The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-27
Cuba Az II Il.

And what Is the work to which the,
20 A correspondent Of the New York
Times, less graphic perhaps. but
apparently quite MS careful and con.
scientious as his English contemporary
ut Cadiz. writes to that journal from
Havana q most deplorable story OF the
way In which the insurrection y Is now
waging In Cuba. II we are TO accept
his testimony, the insurroction no
longer has any political character or
color whatever, but has simply become
an organization of blackmailing and
bringandage. It's higher aspirations
seem to hnve pershed with Ccspedcs.
The leading members of what Is known
as the Cuban Junta" are certainly
carrying on u lively debate In the cof-
unns OF tho New York Hernld as to
whether Spoturno. i'm tho island OF
Cuba, or Aguilcra, who is now and for
~ long time past has been i'm New York,
ought to be considered the true Presi-
dent OF the Cuban Republic. so far as
It goes, this debate tends to confirm tho
assertions OF the Times correspondent,
who tells US that the insurrcctos are
eastcrn or grazing districts OF the island,
and that whenever they take heart
enough to burst here or there through
the Locha Of tho Spanish authorities
into tho fertile planting regions, they
como In as armed "tramps" of most
mischievOus sort, swap off fresh beef
and provisions for Weapons with the
Spanish volunteers, and, having thus
armed themselves, proceed to levy ran
som right and left upon all such planters
as are too weak to resist them. In short
the picture drawn by this correspondent
Of the actual insurrection." so-called,
In Cuba, seems TO approach, more
nearly than anything that we have
recently heard OF, to " realization Of the
raw-pork dreams of Senator Morton
and Of the delecttble inventions OF
Alabama Hays concerning the Southern
ku-k lux. In the greater cities Of the
island, and especially in Havana, u
different state Of things, but one
scarcely less discouraging, Is said to
exist. There we find corruption, OK
tortion and iricompetency running riot
In an official pandomonium which even
Mr.. Randall and Mr. Holman might be
pardoned for hesitating to cope with.
The Times correspondent states that in
1876 the commercial houses I'm Havana
having been rated in four classes for
fiscal purposes, were compelled to sub
NIT to tho following tax levies:
/. Municipal tax. q 2.aee u. 900 . 900 $50 80
2. il XII ordinary
war subsidy. 2,2oo I.coo i.too 700 10
.. 1870 tax three aud
three f0urths
times the amt
of municip'ltax 1900 G.0o0 1876 2.0e2 80
Total In gold J. sly.5co 1920 s5.375 ssJIs 80
4. Ten per cent tax
two and ono
hnIf times tho
amt of munip
taxes. in bills. 5000 1000 1850 ig7b 20
OF the taxes imposed on tho fourth
and poorest class OF the Havana traders,
we are told, and we can easily believe
1t. not one-fourth could be collected,
oven In the form Of promissory notes OF
the tax payers. And yet such Is the
wealth Of this plundercd and demoral-
lied Island that the Government admits
0OO. 900, drawn almost wholly from com
merce. as property and land In tho in
terror go free.
OF political life or organization, even
for local and municipal purposes, no
signs are anywhere reported. The whole
island IL ruled by one man the Captain
General, or, ~ he Is now styled, the
Governor General-who Is Il despot miti
gated, not to say lamod and hampercd
by the Casino Espanol, very much rs
the Russian despotism used to be said
TO be tempered by assassination. Tho
leading men Of Havana, peninsulars and
insuars alike, merchants, bankers,
factors, lawyers, manufacturers, plant
ers, have had no experience In public
affairs, try to exert no influence except
for personal objects, and are described
as being In general suspicious because
they are ignorant, and cruel because
they are suspicious. IF this correspond
ent IL to be believed, there would seem
to be just about as much regard for the
public veal among tho whole Cuban
loyal and disloyal alike, us
prevails In the st. Louis Whisky Ring,
or In Shepherds Washington Club.
Is 1t not delightful thing for the
American people and President Grant
md Congress to look forward to the
duty Of getting order and decency out Of
such state OF things In Cuba, after
getting order and decency out Of our
own domestic chaos and confusion 2
JVpTM.