Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-09-10
Hy- The Editor of the N. Y. Evening Post,

the worst forms OF government III TIC Woriu.-
II allows the people no share in the admnistra-
ton of affairs, even by the expression OF opln-
ion; there is no freedom Of speech, OF the press,
or of occupations the despotism OF Russia Is not
more severe or more hateful. On population
of little more than million, including the slaves
it levies annually, by an arbitrary system OF tax
alton, and every sort of vexatious excuse, trlo-
ute of twenty-four millions of dollars. With
part of this sum, the Spanish government sup
ports twenty thousand soldiers to keep the IN
habitants in subsection, and the entire Spanish
marine, which has its principal stations IN the
ports of Cuba. No trade or BUSINESS can be pur-
sued without first paying for license; no COM
PAW be entertained or amusement take place IN
any residence, no removal be made from place
TO place without the same ceremony. The pro-
ductions of the plantations are taxed, most OF
them ten per cent, on their value; tithes are ex-
acted to the amount of more than quarter OF
a million of dollars, yet the inhabitants are obi
ged to support their places of worship and GEN.
eteries by subscription. No islander is ever al
lowed to hold any office, civil, judicial or militia
nv; every place of honor, trust or profit is held
BY natives of old Spain. The island is allowed
no representative in the Spanish Cortes. The
captain general of the island is as absolute as
the grand signors, and establishes any law which
his caprices may dictate. Under his rule the
slave trade which is now tolerated in no other
civilized country-which even Brazil has now
suppressed in her dominions-is actively carri-
ed on, and large cargoes Of men and women
from Africa are constantly swelling the number
of those who are held in slavery"
We met Mr.. Bryant in Cuba, and know how
well he understands the affairs of that country.
The general facts he states are sufficient to as
found any man. A white population not third
larger than Michigan, pays an annual tax OF 24,-
100000 Of dollars. This is of itself enough to
put mankind upon enquiry. 1t is generally sup
posed that the Cubans, (the natives,) are not in
telligent; that the old Spaniards are the produ-
GERS. This is a gross error The Creoes are
the producers and the payers!o OF taxes. They
are under close seruilGnce, and not having any
voice in the government, not permitted to GO
from one estate to another without passport
taxes not ten per cent only, as Mr.. Bryant says,
but really more than half their productions tax
ed in gross and in detail, taxed about three hun
dred dollars to comply with the law at their
birth and baptism, and from three hundred to
three thousand in going out of the world. Is it
wonder that they should squirm? They are
totally deprived of all semblance of personal
rights. 1t is high crime for three or more
men to petition the Government all weapons
of defence are prohibited, their colleges have
been abolished, their schools discouraged and
prevented, they are taxed in gross ten per cent
for keeping the hogs, the cattle and the poultry
of their farms, and again near fifty per cent more
when they send these things to market. Ice is
government monopoly and costs six cents per
pound. The very fish which are caught in great
abundance in the sea are monopoized, and cost
the consumer thirty cents per pound-the right
Of marriage IS purchased from the government.
Flour is taxed 1886 duties per barrel. One
dollar and fifty cents tonnage duty is levied up
on vessels carrying away produce, and levies
this sum in other port charges all of which the
producer pays.
AT least thirty thousand officers are support
ed, not one of whom is taken from the people
of the country; all are sent to them to govern
them and eat out their substance. These men
are rulers with full power and with hostile feel
ings. There are no social relations existing be-
tween Spain and the Colony. The parties hate
each other with fervent hartred. They never
intermarry. There are not ten men in Spain,
having any other interest in Cuba than to retain
her as an object of plumber, legally of course
We commend these facts to the editors of the
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, who have no
sympathies for the oppressed and no confidence
in their ability to sustain stable government.
The intelligence and worth of people may be
determined by their aggregate productions, and
we say to the Advertiser that the old Spaniards
in Cuba are the Chatham street men of New
York, Catalan Jews, who 60 out under the wing
of the Government as adventures to make mon
ey. Let us now disclose another fact connect
ed with the Government at Havana. The lady
of the late Capt. Gen. for pin money, had the
control for cleaning the out-houses of the city,
at a yearly profit of nearly one hundred thou
sand dollars There are other equally dignified
perquisites belonging to the Queen, mother
Christina whose husband was lucky in being
well built good looking sargent in the Spanish
army, now revealing in the affections of Christi
ma and in the property of a Dukedom, The peo-
pie of Cuba support the profigacy Of the pres
ent Court at Madrid, with the young and hand
some Gent Serena, the Prince de tdcto, who
comes in for share Of the benefits and pleas
ures, but none of the responsibilities Of Royal
ty. There is the Fdmelia iHuStriSina which has
called down such a shower of loyal favor at Ha-
vana, and strain Of praise and defence from a
very small portion of the American press, dis
graceful and revolving to the common senti-
ments Of our people, bet. Free Press.
~" We make this week few extracts from
the New York Herald which is fnll of Caban