Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-03-03
WORLD.
Observation-Disclosures 3, 1891
CUBA.
Continued.

curse OF slavery the moral condition
of the masses is deplorable, and their
bigotry, superstition and vice are of
no common kind.
The government Of Cuba is en-,
grated on that of old Spain, and the
island is presided over usually by one
of the nobility of that country, who
rules as military despot and carries
the love of dominion to a species of
fanaticism. Besides the executive
the Governor has in his hands also,
almost entirely, the Legislative and
judicial power. Indeed the power
with which he is invested is almost
equal in extent to that granted to
governors Of besieged towns. The
Creole population, amounting to about
100000 natives, or true descendants
OF the aborigines found in the island,
when first visited by Columbus, are
excluded from almost all influential
and lucrative offices and positions.
The judges and most of the officials
are from Spain, and being without
salaries, like so many vultures they
prey upon the unprotected within
their jurisdiction. Bribery and cor
ruption seem to be recognized as nee
sssary methods of their government.
Some of the officials plead the excuse
of necessity and that insufficient rs.
Enumeration for their services obliges
them to have recourse to every posi-
BILE means for adding to their IN
comes. Others, whose position ought
to place them far above such dishon-
orable practices, satisfy their CON
sciences by alleging the custom of
the island. The advocates of moder-
alton to-day may become, from inter
ested motives, the advocates of tyr
amy tomorrow; while, to eliminate
misfortune, or rather msrule, the
public necessities are increasing, their
impoverished treasury rapidly pre-
sents greater needs and disregarding
the best known and most appropriate
financial measures, the rulers of the
colony have resorted to plans for an
Initiating the little commerce that re-
mains, and 10 Cypress the inhabitants
with most grievous and i'll calculated
taxes. The whole colonial policy of
Spain is nothing better than injustice,
and all injustice will sooner or later
end in revolution, as was the case
with these u. S. during the times Of
Washington and Franklin. Sad, iu-
deed, that this fair isle should be at
one and the same time the richest
gem in the crown of Spain and the
foulest blot on her escutchoon! What
vast difference between her and
these United States! This beautiful
country, with liberation, with civil
liberty, with liberty of conscience for
everybody, how grand! and Cuba,
without these, how degraded!
The laws Of the Spanish colonies
are not so Objectionable in themselves
as in the manner In which they are
executed or evaded. The press of
that country is under such servile CEN
sorship that the very incidents of ev-
cry day life are often excluded at the
will and caprice of one individual,
who is appointed to scrutinize the
most triiing article before it can be
presented to the public.
This Cuba, after all, is neither pros
porous nor happy. The despotism of
the government, the prevailing venal-
ity and thirst of gain, the bitter dis
satisfaction of the Creoles, the state
of the slaves-all forebode a stormy
future, aud, it may be, a terrible and
bloody crisis. The mild heavens of
this fair island give the slave-owners
no peace. They see the sword of
Damocles hanging over their heads,
and the future is all dark and porten-
tous before them. If the history of
man, if past experience and present
appearance do not deceive, it NAV be