------
YEAR. | Estimated |
| Population. |
--------------------------+-------------|----------------------------------
1774......................| 171,620 | As per Mr. Bonnet's table.
1784......................| 231,687 } |
1794......................| 312,777 } |
1804......................| 378,460 } |
1814......................| 516,144 } |
1824......................| 686,832 } | Increased at United States census
1834......................| 917,264 } | rates for decades, estimated
1844......................| 1,216,934 } | averages.
1854......................| 1,653,448 } |
1864......................| 2,241,745 } |
1874......................| 2,749,051 } |
1884......................| 3,575,965 } |
1894......................| 4,464,950 } |
--------------------------+-------------|----------------------------------
The rate of growth of the Western Hemisphere, had Cuba been allowed to
enjoy her natural advantages, would have found her at the close of 1900
with close upon 5,000,000 population and a country as flourishing as
that pictured in the early part of this volume.
The population of the Island of Cuba, as enumerated on the 31st of
December, 1887, was 1,631,687. This population was scattered over an
area of about 122,606 square kilometres. These figures give an average
density of population of 13.31 inhabitants to the square kilometre, the
maximum of which appeared to be in the province of Havana (52.49), and
the minimum in the province of Puerto Principe (2.10).
CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887
----------------------+-------------+-------------+-------------
| | | Density per
PROVINCE. | Number | Square | Square
|Inhabitants. | Kilometres. | Kilometre.
----------------------+-------------+-------------+-------------
Havana | 451,928 | 8,610 | 52.49
Matanzas | 259,578 | 8,486 | 30.59
Pinar del Rio | 225,891 | 14,967 | 15.09
Puerto Principe | 67,789 | 32,341 | 2.10
Santa Clara | 354,122 | 23,083 | 15.34
Santiago de Cuba | 272,379 | 35,119 | 7.76
|-------------+-------------+-------------
| 1,631,687 | 122,606 | 13.31
----------------------+-------------+-------------+-------------
Distributed as white population and coloured people, the latter
comprising negroes and half-breeds and Asiatics, the proportions were as
follows:
CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887
-----------------+-------------------+------------------+------------------
| NUMBER | DENSITY PER |
| INHABITANTS. |SQUARE KILOMETRE. | PERCENTAGE.
+---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+---------
PROVINCE. | Whites. |Coloured.| Whites.|Coloured.| Whites.|Coloured.
-----------------+---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+---------
Havana | 335,782| 116,146 | 39.00 | 13.49 | 74.30 | 25.70
Matanzas | 142,040| 117,538 | 16.74 | 13.85 | 54.72 | 45.28
Pinar del Rio | 166,678| 59,213 | 11.14 | 3.95 | 73.79 | 26.21
Puerto Principe | 54,581| 13,208 | 1.69 | 0.41 | 80.52 | 19.48
Santa Clara | 245,097| 109,025 | 10.62 | 4.72 | 69.27 | 30.73
Santiago de Cuba | 158,711| 113,668 | 4.52 | 3.24 | 58.27 | 41.73
+---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+---------
|1,102,889| 528,798 | 9.00 | 4.31 | 67.59 | 32.41
+---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+---------
| 1,631,687 13.31 100.
-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------
It will be observed that the number of whites is greatest in the
province of Havana, but the highest percentage of whites is found in the
province of Puerto Principe (80.52). The province of Matanzas shows the
greatest number of the coloured race, which is explained by the fact
that slavery prevailed more extensively in that province than elsewhere.
The proportion of males and females was as follows:
CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887
-------------------------+------------------------+------------------------
| NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. | PERCENTAGE.
PROVINCE. +------------------------+------------------------
| Males. | Females. | Males. Females.
+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
Havana...................| 243,966 | 207,962 | 53.98 | 46.02
Matanzas.................| 148,876 | 110,702 | 57.35 | 42.65
Pinar del Rio............| 122,829 | 103,062 | 54.38 | 45.62
Puerto Principe..........| 35,843 | 31,946 | 52.87 | 47.13
Santa Clara..............| 193,496 | 160,626 | 54.64 | 45.36
Santiago de Cuba.........| 137,590 | 134,789 | 50.51 | 49.49
+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
| 882,600 | 749,087 | 54.09 | 45.91
-------------------------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
Notice that in each province, males are in excess of females. The
immigration of women into Cuba has always been small. The proportion of
males and females of the white and coloured races is as follows:
CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887
-------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
| WHITES.
+------------------------+------------------------
| NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. | PERCENTAGE.
PROVINCE. +-----------+------------+-----------+------------
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females.
+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
Havana...................| 188,269 | 147,513 | 56.07 | 43.93
Matanzas.................| 79,362 | 62,678 | 55.87 | 44.13
Pinar del Rio............| 91,627 | 75,051 | 54.97 | 45.03
Puerto Principe..........| 29,473 | 25,108 | 53.99 | 46.01
Santa Clara..............| 134,412 | 110,685 | 54.84 | 45.16
Santiago de Cuba.........| 84,044 | 74,667 | 52.95 | 47.05
+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
| 607,187 | 495,702 | 55.05 | 44.95
-------------------------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
-------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
| COLOURED.
+------------------------+------------------------
| NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. | PERCENTAGE.
PROVINCE. +-----------+------------+-----------+------------
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females.
+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
Havana...................| 55,697 | 60,449 | 47.95 | 52.05
Matanzas.................| 69,514 | 48,024 | 59.14 | 40.86
Pinar del Rio............| 31,202 | 28,011 | 52.69 | 47.31
Puerto Principe..........| 6,370 | 6,838 | 48.23 | 51.77
Santa Clara..............| 59,084 | 49,941 | 54.12 | 45.88
Santiago de Cuba.........| 53,546 | 60,122 | 47.20 | 52.80
+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
| 275,413 | 253,385 | 52.46 | 47.54
-------------------------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------
Notice that the proportion of males is larger in the white race than in
the coloured. The enumeration of the population of Cuba in 1877 resulted
as follows:
CENSUS OF YEAR 1877
----------------+-------------------+-----------------+------------------
| Number of | |
| Inhabitants. | DENSITY. | PERCENTAGE.
PROVINCE +---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+---------
| Whites.|Coloured.|Whites.|Coloured.|Whites. |Coloured.
----------------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+---------
Havana..........| 321,951| 113,945 |37.59 | 13.24 | 73.86 | 26.14
Matanzas........| 160,806| 122,315 |19.11 | 14.41 | 56.80 | 43.20
Pinar del Rio...| 128,986| 53,218 | 8.62 | 3.55 | 70.79 | 29.21
Puerto Principe.| 57,692| 11,553 | 1.78 | 0.36 | 83.32 | 16.68
Santa Clara.....| 219,294| 102,103 | 9.50 | 4.42 | 68.23 | 31.77
Santiago de Cuba| 143,706| 86,115 | 4.09 | 2.45 | 62.53 | 37.47
+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+---------
|1,032,435| 489,249 | 8.42 | 3.99 | 67.85 | 32.15
+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+---------
| 1,521,684 12.41 100
----------------+--------------------------------------------------------
The increase in population from 1877 to 1887 was 110,003 individuals, or
7.23 per cent. The number of whites increased 70,454; the number of
coloured people increased 39,549. Asiatics in this census, numbering
43,811, were included with the whites.
[Illustration: CUBAN "GUARACHERO" (MINSTREL).]
There are four classes of Cuban residents: the whites, the coloured, the
blacks, and the Chinese.
The whites comprise native Cubans, Spaniards, and foreigners; a certain
proportion in the interior being Canary Islanders, who are fitted by
constitution, habits, and tastes for farm work.
The native Cuban is usually bright, and is gifted particularly with a
remarkable memory. Children are very precocious, and, when given
educational advantages, they develop into men of no mean ability. In
addition to the intelligent Cubans residing in the Island, whose
reputation in different branches of learning extends abroad, there are
many who have attained honourable distinction in foreign countries, in
competition with others whose advantages were conspicuously greater. Dr.
Albarran, the well-known Paris physician, and Albertini, the violinist,
are two of the many Cubans who have struggled and succeeded in Europe by
dint of their individual exertions and natural talents. In America, a
most distinguished professor of civil engineering, two leading civil
engineers in the navy, and the most eminent authority on yellow fever in
the country are native Cubans.
Havana is the only city in Cuba where any instruction is obtainable, and
it is noticeable there that even the boys of the poorer classes are
anxious to follow the university courses after leaving school.
In former days the sons of wealthy Cubans led the typical life of
gentlemen of leisure. It was customary among them to take a profession,
if that could be accomplished with little or no exertion. The remainder
of their lives was usually spent in travelling through Europe. The
present generation, however, is very different. It is composed of the
sons of men who have been on the verge of bankruptcy for many years,
owing to their thoughtless extravagance. They have had to work for their
living from the moment they have left college, and, owing to the
increasing poverty of the Island, they have never been able to
reconstruct the fortunes ill spent by their forbears. The consequence
is that one finds in Cuba the younger generation to be, as a class,
vastly superior to the older men in principles, education, and working
capacity.
The Cuban is more analytical than inventive. His mind easily grasps
subjects on which he has received very little information; but he is
decidedly lacking in inventive and constructive power.
The Cuban mother is very affectionate, but her maternal fondness often
leads her into indulgence of the many failings of childhood, that, in
later life, are impossible to overcome. Prevarication and pilfering are
no uncommon failings of child-life in Cuba. Despite these weaknesses,
children are so generous that their parents find it hard to prevent them
from sharing their pocket-money with their young friends. Their
politeness and affability are striking.
Cuban hospitality is proverbial. In the old and prosperous days of
wealth it was a common thing for whole families to constitute themselves
guests at the country-house of some friendly sugar-planter, and spend
Christmas or Holy Week there without having given the host a word of
warning. The planter, far from resenting this proceeding, invariably
provided entertainment for his self-invited guests in the shape of
riding parties, picnics, and dancing, considering himself highly
honoured by the unforeseen advent of his friends. Like most Southerners,
the Cubans are musically inclined. They dance well, and prolonged
dancing parties are a favourite form of amusement.
There was an old Spanish law, in force up to some years ago, which
entitled all suitors in marriage, whose proposals had been opposed, to
demand that the lady's parents state before the courts the reasons of
their objections. There are interesting cases recorded of proud young
Cubans who, animated by a high sense of honour, have availed themselves
of this harsh expedient, in preference to breaking their vows to their
lady-loves. The opposition in most cases was due to the fact that the
father of the young lady was Spanish and the suitor Cuban. There is an
instance of a man prominent in Havana circles who, taking advantage of
this privilege, married a lady, and refused to accept his wife's
patrimony, and the father-in-law brought suit to compel him to do so. It
was only after many years, when the allowance, handed periodically to
the court, had accumulated to a considerable sum, that a compromise was
reached and a reconciliation took place between the father and the
married couple.
Cubans are very much attached to family life. Deep affection usually
exists among the members of families, and they follow each other's
affairs with great interest, even after the families break up.
In Cuban houses, the first morning meal, or "coffee" as it is called,
consists of coffee and rolls; breakfast then follows at ten or eleven
o'clock, consisting, usually, of fried eggs, hash, fried plantains,
sweet potatoes, meat, and _café au lait_. Dinner takes place at six or
seven o'clock. Occasionally fruit is served at two or three o'clock.
Visits are exchanged in the evening; but ladies follow the European
custom of calling in the afternoon. Most families have an "at home" one
evening every week to receive their friends. Married ladies may go out
shopping alone early in the day. Among intimate friends young men
occasionally call on their young lady friends alone, but this is not
general, European customs prevailing.
The Cubans are very fond of fencing, and it is remarkable that the good
fencers scarcely ever have duels, or seek quarrels. Duelling is
practised _ad libitum_ in all Cuba among the upper class. Just before
the war it had become an everyday occurrence; in fact, in one week as
many as five duels took place between men well known in Havana society
and clubs. As a rule the seconds manage to stop the fight after the
first wound, even catching at the pretext of a flesh wound on the
forearm; appealing to the attending surgeon to state whether he
considers the wound will impair the free use of the arm, and also if
there is any chance of nervous twitches setting in from the pain. It is
unnecessary to add that the surgeon invariably finds that it is very
likely that all of these contingencies may occur--thereby stopping the
duel, and "honour is satisfied."
Baseball, bull-fights, and cock-fights were the most popular
entertainments until recently; cock-fights have waned now in popularity
considerably, whilst bull-fights are patronised by the Spanish element
exclusively. Baseball continues to hold public favour, and since its
introduction some twenty years ago a taste for athletics has developed
among the Cubans, which was lacking before. Horse-racing was in vogue
while there was capital to import foreign half-breeds, but it has now
completely died out.
The foreign population of the Island is comparatively limited. A large
number of German merchants are engaged in all branches of the tobacco
business, which they practically control. It will be found that the
knowledge and experience of the Germans in this respect have given them
preferment in the direction and management of the largest syndicates and
tobacco firms. A sprinkling of English, Americans, and French are to be
found throughout the country.
The coloured inhabitants of Cuba (mulattoes) are usually the children of
black women and white fathers--the cases of a white woman having
children with a black father being so rare as to be nearly unknown. In
the cities the mulattoes are servants,--not hotel waiters, for they are
all Spaniards,--barbers, and occasionally musicians. Mulatto women,
though usually very statuesque in appearance, are unprincipled and
insolent.
[Illustration: A NATIVE HUT.
FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY J. F. COONLEY, NASSAU, N. P.]
The Cuban negro inherits from his forefathers, the African slaves, a
physique and a character strengthened and tempered by the toil of
generations. During the sugar season he works steadily, from four in the
morning until sunset every day, taking only two hours of rest with his
meals. The coloured population shows no inclination to be on terms of
equality with the white, and though under General Calleja's
administration negroes and mulattoes were all granted the handle of
"Don" (Mr.) to their names, and though the right to be recognised in
hotels, theatres, street-cars, etc., on equal terms with the whites has
been extended to them, they have not availed themselves of the privilege
to any extent.
The savagery of the African negro has, unfortunately, shown itself among
his descendants in the Island. Some years ago a secret society called
"Ñañigos" was introduced in Havana. These Ñañigos are divided into
bands, whose object is to fight and kill each other. They commit all
sorts of depredations and crimes. It has often been shown that the
police have been in their pay. Some four hundred were banished some time
ago to Spanish penitentiaries, together with political suspects, with
whom they were chained in couples and marched through the streets of
Havana prior to embarking. This is one of the many acts of refined
cruelty that the Spaniards committed during the late insurrection; most
respectable and honourable men, accused of sympathising in the cause of
the rebellion, were chained arm to arm with negroes of the lowest caste,
who, besides being convicted for crime, defiled the very atmosphere
around them from the filth of their attire. The Ñañigos have lately been
returned to Havana and set free, where they have lost no time in
renewing their criminal work.
The Chinese element was brought over by contract for working on sugar
plantations. They were virtually slaves until the Chinese Government
intervened in their behalf.
The following extract from the comprehensive report of Mr. Robert T.
Hill, of the United States Geological Survey on the Island of Cuba, may
be considered as authority on the subject of population:
THE CUBANS
"Seventy-five percent. of the native population of the Island is
found outside of the Spanish capital of Habana, which, being the
seat of an unwelcome foreign despotism, is no more representative
of Cuban life or character than is the English city of Hong Kong of
the rural Chinese. While the Habanese have had the freest
communication with the United States during the last three years of
the revolution, Americans have had little opportunity to hear from
the true white Cuban population. The Cubans are mostly found in the
provinces and provincial cities, especially in Pinar del Rio and
the eastern provinces of Santa Clara, Puerto Principe, and
Santiago. Although of Spanish blood, the Cubans, through adaptation
to environment, have become a different class from the people of
the mother country, just as the American stock has differentiated
from the English. Under the influence of their surroundings, they
have developed into a gentle, industrious, and normally peaceable
race, not to be judged by the combativeness which they have
developed under a tyranny such as has never been imposed upon any
other people. The better class of Camagueynos, as the natives are
fond of calling themselves, are certainly the finest, the most
valiant, and the most independent men of the Island, while the
women have the highest type of beauty. It is their boast that no
Cuban woman has ever become a prostitute, and crime is certainly
almost unknown among them.
"While these people may not possess our local customs and habits,
they have strong traits of civilised character, including honesty,
family attachment, hospitality, politeness of address, and a
respect for the golden rule. While numerically inferior to the
annual migration of Poles, Jews, and Italians into the eastern
United States, against which no official voice is raised, they are
too far superior to these people to justify the abuse that has been
heaped upon them by those who have allowed their judgment to be
prejudiced by fears that they might by some means be absorbed into
our future population.
"Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which the Cubans have
laboured, they have contributed many members to the learned
professions. To educate their sons and daughters in the
institutions of the United States, England, and France has always
been the highest ambition of the creoles of Cuba and Porto Rico.
The influence of their educated men is felt in many countries, the
most distinguished professor of civil engineering, two leading
civil engineers of our navy, and the most eminent authority on
yellow fever in our country belonging to this class. Thousands of
these people, driven from their beloved Island, have settled in
Paris, London, New York, Mexico, and the West Indies, where they
hold honourable positions in society, and even the exiles of the
lower classes, with their superior agricultural arts, have been
eagerly welcomed in countries like Jamaica, Mexico, and Florida,
which hope to share with Cuba the benefits of its tobacco culture.
"THE NEGROES
"In addition to the white creole population, thirty-two per cent.
are black or coloured--using the latter word in its correct
signification, of a mixture of the black and white. This black
population of Cuba has been as little understood in this country as
has been the creole, especially by those who have alleged that in
case Cuba should gain her freedom the Island would become a second
Haiti. The black and coloured people of the Island as a class are
more independent and manly in their bearing than their brethren of
the United States, having possessed even before slavery was
abolished on the Island the four rights of free marriage, of
seeking a new master at their option, of purchasing their freedom
by labour, and of acquiring property. While the negro shares with
the creole the few local rights possessed by any of the
inhabitants, their social privileges are greater than here,
although a strong caste feeling exists. Miscegenation has also
produced many mulattoes, but race mixture is no more common than in
this country.
"The coloured people of Cuba belong to several distinct classes.
The majority of them are descendants of slaves imported during the
present century, but a large number, like the negroes of Colombia
and the maroons of Jamaica, come from a stock which accompanied the
earliest Spanish settlers, like Estevan, the negro, who, with the
two white companions of Cabeza de Vaca, first crossed the United
States from the Gulf of Mexico to California in 1528-36. The
amalgamation of this class in the past century with the Spanish
stock produced a superior class of free mulattoes of the Antonio
Maceo type, unlike any people in this country with which they can
be compared.
"The current expressions of fear concerning the future relations of
this race in Cuba seem inexplicable. The slaves of the South were
never subjected to a more abject servitude than have been the
free-born whites of Cuba, for they at least were protected from
arbitrary capital punishment, imprisonment, and deportation without
form of trial, such as that to which all Cubans are still
subjected, and the white race of this or any other country has
furnished few more exalted examples of patriotism than the
mulattoes Toussaint L'Ouverture or Antonio Maceo.
"The experiences of the past have shown that there is no
possibility of Cuba becoming Africanised without constant renewal
by immigration. The 520,000 coloured people, one-half of whom are
mulattoes, represent the diminished survival of over 1,000,000
African slaves that have been imported. The Spaniards had the
utmost difficulty in acclimatising and establishing this race upon
the Island. While Jamaica and other West India islands are a most
prolific negro-breeding ground, the race could not be made to
thrive in Cuba.
"Those persons who undertake to say what the social conditions of
Cuba would be under independence should look elsewhere than to
Haiti for a comparison. Even were the population of Cuba black, as
it is not, the island of Jamaica would afford a much better
contrast. This island, only about one-tenth the size of Cuba, is
composed of mountainous lands like the least fertile portion of
Cuba; has a population wherein the blacks outnumber the whites
forty-four to one; yet, under the beneficent influence of the
English colonial system, its civilisation is one of which any land
might be proud, possessing highways, sanitation, and other public
improvements even superior to those of our own country, and such as
have never been permitted by Spain in Cuba. Even though Cuba should
become a second Haiti, which it could not, there is some
satisfaction in knowing, in the light of historic events, that
Haiti free, although still grovelling in the savagery which it
inherited, is better off than it would have been had Napoleon
succeeded in forcing its people back into slavery, as he
endeavoured to do.
"Another fact which will stand against the Africanising of Cuba is
that it is highly probable that nearly one-half of these five
hundred thousand coloured people have been destroyed during the
present insurrection. A large number of them had but recently been
released from the bonds of slavery, and were naturally the poorer
class of the Island, upon which the hardships have mostly fallen,
being generally the field hands in the sugar districts of Habana,
Matanzas, and Santa Clara, where the death-rate of the terrible
Weyler reconcentramiento has been greatest. Three hundred thousand
of the five hundred thousand blacks belonged to these provinces,
and of this number fully one-half have been starved to death. The
population of Cuba has undergone great modification since the
collection of the statistics given. What changes the deplorable
conflict has wrought can only be surmised. Beyond doubt, however,
the population has at least been reduced to a million inhabitants
by emigration of non-combatants, destruction in battle, official
deportation of suspects and political prisoners, and by the
reconcentration.
"The rural population of the four western provinces of Pinar del
Rio, Habana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara has been totally
obliterated. Estimates of this extermination are all more or less
conjectural, but the Bishop of Habana is authority for the
statement that more than four hundred thousand people have been
buried in the consecrated cemetery."
Mr. Charles M. Pepper, in one of his newspaper letters, speaking of the
negroes in Cuba, cites instances of their industry and thrift, and says:
"These notes are perhaps not conclusive, yet they have established
in my own mind that the negro in Cuba is not an idler or a clog on
industrial progress. He will do his part in rebuilding the
industries of the Island, and no capitalist need fear to engage in
enterprises because of an indefinite fear regarding negro labour.
In the country, for a time, the black labourers may be in the
majority. That is one of the results of the reconcentration. The
blacks stood it better than the whites, and relatively a larger
number of them are left for the work in the fields. When the
present conditions are improved the question will arise over the
immigration of labour. No need for discussing it has yet arisen.
The leading blacks are opposed to the wholesale negro immigration
to Cuba, and the mass of their people apparently agree with them.
"On its political side the black population of Cuba has a definite
status. Social equality does not exist, but social toleration
prevails. There is no colour line. Visitors to the Island
invariably remark this fact. In places in the interior I have seen
the coloured serving-woman occupying a box at the theatre with the
family, and no one seemed to be the worse for it. The custom is not
general, yet the toleration of the white and black races is strong
enough for an incident of this kind to pass without notice. I have
heard Americans say it won't do at all after the Island is
Americanised. One ambitious young fellow from a Southern State said
to me that he was going back because the coloured race occupied too
prominent a place in Cuba. He did not speak with bitterness or
intolerance. He had been brought up under different conditions and
felt that he would not be in harmony with such surroundings. Those
who feel as he does had better stay away.
"The part taken in the insurrection by the blacks has
unquestionably strengthened their future influence. In order to
depreciate the white Cubans the Spaniards were in the habit of
giving all the credit for the warfare of the bush to the black
insurgents. Some Americans have thereby been led into error. When
the insurrection began the population of the Island was about
two-thirds white and one-third black. That proportion was
maintained among the insurgent troops. In some of the regiments
more than one-half were black, but in others they did not amount to
twenty per cent. In the beginning Maceo drew a large following in
the eastern provinces, and this was almost entirely of blacks.
"When the insurrection spread over the entire Island the
disproportion between the two races was removed. Many of the
officers among the insurgents to-day are blacks. They have few
officers of the higher rank, because most of these were killed. Of
all the insurgent generals who are seen in Havana--and there is a
legion of them--the one who attracts the most attention from
Americans is General Ducasse. He is a mulatto, and was educated, I
think, at the French military school of St. Cyr. A brother, more
famous than he, was killed during the last year of the insurrection
in Pinar del Rio Province. This General Ducasse is of polished
manners and undeniable force of character. A few weeks ago I read
an address of his to the black insurgents, in which he counselled
them with moderation, and impressed on them the duty of preparing
for their new responsibilities.
"These coloured Cubans have at no time been clamorous for
recognition. They seem disposed to ask less than is due them. At
least they are not forward in their demands. Back of all this is a
consciousness of their own strength. In the States a jovial piece
of advice used to be given the negroes--'Don't hit the white man,
but if you do hit him, hit hard.' Such advice would be unnecessary
in Cuba. It is not probable that a temporary influx of Americans
with inherited race prejudices will ever succeed in creating a
colour line in political affairs. If that should happen the black
Cuban would not need to be advised about hitting the white man
hard. He would hit both hard and quick, and it would be a long time
before Anglo-Saxon civilisation recovered from the blow and proved
its superiority. Fortunately, this is never likely to happen. The
black man will share the future of Cuba with the white man.
"The race has far more than its proportion of criminals. Some
tendencies toward retrogression have to be watched. But in the
midst of many discouraging circumstances the unprejudiced student
must recognise the great advance that has been made. When Cuba has
a system of common schools the advance will be greater. What is
significant in the present is that the black man has been doing
very well. He will continue to do well, and even better, if too
many people do not stay up nights worrying other people with their
fears of the future."