The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-05-28

other provisions were allowed
to enter upon payment of a war
tax. Furthermore, as stated
in the proclamation of Presi-
dent Salvador Cisneros, issued
at Najasa in last February,
those sugar plantations were
allowed to grind whose propri-
etors had made special arrange
ments with Cuban chiefs before
the decree of Gomez of July,
and had paid a heavy contribu-
ton. AS stated in the letter of
Il. Estrada Palma to Richard
Olney, Secretary of State, under
the date of Jan. Z of this year
and reprinted for the use of
the Senate at Washington, "the
reasons underlying Gomez's
orders are the same which
caused this country to destroy
the cotton crop and the baled
cotton in the South during the
war of the secession" The
effect of Gomez's order is clear
ly seen at present. The island
is ruined and Spain is required
to furnish all the money re-
quired for the war out of her
own exhausted treasury. For
one year, for two years perhaps,
Spain may be able to borrow.
But afterward what shall she
do? The war expenses ofSpain
are estimated at six millions
of dollars every month.
Ifit is asked from what sour
ces the Cubans derive their
money, it is necessary first to
explain what is the Cuban Gov
eminent and how it works.
On April 1, 1895, Jose Marti
landed in Cuba. His first step
was to issue a call for the cleo
ton of representatives of the
Cuban people to form a civil
Government. He was killed in
an encounter with the Spanish,
but his call was complied with.
Twenty representatives from
all the provinces were elected
to the constituent Assembly,
which met at Jtimagnayu, pro-
vince eff Puerto Principe, Sept.
IS, 1895. On Sept. Is the As
sembly adopted Constitution
of the republic of Cuba. And
on the 18th the Provisional
Government was elected in &C
cordance with the terms of the
Constitution. It is composed
thus:
President, Sabrador Cisneros Betancourt
of Puerto Principe.
| Vice President, Bartoleme Masso of Man
zanillo.
Secretary of War, Carlos Rolof of Santa
Clara.
Secretary of the Treasury, Serene Pima of
Sancti Spiritus.
Secretary of the Interior, Santiago Garcia
Canizares of Remedies
Secretary of Foreign Relations, Rafael M.
Portuondo of Santiago de Cuba
| Four sub-secretaries were
also elected, among them DIR.
Joaquin del Castillo of the Treas
ury, who came to New York on
| a special commission for the
Government, and is now sub
delegate of then Cuban revolu-
tionary party in the United
States. At the same time Gen
Gomez was chosen Comman-
der-in-Chief of the army, Gen,
Antonio Maceo as the second
in command, with the title OF
|Lieutent-General, and Senior
| Thomas Estrada Palma as dele
gate plenipotentiary and gen
eral agent of the republic abroad
AS soon as the members of the
Government took possession of
their offices orders were issued
to divide the provinces into
procedures. On each of these
taxes are imposed on all arti-
cles of commerce entering in
to the towns. For the purpose
of properly collecting the taxes
the roads to all the cities, as
; we'll as the coast, are patrolleo
: by the Cubans. The money
collected, which amounts some
f months to several thousands
of dollars, is sent to New York
to Senior Palma to be spent fol
arms and ammunition. The
fund SO formed is called here
t the Treasury of the Republic
7 There is another treasury in
unta, that of the Cuban revolu
t1onary party.
TO be centinued.)