The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-03-23

unknown. The lawyers are paid according
to the number of pages they write; long
pleas are, therefore. by ne means uncom-
move step without paying fee to judge
lawyer, clerk, interpreter, or crier.
Some attention has been paid to educa-
ton by the Government, but very little
has been accomplished. In 1910, there
were 80 500 free children in the Island be-
tween the ages of five and ten, of whom
one tenth were sent to school.
There is no such thing as liberty of the
press in Cuba. Everything is subjected to
the strctest censorship. In 1887 eightnews-
papers were published in Cuba, of which
four were daily. During the constitutional
crisis in Spain, when the censorship was,
for q time, suspended, number of papers
with the most singular names. which were
seme index to the wishes and opinions of
the people were started at Havana; such
as, The Constitutional Tailor, The Roars
of an African Lion, Brilliant Strokes of
Tyranny, The Mosquito, The Fly, The
Wasp, sc.
Authorities differ as to the population of
Cuba. According to the census of 1927
which was, we believe. the last taken, the
population was 730, ,562. Of these, the
whites numbered 3ll ,05l; the free negroes,
81 7,514; and the free people of color, not
negroes, 46.9SO. The number Of slaves
was 266.942; of whom 183, 800 were males,
and l03,652 females. Since 1927, the pop
ulation has, of course, greatly increased
as is shown by the amount Of imports since
then, and the constantly increasing produc-
ton of the island. 1t now amounts, proba-
bly,, to about 100000.
The trade of Cuba is excellent. Its
situation the fertility of its soil, and the
short distance-not more than thirty miles
from any point in the interior to the sea
shore, all tend to give it great commercial
prosperity; and, if the many injurious re-
straints now imposed upon Its trade were
removed, it would soon become one of the
richest spots on earth.
The island is very heavily taxed by the
Al"tleF country. AHe greater pofLlon oi
the revenue is derived from duties on i'm
ports. A great difference is made between
goods from Spain and those from other
countries. The duty on flour, especially
on that from the United States, is very
heavy. If from Spain, and in Spanish ves-
sells, the duty is two dollars per barrel; but
if the same be in foreign vessels, the duty
is six dollars per barrel. If the -four be
foreign, but under the Spanish flag, the
duty is eight dollars and half per barrel :;
but if it be foreign, and under foreign flag
the duty is nine dollars and half per bar
rel.
The United States -four is, however, so
far Superior to the Spanish, that, indepen-
IDENTIFY of the difference in price caused by
the discriminating duties laid, it always
commands much higher price, selling,
very often for three dollars more per bar
rel. The only effect of this high tariff on
American flour has been to increase snug
Cling; for it is more used throughout the
island than it was years ago, and yet less
passes through the custom houses.
The trade of the United States with Gu
ha has always been very large. The rela-
tive proportion of goods imported and ex-
ported under the flag of Spain. England and
the United States, has been stated as fol-
lows: Spain, forty-three and one half per
cent; the United States twenty-six per
cent.
Within the last ten years, the interior of
the country has been much improved, and
the means OF communication increased by
| railroads, &c. The first railroad ever laid
in the island, running from Havana to the
most important sugar districts. was con-
structed by Alfred Cruger, of the United
! States.
Such, in brief. is Cuba. What she shall
be in furure, we leave to be determined by
the politicians.