The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-07
Tho Spanish Interest in Cuba
THE WASTE AND SLAUGHTER OF THE PAST
FIVE YEARS.


Previously to the present struggle in
Cuba the revenues Of the island outside Of
municipal taxes amounted to S26. 600 600
Q year. or this about 800 ,0O0, 600 a year
we're expended in Cuba for support Of a
ast s@y OF Of SoS and Of
sides the support of $4,000 Spanish Of
ficials employed in the civil governments
of the island. These officials were always
and now are Spaniards sent from Spain
to Cuba. The Cuban people were not
allowed to participate in the administra
ton Of the affairs of the island except in
local matters. The net revenues of Cuba
to Spain before the inBurrection we're
thus about Sc ,000, 900 year. This money
was sent to Madrid. The municipal taxes
were large (about 100000 900 q year.)
amounting in Havana alone to 81 200, 600.
In 1869 (after the conflict bad been
the expenses of the Spanish Government
in Cuba was between $36, OOO, 600 and
$50, OOO, 600. Since the campaign of 1868 8
opened Spain has absorbed all the reve
nues of Cuba (besides creating bonded
debt there amounting to $4,000 ,OOO) in
carrying on the war against the insur-
gents. There has been no official record
submitted whereby the exact revenues can
be ascertained, but they have undoubtedly
been much less during the war than before.
The territory in the interior occupied by
the insurgent Cnbans is of q productive
character, and the sugar raised there has
yielded no revenue to the Spanish Govern
ment. Many sugar plantations belonging
to the insurgents were seized and c1lti-
waited by the Spanish authority, but by
reason of corruption and incompetency the
revenues from this source were very small
It is charged and generally admitted that
the affairs Of Cuba, as regards the collec-
ton and disbursement Of revenues have
been outrageously corrupt.
In 1863 the Cuban revolutionists are un-
derstood to have had $4,000 men in the
field at one time, but they were very
poorly armed. They were 80 determined,
however, that instances were frequent in
battle where men who were armed simply
with the machette (cane-knife) burst
through the lines regardless of their lives,
in friendly race with each other for the
Since the war commenced nearly 10000
Cubans, according to the records, have
been erecuted by the Spaniards. How
many have been killed in battle is not as
certained for want Of record. The
Spaniards killed in battle and executed by
the revolutionists have amounted to about
5000.
Spanish army in Cuba, have proved utterly
uncomfortable. 1t was their open mutipy
that compelled the resignation of Captain
General Dulce, and it is understood that
they have dictated the removal of several
others. No Captain General has yet felt
that his life was safe in the hands of his
own troops. The worst elements of Cuban
society in the cities were drawn upon for
the volunteer force. The chief officers,
civil and military, are all drawn from
Spain, and are paid salaries amounting to
$50, 900, gold, year for captain-general,
@12 900 year for district commander,
and SO on. These volunteers hate the
Spanish soldiers, but are more intensely
bitter against the Cubans. They hate
Americans, too. The Cuban patriots love
Americans. They say they have fought
four years and half, aud the way for the
United States to get even with Spain now
is to recognize the belligerent rights of the
Cubans. This, they say, would enable
them to negotiate their bonds and, encour-
age privsteering. Spain has possession OF
every seaport and every fort on the island.
All the Cubans want is q seaport, and Q
gunboat to hold it with, so they can pro.
tect their vessels in the act of landing and
afterwards.-N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.