The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-27
Spain and Cuba.

| During his former torn Of Office, at the head
OF Conservative Ministry. Scfior CASovAs
DEL CASTILLO had small reason to bOast N
the results of his management Of Cuba. In
deed. 1t was the fragrant miscarriage Of his
colonial policy that compelled him to resign
three years ago. II We may trust, however,
u telegram from Madrid, he has protlted by
experience, and ~ now sincerely striving to
avoid the reef on which his party was Once
! shipwreokcd.
The Spanish Government has decided, 1t is
| said. to make material resiuctiOna in the adj
minstratlvo expenses Of Cuba, the process Of
curtailment being applied no less vigorously
to the salaries Of high functionaries than to
those of subordinate officials. It 10 intended,
we arc told, to cut down the Outgoings for
the new fiscal year from $36,0OO,OOo to S27,-
100000. On the other hand, the income from
the remodelled scheme Of taxation 10 expect
oil to reach on, 600, which would give
surplus instead Of the habltual deficit.
OF course. any diminution Of the burdens
which have we'll nigh staed the productive
powers of Cuba is a move In the right direc-
ton. But We need moro detailed informa-
tlon about the fiscal reforms contemplated by
tho CASTILLO Ministry, In order to determine
whether they will serve merely as O palli-
alive Of the present industrial and COM
mercial prostration or a. Q radical and
lasting cure. How does the Government
purpose to raise tho $3O,0O0.O0O which, In
spite Of the trenehant economics promised,
Cuba will still be called upon to pay? Can
that sum DO collected in such way az to
permit the prompt and complete revival Of
that sugar industry which IL the vital organ
Of Cuba's prosperity?
Undoubtedly, the revenue demanded by
the new financial programme would not too
severely strain the resources Of the island, II
it's productive energies had boon suspended
rather than seriously deranged But the
truth is that all the economical conditions
under which the great Cuban staple, sugar,
Is supplied have Of late years been pro-
foundly modified through the working OF tho
laws tending to the total emancipation of
the slaves. The substitution OF free for slave
labor Is OF all economical! revolutions the
most sweeping, the most dislocatin9. and the
most problematical In respect Of It's bearing
upon production. It has irretrievably ruined
Jamaica. yet the experience Of our Gulf
States, which now raise more cotton than
they did before the civil war, proves that In
uuoIi iuf otA"PSV 10 W Nv HICblio lu6F1tdul6
Of manumlsston.
The reduction Of the cost OF Cuban admin |
istration now proposed by Conservative |
Ministry may not 30 far enough, but 10 will I
at least constitute precedent which Mod
crates and Dynastic Democrats would never
dare to disregard, but would, on tho con-
trary, be forced by their professions to I'M |
prove upon. II onco the Spanish Govern
ment awakens to the gravity Of the present
and commercial crisis In Cuba, it |
may have the sagacity and Armness to apply
the one efficient remedy by stimulating the |
production Of sugar, at no matter what |
temporary sacrifice Of the public revenue.
With the prime factor Of Cuban wealth re-
mercantile confidence and &C.
tivtty would be speedily restored, political
disafection would be extinguished, and the |
predatory demonstrations of men Ike |
AauRRo would excite only derision.