The Portland daily press., 1895-03-23
TWELVE PAGES.


mercial conditions of the island is as true
as when it was drawn: Each small retail
store is taxed $500 for the right to do basi-
ness. AS the store increases in size and
Importance the tax is increased. A new
tax of per cent, has just been added to
cover the cost of collecting the whole. A
war tax of 25 per cent on incomes was add
ed in 1868 and ten years after the war was
ended the tax was still collected. Every
citizen or resident of Havana is obliged to
supply himself with what is called cedula. a
paper of Identification, at a cost Of $5 in
gold. Every merchant who places a sign
outside his door is taxed annually SO much
for each letter in the sign.
Clerks in pirate establishments have to
pay 1-2 per cent. of their quarterly sala-
ries to the government. Railroads pay
tax of 10 per cent of all passage money re-
ceiyed and the same of all freight money.
Petty officials invent and impose fines upon
citizens for the most trifing things. and
strangers are mulGted in various sums of
money whenever chance occurs generally
liquidating the demand rather than 0e at
the cost of time and money TO contest their
rights. The very Deggars in the streets.
blind, lame, and diseased. if found In pos
session of money are forced to share 1t with
officials on some outrageous prete1t.
CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES.
Mr.. Ballou did not hesitate to publish his
hope and expectation. 1.-The home of
Cnba,' he wrote, ''is naturally within our
own constellation of stars. Cuba is already
within the economic orbit of our Union"
Such ideas have often been entertained in
the United States by statesmen and others.
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Should the present rebellion succeed the
situation would not oe unlike that in
Hawaii. plus the traditions of four csntu-
les of Spanish oppression and cruelty.
There is, of course, no probability of the
success of this rebellion but if the move
ment should assume the Importance of that
which occurred in 1s6S-lS69 the question
may once more be raised as to the duty of
this government toward the rebellious par
sty? The Cubans fight bravely. No one can
read the account of their behavior at the
Battle of Bane in the last rebellion without
being satisfied of their valor. But the
struggle is unequal. The Spaniards bold
all the forts and towns. The Cubahs have
always lacked arms and discipline and Of
ten even clothing. Their condition might
be improved if the resources of the revolu-
tionary party of Gales could be put at
their comma Ind, but that is rendered diff
cult by the watchfulness of the Spaniards
and the obligations of athis Cover nmentss to
the friendly Government of Spain. Will
occasion arise for the United States TO
recognize the rebels as a belligerent powsrf
On one occasion Mr.. Sumner answered this
question. in the negative. claiming that a
party in rebellion should have shown
strength enough to conquer before 1t is en-.
titled to recognition as a belligerent power
But this mas been denied by the very large
and important school of Americans who
would be glad of pretext to give the pro,
lection of the American flag to the Cubax
patriots. Certainly, sif sthe Spaniardl
should develop the spirit of savagerya II
suppressing the revolt that has character
lied some of their warfare the Unitet
States or any other Christian nation wouN
be justified in interfering as England inter
posed in the Carlist war in Spain to stul
the sanguinary character of the contest.
Dispatches from Cuba are TO be read will
the understanding that the government
exercises absolute censorship over the tele
graph and, indeed, of all other ohanneL
of news. 1t seems certain that the revolu
tionists in America have found means fol
conveying arms and ammunition to theii
compatriots. Jose Marti, already mem
toned, and Maxine Gomez left New Yora
for Vera Cruz three weeks ago and are sup
posed TO have landed in Cuba. The lattei
comma nded the eastern wing of sthe rebe,
army in 1868. He will be-or is-Command.
er-in-chief of the revolutionary fores. 4
prominent Cuban editor in New York hal
issued this pronunciamento. which is in
tended to set forth the hopes of the in
surgents: 1.-THE Cuban revolutionary partt
is very strong in the United States and
South America, and large quantities o.
arms and ammunition have been landed
sa tely in Cuba. These will be augmented
by several other consignments in the fu
ture. The undying patriotism of my long
suffering countIylnen, although seemingly
slumbering. has been quietly but firmly
working its way during these years whicl
have elapsed since our last attempt for
freedom, and Isincereiy hope it W i'll now
succeed in overthrowing q, very arbitrary
and rotten government. The munitions of
war are coming to us quickly in response to
our calls for aid, and our watchwords are
| Viva MaI1i.. Viva Cuba Aibre' tL0ng live
Marti Long live Free Cuba."
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