The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12
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The Financial Problem in the Gem Of the An
tilles-A Visit to Matanzas-sad Memories
Beautiful Rebels-Moonlight Musings
in the Gale OReilly-"Yumuri."
HAVANA, Jan. 8, 1874

The great anxiety OF the hour Is the financial
,situaton. 1t is much more seriou us, more impor-
sanr comes nearer nome 10 citizens OF all classes
than the case OF the Yirginius. Meetings have
been held daily during the past week by the Junta
de la Deuda. committee appointed to study the
financial question, and they have been studying 1t
hard aud last with about the same results as at
tended the labors OF the senate Naval Committee
thar undertook to devise a vessel to overtake the
Alabama The cure is not forthcoming. Every
day the committee meet gold seems 60 take the
alarm and go up. Not an interest in the island
hut is forced sympathize with the troubled hnan-
cial situation. The worst OF it is the science OF
finance is but poorly understood. The Bank OF
Havana, which should be seeking to keep down the
price OF gold and return to specie payments,
thinks the time opportune TO increase its paper
and take advantage OF the disordered condition OF
the finances to make enormous revenues and de-
clare big dividends.
There every for serious alarm. The
finances are in a muddle; the values OF goods are
deploraby measured. At one store you will buy an
article for S. that may be selling at $40 just
the street.
HUNDREDS OF MERCHANTS ARE LOSING MONEY
DAILY,
not knowing whether TO advance or retain the
figures OF their commodities. 1t thought that
the virgnius trouble once over gold would tumble.
cent, and for a days it stood within a few per
cent of 100 above par. Then it fell. and
seemed to be on gradual decline, when a sudden
check came, from what cause it would be diflicult
to say at once, except from the meeting or the
financial doctors, where none agree and all con-
spire 10 create alarm. Worst feature OF the mat
ter 49, the prices OF provisions have suddenly
begun to ascend. Flour has reached about
$40 barrel, meats have gone up to the
neighborhood OF rs cents and SIS cents per pound,
eggs cents apiece and vegetables in proportion.
The prOletaran class will soon begin TO feel the
pinch and then will come riots and misery and
bloOdshed. Last week the advance of rates became
almost universal, but the effect cannot come i'm
mediately In few weeks from now, when the
loaf grows smaller and smaller, when the CON-
i monest kind OF vege tabes so indispensable TO the
existence OF the poor, cost a sum of money, small
TO be sure but still large enough TO be Ielt discon
tent will SET in. The darkles and Cinnamon must
be fed and clothed, and they are too Ignorant to
reason from cause to effect They will have food
II they are forced to steal it, and, should they
select the last alternative, the result would la
mentable. Bear IN mind that
THIS ISLAND SINCE THE RESURRECTION
no longer produces cattle for consumption: that
the provisions such as -four, potatoes, salt fish,
dried meats. &C., are imported, ana the high rate
OF exchange makes importations dearer still.
The interview which your correspondents had
with the Minister OF Ultramar has been the occa-
sion Tor great deal OF
STUPID CRITICISM.
There was an Introduction to the interview
proper, which described few incidents the
devoid OF anything like prejudice or attempt at
burlesque Now comes the New York correspond
giles over his eyes, reads one or two family
facetious sentences and straightway declares to
his PapSsg IN the he. most highi th prose
on the Arapiies, &c, the HERALD commissioners,
after being well received by the Minister OF Ultra
mar, must needs turn round and fling back SCOTS
for courtesy. II the Didr-o correspondent had ap-
pied himself to a better understanding OF the
English language he would not have made so eyre
fons an error as supposIng tnat no reference can
be made in an interview with man OF rank TO
anything free and cheerful The only purpose cor
respondents like these can have is to stir up Bit
terness IN the minds OF the Spaniards against the
representatives of American journals, and that is
From the fact that no news has been received OF
late from the insurrection 1t may inferred that
the cause OF Cuba Llbre is making Roadway, and
rs the Havana journals have nothing else to dis
course upon, they have taken to dissertations Of
the virginIus. They want simply to know why the
United States did not place an embargo on that
tempest that put an end to the career Of the
pirate craltn
MATANzAs, Jan. !, 1874.
The traveller from Havana to Matanzas Sees as
he draws near the latter city, a cemetery OF re-
parkable prominence. 1t is hill side, and at
its entrance stands a snow-wbite church, sur
mounted by a snow-white dome that springs high
for great length either side OF the church aud
encompass the city OF the dead. 1t is the most
conspicuous object in the landscape, and also the
most suggestive The population OF a decent-siZed
municipality here repose, awaiting the resurrec-
ton horn. 1t is the saddest sort Of cemetery, for
the nameless graves are many. Not few they were
who were caught away from home and friends and
swept III here by the overcoming breath OF the
native pestience. 1t is full Of strangers graves
aud II anybody desires an abundant crop OF
reflection on the vanity OF human wishes, he has
but to stand amid these Wondering remnants OF
mortality and think of how they came from near
and far in pursuit OF earthly treasure and were
dropped in their tracks by the sudden and unerr-
ing arrows Of death. The old boy with the flesh
less frame and the ghastly index finger reaps a
richer harvest In Cuba than in any other country
OF equal population. See how he plougns through
the ranks OF the Spanish soldiers, who are day by
day seeking an unseen enemy in the bush; and
think OF all the precious sacrifices which have been
made TO him In the long and bloody rule OF the
Spanish Captain Generals. But it is the yellow
fever, the "black jack" that does the moving Tor
him. This 1t is that mas filed the cemetery OF Ma
tanzas and chiefly peopled the great burial place
OF Havana. visited
THE HAVANA CEMETERY
before leaving and found 1t full. "There are only
few inches leit," SAL the attendant, with tone
Of intimation that had better hurry up and get
tucked into one Of them. wonderful cemetery,
too, and utterly unlike anything we have in
America. You stand within 1t as in the centre OF a
great barrack square, ana the four sides OF the
vast quadrangle form the quarters of the dead.
-Four great whitewashed walls, 10 feet deep and 20
HIGH making four stories OF graves, surround you.
They pierced with inches, all OF one stze large
enough Tor one CONN, and blocked at the mouth
with mortar, or marble or glass. The dead are
buried above in place Of below ground, ana this
explains the ambiguous inscription over
the entrance, referring to the GENE terry
as a sanitary institution. Twelve thousand
bodies are here deposited, shelf above
SHELF numbered like so many articles
OF merchandise in q pawn shop. In wandering