The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-28
What rs Cuba Worth.

Cuba has for years Iecn to Srain the mine
from which, 10y the most cruel and tyran-
meal eystem, she has drawn the means to
support her court and its parasites. After
paying the expenses of q considerable quota
of SPANS army, and, on an average, those
Of one-half of her navy, Cuba has for very
many years romittcd, as the net proceeds of
surplus taxation over the cost Of her own
government, sums varying from six 10 seven
million dollars per nnnum. This enormous
amount was, however, ground out of Cuba
and Cubnns in the rosy days Of her greatest
financial prosperity. For the last two years
Cuba, Of course has been to Spain not IN ex.
perse, except in lives-for Spain has no
money to spend-but n dead weight politi.
cally aud financially. The money TO carry
on her futile attempts TO crush tho rrvo.
luton has been provided not by Spain, but
10y Spaniarls in Cuba, whose only hope
for the future was The preservation of
Spanish sovereignty. with slavery and the
slave trade l. is stated on credible author.
iiy that the Casino Espshol Of Havana lately
rcmiitcd TO their agent, MANUEL CNLvo, in
Madrid, the enormous sum Of $900000, TO
insure the despatch of the last three thousan
raw recruits sent to Cuba. To the Spaniarls
in Cuba if the outside world permitted the
renewal Of the slave trade. the island might
lie most valuable (; to Spain itself it can never
again be worth anything.
The Cubans naturally desire TO own their
country, and they might be willing perhaps
to pay fair price for II, in order TO avert
further d. sruction of their own property
II is natural that they of all others should
&c best informed OF the real value of the
island from u life residence. and from the
fact that all their possessions are situated
there, and their future prospects bound w
in their obtaining entire control of it.
Various sums have at different times been
named as the price at which Spain would
sell the island. They vary from one hundred
aud thirty to one hundred and seventy mil
lions of dollars The Cubans last year
offered to pay one hundred millions for it !;
| and this amount, in view of the actual cir.
| cumstances, is large one ln the first place
| tn sum represents in this hemisphere and
| in all tropical countries where labor is dear
and capital correspondingly so, an annual
| interest of at least seven millions of dollars,
| or about the same sum as Spain
| Las drawn out Of the island. under
the most oppressive system of taxation,
direct and indirect, ever imposed on any
nation or colony. Slavery in Cuba is
doomed in any event. If the patriots sue
! coed in driving out the Spaniartls, the slave
il free by the Cuban Constitution. If the
revolution should ever be suppressed not
only would the island he previously reduced
20 a desert, and consequently utterly incapa-
le of paying any taxes, but slavery, the
basis of the pas, financial prosperity of the
| island, would have TO he abolished by Spain
herself Now not one tenth of the area
Cuba is under cultivat on, and all the laws
! which Spain might enact could never com
pei the freedman TO work for others, where
uinctcntAs Of the land was at the squattcr',
disposal, and more than sufficient to supply
his wants For many years no new element
can be found TO replace the negro. TIL,
reorganization of free labor will be tasl
requiring much skill, patience, and assidu
~ and no set of men but the native Gu
lans. WHO are thoroughly acquainted witt
the character of their late slaves, are likely
TO undertake the task with any prospect O
success.
Cuba, then, If not worth much except in tn,
hands Of the Cubans ITS value is much lcs
today than it was when the revolution began
and ii Will continue 10 decrease AS long n
the civil war continues The only sure wa
Of arresting this decline in the worth of III,
island is to help the Cubans TO maintain
their independence. Let the United State
recognize the Cuban Republic, or even ALLOW
it the rights of bclligerency, and the interests
Of property on the island as well MS tn
higher interests Of humanity, will gain i'm
mcuscly by the act.
The decline in the volume of stool
sales in Wall street since 1865 Is lameuted by til