The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-26

and was informed that 1t was impossible
to 20 from Havana out TO the tnsurgent
lines. and besides they did not need men
but money.
II wish to say here that there has never
been single instance recorded when Co
me3 or Maceo refused TO accept n volunteer
and 1t has always been mystery to me
whore the vast numbers who compose the
nsurgent ranks come from. but now ! am
convinced. Most native Cubans In the city
OF Havana are cigar makers, al, Cubans
| are opposed TO Spain. Yet the cigar fac
| tories OF the city OF Havana are running
| full force. There has rcfugced from Hav-
| ana since the beginning of the conflict 90
| 900 Cubans. and all OF them are patriots"
THE CUBAN ARMY.
THE Cuban patriotic army consists OF
about the following ratio; Fifty per cent
white Cubans 10 per cent black Cubans. an
| Increase in the remainder. and the Amcri-
cans. per cent other foreigners.
"ln the beginning OF the war the ratio
was: Sixty per cent white Cubans, por
cent black Cubans. % per cent mulatto
| Cubans, per cent Americans, 1 per cent
| other foreigners.
| at will be seen there Is decrease in
| the ratio of white Cubans. while there ii
| an Increase in the remainder and the In
crease OF Americans in proportion surpasses
all others combined. AS the proportion OF
| Americans increases II may be expected
that the skirnishos will grow more san
guino and disastrous TO both sides.
| The insurgents number between 20, 600
| and 5000. l do not believe Gomez him
self could give a nearer estimate. 1t would
| be as easy for person to reckon the mum .
| her Of blackbirds to the square one hum
| drcd miles as TO give the correct figures Of
| the numbers OF the patriotic army. Their
| positions are always fortified. and they are
I.ts han, tt.as .s,ip
and most OF them are armed equally as
| we'll.
"Thcy seldom ever attack the Spaniards
! unless their numbers are vastly superior.
| or they can take them at disadvantage
| when they are attacked by the Spauiards
| and II they retreat nine times out Of ten
the Spaniards are led into ambush, or the
| insurgents will scatter like flock of wild
| chickens and gather again so soon as tho
| Spaniards have gone. and so it is going to
| be a long drawn battle unless something
| occurs to hasten the end.
| The American people have an erroneous
idea about Spain and her navy. as the pco-
| pie of Spain have about us and the White
| Squadron. Tho navy OF Spain is almost
| equal to that of the United States, and
with few additions from the Frcp,h ileot,
1t will surpass our own FriA"c has mil
lions invested in Cuban securities, which
| would become Immediately worthless
should Cuba gain her Independence l'nt
| al course we all believe that France mas
| too much regard for herself TO enter INTO
TIE dispute but she can do this The
| French government could sell Spain ships
and take hor notes (imowng AT the same
time they would never be pad) And II
is certainty that II the United States
| recognizes tho hellgercncy % the Cuhans
Spain win declare war asainst rs, and then
look out for our vast cities
The Spanish government would never
try to land men on The continent; all talk
| to that effect rs nonsensa II would be Il
naval conflict from beginning to end.
PAPER MONEY DEPRECTATING.
Great uneasiness Is expressed ly the
merchants Of Havana on account Of the
anticipated shrinkage In the recently is
sued paper money by the Governmental
bank In Havana. The bank issued $l2,-
o0o00 Of certificates. and deposited with
the government s3,oooOOO in Spanish gold
Az n further security the government
pledged s per cent Of the receipt of Gus
toms that exceeded s33. 001 per day. which
amount Ia mortgaged 10 tho Bank Of
Spain on debts Of the last war Now on
account Of the sagnation in business the
revenues will not exceed daily an ovcrplus
Of $4,000 Now it must be understood
there is considerable difference between the
valuation of the different moneys. For
instance. 100 of American gold is worth
$3.50 in Spanish gold. $500 of American
silver is worth $40 in Spanish silver $500
| of American currency Is worth $500 IN
Spanish silver; $500 In Spanish gold is
worth $3.50 in Spanish silver. This paper
issued was called gold certificate, and was
reloomgble In gold.
THE government now realizes that It
will be impossible To keep the paper
money at par, aud declares that after Jan
uury | it will be redoemeblc only in sill
yer. which will mean loss to the holders
On the first OF the year Of the difference
between the quotation Of gold and silver.
but finally 1t viii decrease until It reaches
its intrinsic value. which will be % per
cent.
Night per cent OF the property In tho
city is held by Spanards, and the export
ing houses sismot exclusively are In their
hands. Ten per cent OF the property be
| longs to foreigners. and only ten to native
Cubans. great deal OF American carl
tai is invested throughout the Island. and
almost all the cubans who are worth any
tiing at all have been to America and
gotten papers of citizenship.
"Thc laws In Cuba are such that Il Gu
ban scarcely over Ia elected TO an office aud
there elections are simply matter of ;orm
as the military and Spanish citizens lar
exceed the legitimate voter.
Taxation is exhorbitant and Of The
most discriminating nature. For Instance
everything almost from tho United States
is trxcd to such an extent that in order IA
land 1t In Cuba it is absolutely necessary
first to send II to Spain. Then some Span
ish house is stil able to make n rounl
Profit before i, reaches Cuba. No duty il
charged for merchandise from Spain.
milk In Havana costs Sl00 a gallon
eggs. 6nc a dozen; bccfsieak Ace n pound
ham 40c pound flour, $500 barrel
lard, 2Oc a pound; hens 75c each"
SUSPENDED THE DECISION