The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-05-20

there. Is IL strange that there should
| be an apparent increase IN the cfistom
house receipts for September, iSS-r Z
But. ~ Gen SSiamsnca clearly proved
in the Spanish Cortex. the customs
duties collected at Havana during Sep
semkrr, lss-. and which represented
the imports OF the entire Island, show
ed deficit cf t.r.ta. as compared
with the total rcceipts ri the custom
houses of the island, Tor September Of
the previous wear. Why Was fhiss
The thieves have keen expelled, vet
the rsceipts have been shrinking more
and more every day. The custom
house figure> show a deficit Of $ita.tsO
| in octelser. of $i.sl.us, in November.
and 80. 60 in peccmher In the face
Of these figures. the captain general Of
Cuba and the minister III tltranar de-
clare that for the first time in years
the Customs house Is honestly man.
aged Cen Marin has net taken any
steps 20 hiring the former dishonest
employees to trial: he is content To r,sn
the business himself, indifferent to the
eiamor Of the expelled clerks for JUS
tiee. and in defiance of pubic opinion,
which insists On . thorough investiga-
| tson OF the existing frands.
Having exploded General Marinss
| pretensions 70 honesty, viii now ex-
anime his career as the alleged des-
troyer of the hrigani horsies that
swarm throughout the island. Never
before in the worlds history has law
iessness been more complete or mar-
der more common. "Eando.css>ms
roams at large. Ever since Marin was
made captain general hrisanlage has
not had 10 seek refuge in distant
caves lt thriyes in the very heart of
the capital. With perfect impunity
murderers ply their daggers IN the
streets of Havana in hruad daylight
Formerly the criminal classes painted
their raxors their favorite weaponG
black; but now the shining blades re-
flecf the suns rays with defiant bril-
liancy. A reign Of terror exists in
Havana. Families dare not 30 out Of
doors: the theatcrs are empty: the
promenades deserted. The men III yari-
ons professions whose duties call them
out are continually found stunned and
bleeding on the streets. The old and
respected professors of the university
are robbed at the very doors oi the in
stitution: doctors are stabbed as they
leave the hospitals; the judges, at the
very doors Of the courthouse, are
forced TO give up their watches or
promise that they viii not punish some
criminal then on his trial.
Gen Narin's favorife telegram In
the minister Of Cltramar Is: Every
thing quiet" Let me quote. however.
from the papers that lerseycringly
support him and are the recognized
organs of the government. La Vox de
Cuba said recently: Assaults, thefts
and murders are daily occurrences
throughout the Island" Fl Diario de
Ia Marina SAYS: THE worst of Il is
that foot pads do not alone beat and
rob, but ON the slightest provocaiion
employ the dagper or pistol, and thus
they have already caused the death Of
many eminent and peaceful citizens"
The Spanish papers La Epoca. n Es-
tandarte and III Espanol also speak Of
the Islands terrible situation and
loudly demand strict measures "a res
cue the country from the tyrrany Of
bandits.
Within the past month the follow
ing persons have been kidnapped while
engaged in their daily iabors Jose
Run. Antonia Allentado, Angel Men,
endex. Jose Sierra. Felipe Garcia Vi
gon and the wealth planter, Senior Ga
lindez y Aldama, who was obliged TO
pay ransom Of $l5 900 in gold. This
Is only months record. Can any one
name single bandit who has been
captured or imprisoned since Marin
assumed command.
The Havana press cannot speak; IL
is muxzled: for Marin, in violation Of
the constitution, has appointed special
Judges To act as press censors. Prior
to the treaty Of Zanion, which in ISIS
put an end To the ten years war be-
tween Cuba and Spain, the press was
subject To the so-ealIed Prcvia Censura.
which meant that an article could not
be published till il had received the ap-
probation Of the government censors.
After the war, a judge and special
tribunal were created to act as press
censors. BY their rules, II newspa-
per should violate the press laws three
times. il could no; he published again.
A later reform abolished this law, and
all special legislation for the Cuban
papers, making the press subject only
to the laws Of the Penal Code, as in
Spain, which provides that only when
the national Integrity or the inyiola-
bility of the King are assailcd shall
Judge of the district in which the paper
has been pnbiished prosecute said
paper. ii found guilty. the paper may
be lined from s. 20 &sI0, In which case
all responsibility ends with the pay
ment Of the tine, or the number that
contains the offending article may be
seized and destroyed by the police tthe
seizure of paper is known here by
the technical term of kidnapping
and this in turn may or may not, ac
cording to the offence. be followed by
criminal proceedings against the paper.
These rules, which 10 you will ap-
pear barbarous, were by Us considered
extremely liberal; but again has Gen.
Marin, acting without authority and
in direct opposition 70 the constitution,
violated the laws Of the country, and
created special tribunal Of press
censors" composed OF his warrnesf par
tisans and meanest hirelinfr. At his
win he fines or "kidnaps" the papers
that displease him. When and where
Is this man going to stop9 He con-
trols the custom house, he gags the
press, he violates the constitution.
What shall hinder him from declaring
Havana in a state OF siege?
Enough for the present 10 prove
that do not exaggerate when ] say
that Death stalks. grim and unop-
posed, through once iiourishing
island, and that, handcuffed and out
ragged by her cruel masters, Cuba il
fast sinking into condition Of utter