The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-02
Cur Havana Correspond cnce.

HAVANA, ~ IL, 1904.
The ccon Labor Queson-P'ans for Ia Property Of
the Handicapped Reform the Cus.sm House
Free Trade Advocated dc, dc
In very recent letter. In which the question OF lDs
In Cuba touched upon insisted upon the position
that without adequate supply of hands the prosperity
OF the island simply impossible. Since then ! and
the question discussed in one OF our leadlg papers,
though not strictly in regard to negro labor IL con-
tended the prosperity of country does not depead
extent of population but INSTRUMENTATION or
cannot discuss the leson In letter designed
convey information Of daily events; nor do caro- to
enter into the discussion OF proposition which think
self.evident; for even granting. which we must, tho
advantages for intercommunicaton Afforded by
railroads. canals, &C., very plain that laborng
hands be not in country the railroads. canals, &c.
never be constructed This also suggests the reflection
that public works languish hero in tho most agonizng
manner, and tho explanation Is to be found only In the
deficiency OF labor II amusing tho aborers tho
a9ueduct which supply Havana OF these days
considerable part OF them are children from ten to
fourteen years old-African eacncipudps they are
called With such labor can you calculate when we may
be enabled to drink glass OF clean in this
faceticusy termed Queen City OF tho Auiies2 But
wonderful is the fact ard consolng the reflection
that there railroads completed the island OF Cuba
We have twcnty-sevcu In all, big and listie that
irtercommuuicaticn has little chance, least, to
Increase prosperity. That 4. has this benecen
effect ! viii not attempt TO deny-nay. admit
It fully--but ! insist that II Is this very
prosperity which is the parent OF the want
complained Of Without IT would not feel absolutely
compelled to progress further and dem and TO
cnlbe do We-that a. men all tho world over
are governed herein by law as unering as that Of
gravation. Therefore II deprived OF the labor need
is there any remedy for condition.
/ think the question has been studied by leading
men in CEba "a well as IN spain, though the result
OF those studies is difficult to &c. at for manifold
reasons the chel one perhaps being the absurd
sorshp exercised over the press therefore get but
faint notion OF enlightened public oriuiou With tho
growth abolition sentiment Spaip and Cuba
the question OF Cuban prosperity takes turn entirely
disconnected from negro labor, and IN lde TO depend
upon entirely different circumstances though still eav
Ing the problem unsglved. il entirely beyond
my comprehension how country which has lost Its labor
power can be made prosperous. But let U.s. hear the
PLAN which has TIE merit possessed by all great Dyen
tons, OF being simple. IL IS nothing less thao the aoo
ton Of custom houses and the introduction of free
This plan. the originator OF which is spanish noble OF
distinction Count Aridez deToedo intend
Ell 20 beuet the rioner country we'll the colonies
The Count appears 10 be one OF those men TO be
found in all countries-men who devote themselves
through noble and unseash passion benevolence 70
the interests and happiness Of their fellow We
In Cuba. but they are rare every where For
twenty The Count has studed Che subject custom
pose of advocating its adoption whenever cir
cnmstances might prove favorable. THIS intention
is now revealed by en- accident TIE Cogr:
is the head the Colonial Treasury department aas
has discovered that the customs collected the island
Oh Gubt during last year SHOW ialpy OF OF sui
and that this failing or continues the month OF January
showing diBereuce OF twentysx per cent This
bic deficiency Is not attributed by tho Count In his oer
to the General Administrator OF Custom Houses, at
Havana to the civil in States. to anything
else but bad system 6f administration. Tho Count
talks like honest man; for he IL angry and
says fraud and robbery must be hunted down
and punished" extirpated with a vigorous hand"
II is in this letter that he reveals his plans of
sweeping REFORM which only await the formation OF
ministry with courage enough TO sanction their adop
tioD. Never was reform needed never happier
remedy for great evil than that proposed by the Count
Not becarse frauds 10 the Custom House notorious
and ipcurabe, but becausc the tariff is curse TO the
island, and the Of anthc frauds Remove all re-
strctions commerce. argued aud Cuba will prosper
Immensely while Spain would derive revenue from
The people by wise system OF taxatcn The now
"a 1--we millions dollars per annum. which a great dca
when tho population is considered. but trie
the wealth and resources Of the island tnken into
count. This u.s. in short the plan BY which Cuba ia be
made prosperous and larger to the treasury
the mother country II will be good far goes but
unless 10 likewise induces immigrants TO settle tho
island cultivate the soil IL will not produce the effect
expected. Tho advocates OF reform In the adminstra.
tion Of the cooncs-tbe 0lozagas. Rvoros, Caselars
Corrads, 0Gahans and Arangos-have got to down
to the question Of supplying the labor market Cuba
Upon everything elsc the whole structure Cuban
progress. stands; for tho wealth OF nation IL In the
hands, moro properly 10 the strong arms, OF her peope