The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-14
The Cuban Budget for 1858 Ard the Cuban
Quoetl0n.


The Cuban Budget for 1858 Ard the Cuban
Question.
We publish in another column q synopsis of
the estimates sent from Cuba to Spain, Of the
revenue and expenses of that island for the
present year, based upon those Of 1857. This
information is from the secret report of the
Spanish officials in Cuba to the home govern
ment, and is every way reliable. We have
Invested our synopsis Of many repetitions which
are artfully inserted in the official document for
the purpose Of making the aggregates appear
large, and give only the actual annual revenue
and expenses Of the colonial government. The
totals of the official document make these ap-
pear to be over twenty millions each yearly.
1t will be seen that the cum really paid to the
crown is something less than one million four
hundred thousand dollars. To this there should
be added the interest on the amount of claims
against Spain settled by the Convention of
1884, the ocean mail service of the mother
country with the colony, the pension list of the
Spanish officers and soldiers who have served
in Cuba, the allowance by the crown to the heir
of the title of Columbus, and the annual present
of segars to the Queen. There make the total
amount received by Spain from Cuba about two
millions six hundred thousand dollars.
Some Of the Spanish journals have recently
stated that the annual revenue derived from
Cuba by Spain is now over five millions of dol
lars; but the official statistics show that to be
either an error or an exsggeration. 1t has
lately become very much the fashion in Spain
to magnify the Importance Of Cuba to that
country; but whether this proceeds from dis
position to brag still higher, for the purpose Of
holding on to the island, or through an exag-
gerated valuation to obtain higher bid for it,
no one can tell. The impression is spreading in
Spain, as well as everywhere else, that the
Spanish crown cannot much longer hold its pos
session Of Cuba. Even now there are move
mems on foot that may wrest II from The mother
country; but to what destiny they may carry it
IL another question. The spirit Of disanrction
there is again beginning to raise its head, aud
to agitate for a revolution through any and
every means that may be found at hand In the
island. A spirit Of wisdom and forecast should
counsel Spain TO give permanency to the adj
vartages che now possesses in Cuba while size
has yet the power.
Fifty millions of FIVE per cent United States
stocks would give to the crown Of Spain a per-
petual income equal to that she no squeezes
out of an unwilling people One million of
this now expended in mail service
and annuities to pensioners, would soon accrue
to her advantage by the expiration Of these al
lowsnces Fifty millions of dollars more, which
might be obtained by the admission of Cuba
into the American Union, would 20 far to-
wards settling that cancerous problem, the
Spanish debt, which now consumes The energies
Of her national life. Another important benefit
would accrue to Spain by the transfer of Cuba
10 this Union. In it, present relation to that
country IL draws a triple current Of the young.
est and best blood and sinew from the mother
country. Nearly three thousand fresh troops are
annually necessary to keep the ranks OF the span-
isb army there full; as many more Of the youth
Of Spain come over yearly, fleeing from the con-
scrip,ion, AID another equal number as voun-
tary emierants. seeking their fortunes Few OF
,h,te ever return. What the yellow fever does
tDI CaIff titttt III iilc country OF
scek better openings elscwbcre. Thus nearly
Ten thousand men, just catering upon manhood
end career Of usefulness, are drawn from the
most actlvdclasses in Spain.
II tn Spanish crown consults The true interests
both OF the government aud the nation, II will
not seek yeiny TO oppose obstacles n events that
are in the essence Of things, and aust come to
psss. The history Of every European nation
chronicles the loss Of its colonies, and the re-
cords of Spain are filed With the same result
marked with longer and more ruiuous contests
than ihoee of any Other country. What but
ruin accrued to her from her contest with the
colonies that btd grown too strong to be kept
in leading stripes9 twas only when she fioally
gave up the useless contest that her commerce
began 10 spring up again, and the nation to re-
vive. The temperance Of the Spanish flag
upon The oceen vas coiucidept with her first
recognition of the independence Of some Of the
srsrish American States. II would be well for
her to recognise the fact that American develope-