Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-07-28

800, $500 or $500.
'Is that an assessment on the value
of the cropPn
Senor-No. The value OF the crop
makes no difference. The brigands
want their money and must have it,
whether the farmers profit be much
or little,
"Supposing the farmer refusesp'
SenOr-He would be crazy to do that.
His sugar cane is all dry, 1t extends
for miles and IA match touched to it
would make it blaze like a prairie fire.
Nothing would be saved. Much better
for the farmer to pay the money and
have the brigands guard his crop for
him, for the soldiers could not guard it.
How il the farmer could not raise
the money!
Senor-Oh, he must raise 1t some
how or other. There are no two ways
about it. He must raise the money.
What benefit does brigandage on
fer on the farmerg'
Senor-None at all. They have to
pay to support the brigands.
Then they are only on the side of
the robbers through fear?'
Senor-That is all.
'Why don't the authorities go to
work to clear the island Of those fell
lows? Are they in league with them?"
~Senor-No, not in league with them,
but they don't go the right way about
it. They hear of a brigar.a camp and
start the soldiers out for it, and then
the farmers give the robbers notice
and they pack up and move about fif-
teen miles and camp again. There is
really no serious attempt to capture
them, for even if "a brigand is captured
he escapes again Immediately.
''IiOw?"
Senor-The civil Judges connive at
his escape, and in courts where the
judges are honest, rs is now and then
the case, the clerk orsome other official
loses the papers and the witnesses are
spirited away, so it is "A hopeless mat
ter trying to convict one of them.
is there no way of stopping all
this?n
Senor-There is.
How
The young senior rubbed his thumb
over his fOrcfinger with a swift out
ward motion and smiled and shrugged
his shoulders.
Money, money, money he said.
Offer a reward for each and you could
get all their heads in one wig. They
are all known. When Blanco was
Captain-Gcneral Of the island, eight
years ago, the brigands dared not say
boo, He caught them by the score
and killed sometimes thirty a day in
Moro Castle. If Captain-General
Marin was any kind of a man he
could do the same"
docs Marin get money for allow
ing the bandits to ply their trade in
peace?'
Senor-No. not Marin. But the
Judges do. Some of these are appoint
ed by the Spanish Government, others
by the civil governments Of the various
provinces, and Others again are elected
by a vote in which One-third of the
adult male population take part. The
Judges who are elected are the worst
Of ALL
GLOW do voters qualifyg'
Senor-By education and property.
But that is all theory. If you are a
partisan your faction will fix it up SO
that you can vote no matter how igno-
rant and poor you are, The same as
they do here, you know. Swear you
through as a citizen and give you "A
vote.
"What will the recent changes in
the Spanish ministry do for Cuba?"
Senor-They will work much i'm
provement. The retirement of the
Colonial Minister Balagacr will insure
the withdrawal of Marin, the Captain.
General, and any thing which makes
Marin withdraw would be a godsend
to the island Of Cuba. We could not
possibly have worse than Marin, and
we might have better. Sagasta will
now form n Liberal Ministry, and will
send us a better and more efficient
Captain-General The army in Cuba
is ample to keep order in a population
five times MS large, for there is a regu.
lar army of $4,000 men and a volunteer
force of 10000.
"What do you think of the stories
published in In LWcho, alleging. on
the authority of atiidavits of prisoners,
that torture is employed in the prisons
OF Havana to compel confessions?:n
Senor--I don't believe it. was n
member of the volunteers there and
many a time did my turn of sentry
duty in front OF a tier of cells in the
city prison. ! was all oven the place
and know all the officials. If torture
was employed it is almost impossible
that should not have heard of it. |
have so many friends in official circles
who would tell me.
''Do the brigands ever use torture on
their prisoners?"
Senor-Only when compelled to dc
so by necessity.
''FOr instance?"
Senor-Well, If a mar refuses to
give up his money to them. A month
or two ago they caught an old man
whom they thought was rich. They
were mistaken this time. They asked
for $4,000 in gold and he said he only
could give $1,000. Then they put the
thumbscrews first on one thumb and
then on the other till the bones
cracked. But he still told the same
story. and they made an investigation
and found he was telling the truth. So
they apologized TO him and nursed
him on the fat of the land till the
$4,000 for his ransom arrived. Still
torture is seldom used by the brigands,
only on some crank or very stubborn
man, and they never kill anybody at
all, except they have to, when IA mar