The herald., 1896-11-28

Spanish in the colonies. Almost stimuli
taneously the present Spanish constitu-
ton was promulgated recognizing the
equality of white and black, Cuban and
Spaniard, in this region. The provin-
cial and municipal laws are alike in the
provinces of Spain. There is absolute
freedom of the press, public meeting and
association and public judicial proceed
ure. In short, the Cubans have all the
liberties that are enjoyed by the Span
iards in their native country
LAS to the social question, the patro-
nato, or patronship of slaves, was de-
creed, which widened the scope of the
abolition measures and reduced the time
appointed for the gradual and total abo-
lition of slavery.
''All this is recognized by liberal Gu
bans and prominent men, who since that
date have been representing Cuba in
parliament and who have not left the
island in spite of the present rebellion
and who remain on the governments
side. Now you see what tyranny Spain
has exercised in Cuba"
But insisted the correspondent,
"the Cubans complain that they are de-
prived of holding public office"
That is another notoriously unjust
assertion" said General Weyler. THE
Cubans are left out, not through Spains
tyranny, but because they don't seek
to hold Office During slavery times all
the wealthy people We're not found
among the bourgeoise. But even from
the earliest times there Is no denying the
fact that Cubans have held the offices of
comptrollers and sub -comptrollers of
the revenue, like pinillos and Ramirez,
besides similar important posts since the
treaty of San Juan was signed. 1t is a
fact that so per cent of the public EN-
ployes are Cubans. Not only in Cuba
but in Spain do Cubans hold public Of
flee For example, CalXto Garcia, who
was three times sentenced to death and
pardoned, held the Office of auditor of
the Bank of Castillo. His son is in the
employ of the state in the Philippine
islands.
Many leaders of the former rebellion
have held and still hold important posts
in Cuba. No province in Spain has such
d idl sc llOll Ol Stdlt tIIlDIONtS,
and since the last war some of the most
important places in the administration
have been held by Cubans. The provin-
cial governors and the secretaries, the
president of the high court of state, the
magistracy. the rectors and professors
of the university, the officials of the GUS
toms revenues and the heads of other
public offices, the administrative coun-
cillors, the registrars of property, and,
in fact, from the chief political secre-
tary down to the humbest position. it
may be said that nearly all the positions
are held by Cubans. In Madrid Cubans
are employed in the tribunal of accounts,
in the council of state and in the minis
terial departments, to say nothing of
those who have acted as ambassadors
to the high powers and as under secre-
taries to the ministers. | assure you
that there are over a thousand Cuban
officers in the Spanish army and that
there are over 500 fighting in Cuba for
Spain, ranking from general down to
subalterns of the regular force.
You will now see that these charges
that Cubans are not allowed to hold Of
flee carry their own denial and the fact
that since the treaty of San Juan there
are no Cuban place seekers because all
the places are filled by Cubans."
But" said the correspondent, "the
Cubans assert that even in local popular
posts they are barred out through the
high degree of qualifications required"
This also is ineXact" said the gem
eral. Only the possession of So per an
mum of taxable property is the require
ment. Where the Cubans represent
wealth they have the provincial offices,
as in Puerto Principe, Santa Clara and
many towns in the eastern department.
Where, however, they are not wealthy
they are retained in the minority. But
even this, most of the municipal posi-
tions were in the hands of Cubans and
the same was the case with the minor
persons and the state offices.
Now, let us see what these complaints
amount to. Nothing but a pretext to
argue, with some show of justification,
for treachery to the nation The plain
est proof that these complaints are un-
just is in the fact that all the represent
atives of the Cuban political parties
have placed themselves on the side of
the government, have formed a commit
tee of the national and all are striving
equally with the same object in view,
Notwithstanding the different tenden-
cies of their political platforms, Con-
servative and Liberal alike The COM
mittee is actually composed of the most
prominent men of the three parties and
they represent the culture, wealth and
production of the island. They not only
protest against the insurgents, but
against the complaints they have formu-
lated against the government whose
tyranny better than any one, they
know does not exist and never existed"
Captain general Weyler arrived at
Mariel safely today where he was re-
ceived by the authorities and large
crowds of people. He immediately
started for Artemisa and on arriving
teher he visited the hospitals found them
in an improved sanitary state and the
health of the troops generally better.
From Artemisa the captain-general
went on to Vuelta Abajo by train, ,leav-
ing the cavalry and the brigadier- gem
eral, Calixto Ruiz, to join him later.
General Weyler is accompanied by the
chief of staff. General Escribano, and
Iic OF do