The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-09-19


dissemination of its various publications.
Fl
HE Social AND Political CONDITION o.
CUBA.-As all eyes are now directed to our neigh
boring Spanish island, in consequence Of the int
Eest IN the public mind respecting an alleged at
RmPt at revolution, it devolyes upon the press t.
give Its readers whatever information may be i'm
parted to US, touching the political and social con-
ditlon Of the Island Of Cuba. We give below a
lew extracts from the last number Of the Demo-
cratic Review, which seems to come from a vgriter
possessing practical knowledge Of the affairs on the
| islandi
When the Government, in 1896, changed its noli.
cy IN Felauon TO the island, rejected It's deeuaiion
ana determined upon WFinging a much Tnoneg
from It as possible it became necessary 10 enbance
the number OF the troops, to restrict the privileges
OF the taxpayers, and to stimulate the VIGILANCE ri
the government in every way calculated TO sup-
press the discontents which the increased burden
would not fail to produce Il is needless 10 enter
INTO the detail of taxes Il NAV be stated In fayy
words, that to such condition have affairs now
reached, that the Cuban is taxed beyond the exae-
tons imposed on the citizens of any other knov,D
community; he is at the mercy Of the military: he
can neither write, read, nor speak upon political
SUBJECTS; he cannot go a mile from his home with
out purchasing a passport and is liable al any
hour OF the day or night on any pretence, to be
a
dungeon, where his innocence of offence can only
be made manifest by the exhibition Of large bribes /:
every action OF his life, the buying of a servant the
selling Of house or land the killing Of an OK. has
aus specific tax exacted with remorseless rigor The
aggregate of these imp0Sitions make IN The sum of
nearly S2OOOO,O00 extorted from the planters Der
annum. From this sum is deducted the expenses
OF the Captain General, his Spanish troops and off
GERS employed in the eXtorton, with all the machi-
merry OF spies and police, and the remainder is ship
pea 10 swell the Golfers Of the dissoute Govern
ment at home. The Captain General stands besr
with his Government who sends the largest sum
TO Madrid, no matter what may be the effect upon
the Cubans
The Cubans, in their natural aspiration for liber-
W, have been checked by the fact, that being de-
PlVeu OF arms by the government, they are placed
on one hand in danger Of the insurrection Of slaves
forced on them, and the other at the mercy of a
foreign mercenaTy and licentious sodery auartered
among them. Under these circumstances. they
perceive that their only chance for freedom IS from
foreign aid, around which they can rally, give ex-
preston TO their opinions and assert their rights in
the Government They now pay $50 600 600 per
annum TO their OppFessors. In little more than two
years that sum per annum sufficed the United
States to deiray the expenses of the conquest of
Mexico The hardy character and indomitabe en-
teTprlse manifested bV the Americans in thar war
pointed out at once the feasibility of employing a
sufficient force TO disenthral Cuba, and to allow
henceiorth the wealth of the island to accumulate
within itself, TO the enrichment of all classes Ac
cordlngy, an extensive organization was formed in
Cuba and out Of it. In New York was established
an able periodical, called la Verdad, to advocate
the cause Of Cuban freedom. MANY of the articles
inserted IA this paper written in Havana and
some by Cubans who had become citizens Of tbe.
United States. Several persons accused Of writing
those articles were arrested in Cuba among others
MaehIn, TOon, and Villaverde. Tolon was con-
demned to death for having, IS an American cit-
ZEN written IN the United Sates and published in
New ork, articles in favor Of the freedom of his
native country Flaverde is a scholar full of the
generous enthusiasm and patriotism natural to a
cultivated mind. He is the organ of formidable
organization, extending throughout the island, and
embracing many respectable and influential fami.
lies, whose object is to achieve the Independence
OF Cuba He was condemned to six years trans
portaton to Africa, TO wear chains, although no.
thing could be proved but that he correspondent
with IOlon. He was confined in the gloomy castle
OF Havana, In the same dungeon with another
prisoner sentenced as fraudulent bankrupt
Under the influence of annexation, the property
OF the Cubans would Immediately equaize with
that OF similar property in the United States, and
the sugar planters of Louisiana would find in the
hitherto untouched soil Of Cuba, the means of I'M
uersellng the world in sugar; while the capacity
OF Cuba to purchase and consume beef hams
Hour, and other supplies of the Western States
would develope itself in an almost limitIess degree
The S2OOOO,OOO now drawn from the island an
nualy, Tor remIttanees To Madrid, accommodating in
the island as capital in the employment of its
Tree industry, would draw desirable settlers from
all nations TO avail themselves of its limitless adj
vantages.