Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-24
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tkor discusses with much ability the present condi
ton and prospects of that unfortunate island. tie
enters into the character and workings OF the Span
ish colonial system showing how it has operated IN
Cuba depress industry of every description ex-
cept that of collectors, and how it continues in
fexibly to weigh upon the best interests, not on
ly of the Cubans but of Spain herself.
The Spanish colonial policy in Cuba has eiicctuat-
" ruined every species of agricultural industry, eH
cept that of sugar. This interest still continues
though sinking lower and lower every ycar--to
maintain itself against the enormous cHacnons OF
the Cuban authorities Not even a fifth part OF the
arabic lands of Cuba now under cultlVation' III
consequence of these cXactlons The whoie OF the'n
arc owned by the Spanish nobility, who nave ever
done their best to maintain species oil 1endai S!s
TEN in Cuba--the workings of which are the cgitl-
mate causes of all the present Cuban expressions.
The lands are leased out to the present occupants
or tenants at the rate of more than so per acre
and then in addition to this enormous rent, arc au-
ded the numerous and heavy imposts of the gov
crnment 1t may be wonder to some 10 Know no"
they eontrve to raise sugar at all IN Cuoa' unoet
such discouragementS. This is effected by most
rigid system of economy the part OF the planters,
bY the introduction of the most improved machine
~ thereby cconomizng in the number of the oper-
atives, the supplies required, ami IN the superior
quality of the sugar produced But the chiel cause
of the success of the sugar planters in Cuba is the
cheapness Of labor, created by the African slave
trade. Were it not for this, and this aone the SUI
gar manufacture of Cuba would cease at once Inc
suppression of the supply OF slaves from I hlrc:'
would effectuav ruin Cuba as it has ruined Jahal-
ca : and this the Spanish government clearly see
Hence their connvance at the trade IN spite OF ing
land in every way possible. The Spanish nobility,
who are the possessors of the soil of Cuba, would
be ruined bv the abolition of slavery in that island
At present the Cuban sugar planter does not re-
alize above six per cent on the capital inVestcu
The cost of sugar plantation, machinery, INJURIES,
utensils and slaves, capable of making OO0 BOXES
of sugar, is estimated at S319,500.* The cost OF
maintaining III full operation such p:antauonlS
$50, III per annum. The cost of renewal, annually,
of slaves beasts of burden machinery, buildings,
&C. &C. is S14 600 making the entire cast ct NAM
timing the plantation in full operation, S50,7lO per
annum. The crop of sugar, 1000 boxes, anu the
molasscs, is worth $70,000;. from which, dedactlhS
the cost of production, $4,000 there remains
profit of $40 900, which is only six per cent on the
capital of So 6, 500 employed.
This however, is only the most favorable case pos
sibe for the majority of the, planters are tar rom
realizing six per cent. During the past year, pe-
sides the hindranccs to slave labor from the govern
ment goaded by the abolitioniSt governments OF
France and England, the cholera has swept Off some
10000 slaves, leaving an immense vacuum III the
forces employed on the plantations. This has COM
PEELED the planters to hire slaves, sometimes at the
rate Of from $40 to SIS per month. 10 TINS may
be added that the pressure in the money market mas
compelled them to pay enormous interest on money
loaned to enable them to meet their heavy expenses
and debts due besides they have been compelled to
eXpend large sums for foreign coal. -A these draw
backs to the Cuban planter have met with no rehei
from the government The heavy impoSts are Stii!
CODlluucO Pie1iItS!9 eiS VA f'tE ~
ruin.
The extent of these impostS propose to
consider All imported articles used by the planters
on the plantations in the manufacture OF sugar. pay
duty of from 294 to 351 per cent. all cal0rem and
the freight all imports is greatly increased by
tonnage duty of ST so per ton. An estate produc-
ing 1000 boxes of sugar, usually exports supplies
of various kinds to the amount of not less than ST.
$40 per annum. On these the duties at the average
rate of 80 per cent, amount to SIS, 1856. The value
of labor is also enhanced by these heavy import du-
ties articles of necessity and, of course, the plan
ter has to pay his employees 80 per cent more for
their services. A plantation producing 1000 boxes
of sugar, worth $64, 900, pays to the government
the following imposts
Duties on supplies, $5,943
Export duty on 900 boxes of sugar, at
ST. cents per box, $500
The Dieznl0 tax 1000
Taxes to the church, $50
1854
This amount of tax on a sugar plantation of 4 900
boxes, is equal to nearly Onesir of the entire value
of the sugar produced.
All other branches of industry equally bur-
dened and rapidly declining. The cotton and coffee
plantations, as is we'll known, have long since been
entirely abandoned.
1t would seem that Spain has carried, in Cuba,
her system of oppression to the utmost stretch of
human audacity and despotism; for she
continue it no longer but by maintaining on the is
land an army, according to their own accounts, of
near 10000 men, and by guarding its coasts with a
feet altogether disproportioned to the wants Of any
island of that size.
The amount of the taxes of all kinds levied on the
isle of Cuba in 164l, SCI 437 454 according to
official data published at Madrid in the OtSerralOr
de UHrdnadr and according to lengthy statement,
also based official data and published by the
Journal the Cuban taxes of 1850 amounted to about
$25,00O,000. This statement, although strictly cor
rect, nevertheless violently attacked by all of
the government journals of Spain, which, notwth-
standing their advantageous position for consulting
the official statements kept from the public eye could
never be persuaded to examine them. The Spanish
government never publishes any complete detailed
statements Of the colonial taxes, though prctcns
so to do. In the statement for 1850, published at
Madrid by the O6Serrador Ultramar, all the omis-
sions of the government were supplied These oms-
sons were Intentionally made to hide the iniquty of
Spain. The statement of Saco comprised the mari
time duties, the duties received contraband goods
lottery revenue, post Office revenue, poll taxes law
suit duties, city taxes, court fees, transit fees, Offices
saleable and transferable, notary publics forfeures
to the public treasury, tribunal taxes of the captain
general, rents of the meat and fish markets. mar
rage gratutes, enamel patton fees funerals turnpike
tolls, business licenses, gambling licenses, tithes,
exactions of 1.-THE collectors monopoly of the clean
ing of sewers and prvies, compulsory service of
subscriptions for churches cemeteries highways,
quartering of soldiers, bridges hospitals and the
duty on wines, &c, the whole amounting to $24,-
S6442
Don Jose Antonio Saco estimates that nineteen
years ago the revenues of Cuba amounted to SIS
100000. He shows that the heavy demands made
on the Cubans not by any means all of them on
account of the expenses of the insuar gov
ernmcn In 1916, for instance, there were paid out
of the treasury of Havana for the support of con-
suls IN the United States, 5 57,79s
To her Majesty the Queen Mother due her