Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-02-10
The Cuban Question.

The Committee on Foreign Relations, I,
whom was referred the bill making ap
propriations to facilitate the acquisition o
the island of Cuba"
As this question is one OF great magni
thde. and orc in which the American peo
pie are materially interested. any authentic
information in regard TO it is eagerly
sought after. This report furnishes some
valuable statistics in regard to the govern
ment. products. commerce, population,
wealth. &c, OF the island. from which ii
will be seen that the estimates heretofore
made in regard to the wealth and products
were not too high.
The income. for one year. derived from
direct taxes, customs. monopolies, lotter.
les. &c. was Sic. 1895 The expenses
OF the government for the enc length OF
time. were Sl6 299. 663. This equilibri-
um is accounted for by the fac that the
surplus revenue is RENTED to Spain. 1t
amounts to S1.404 O5e. and ia the only
direct pecaniary advantage Spain derives
from the possession OF Cuba, and even
this exceeds the average net revenue re-
mitted from the island. The exactions of
the Spanish officials amount to $4,000, 900
per annum, thus increasing the expenses
of the government Of Cuba. apart from
those which, with us, would be considered
rs county or municipal. to the enormous
sum of sci 800 900, or about SIS so per
head for the whole population of the island,
tree and slave. Under this government,
and this excessive taxation the population
has, for series of years. Increased at the
rate OF three per cent Per annum. or about
equal TO that of the United States.
The commerce Of Cuba with foreign ma
tons, for the year 1854. was as follows:
Imports, s3i 1874. 57s; exports, $50 $685.
989. The commerce of the island for the
same year. with Spain and the United
States. was-with Spain: imports, S9.057-
42e: exports. s3.6l5692;--wi,h the Uni
ted States: imports. 7,867,6SO; exports,
iI,641.813; excess Of trade with the Uni
ted States. compared with Spain. Sc, 1856,
373. Tie difference at the present time
IN favor Of the United States, is still great
er than in 1854. although the amount o.
trade has been largely increased.
The total number OF vessels which en-.
tered the port OF Havana during the year
1858. was ,e49; tonnage, 679,815. Amer
lean vessels, 958; tonnage, 392, 572-being
greater than tha, of all other nations com
bined.
The cultivation of sugar Is the chief ba-
SIS Of the wealth and prosperity of Cuba
The average annual production, exclusive
OF villa. is consumed IN the island, is about
10000 tons; that of Louisiana about rs,
900 tons. The whole amount of cane SUI
gar from which Europe and the United
States are supplied is estimated at 1878,
900 tons; of this, Cuba and Louisiana now
furnish somewhat more than As per cent
1t is hot extravagant to predict that. with
Cuba annexed. We should in a few years
have as complete control Of this great sta
pie as we now have Of cotton.
The total population Of Cuba now is es
timated at .586. 900, of which $4,000
ara whites. 263. 900 free colored. and 5Sl
coo slaves. The Cubans, as a class. are
as refined. well informed and fitted fol
self-government, as any people can be who
have not inhaled with their breath the at
mosphere Of freedom These men, VIII,
are the grea. proprietors Of the soil, art
opposed TO the continuance Of the African
slave trade, which is carried on by Span
i,rds from the peninsula. renegade Amer
leans. and other adventurers from every
cline and country. tolerated and protected
by the Spanish authorities Of Cuba Of ev
cry grade.
The report from which we have takeI
the above statements. aptly remarks tina
wore there a siLcere desire TO arrest tn,
slave trade. it could be as effectually pu
down by Spain as it has been by Brazil
Cuba and Porto Rico are now tie only
marts for this illegal traffic; and if tn
Brush government had been as intent up
on enforcing It's treaty stiPulaiions will
Spain for its abolition as il has been 70
denouncing abuses of oui flag. which W.
cannot entirely prevent, this question
would long since have ceased to be
source of irritating discussion. 1t may b
Of possible future difficulty. Those wis
desire to extirpate the slave trade MAJ
find in their sympathy for the African I
motive to support this bill. The slaves
now shipped from the coast Of Africa ar
exclusively for the Spanish islands. 1t il
not easy to estimate the number. From
L. n