, 1896-03-31
WAR AS IT is m cuEA.
A Planters Account OF tn, Presen.
Condition of Business.

A graphic picture Ol tue Jun ana ue-
vastation wrought by the war in Cuba
appears in the following letter, dated
at Havana, March 10. to a New Yorker
from his brother-in-law, who owns a
plantation in Cuba, which he was run
ming until Christmas. Says the writer:
There has been no eruption here on
account of the action of the United
Staes congress. There was great en-
element among the ignorant Span
iards the first day that the vote was
published. but it was held in check by
the better judgment of the more en-
l%ightened. The fact is. the Spanish
tradesh1en of this city do not want any
controversy with the United States:
their business interests are loo badly
crippled already.
Havana is about the only feeder for
the island from Matanzas west to the
extreme western part of the island, and
many of the articles of merchandise
that are intended for the eastern and
southern part of the island come to
Havana and are there reshipped on
coast trading lines. The producing
business of the island is completely
paralyzed. Only such labor is per-
formed as is necessary for the people
to exist. In the city that means noth-
ing done, practically, except the work
of the household servants, and their
pay has been greatly reduced. The
people are buying only such articles as
are necessary to live. Many people
debts. They do not hesitate to say that
they have the money, but must keep it
to be prepared for the worst. Business
men are reducing their clerk hire. Ten
ants are moving into cheaper quarters
and families are doubling up. two and
three in a house. Hundreds of the in.
habitants of the city, with means, are
in the United States or other foreign
countries. Even the newspaper pro-
prietors suffer. There is little adver-
Using, and what advertising is done is
not paid for. To be sure, it does not
cost anything for the news, but the
people do not care for the machine,
made news of the censor, SO do not sub
scribe.
I'm the interior there is absolutely
nothing being done. All this leaves
the business men in desperate straits.
l saw a man pay a bill Of about 800
the other day in a store. | never heard
such expressions of gratitude as came
from that merchant. He said:
I'VE have thousands OF dollars
standing out and can't set a cent.
There is no use in our suing, none OF
the business men of the city are suing.
We are simply waiting to see what the
result will be-
II talked with a number CT business
men. They say they are doing compar-
atively nothing, and If the situation
keeps the same a little longer they will
have to close. The consequence is they
want peace, but they want it to com
their way. On account Of their loyalty
to Spain, and for other reasons. they
would prefer to have the island con-
tinue as a possession of Spain. Failing
in that, they want annexation to the
United States. That they would be
glad to welcome any day. But peace,
granting Cuban independence, never,
never! They are afraid the Cubans
will grind them under the heel the
same as they have been grinding the
Cubans. They say they will continue
the fight until there Is nothing left in
the island before they will consent to
Cuban independence. By continuing
the fight they mea they will urge
Spain to exhaust her men and financial
The reason there is such
strong feeling against the Cubans is
because of the fact that all of the Of
fees are held by Spaniards, and they
have conducted a system Of peculation
that has been exasperating in the en-
IRENE. The Cubans. Of course, have
been ~resenting this for years. There
have been examinations and recrimina-
lions that have e%ngendered a bitter
feeling that will be difficult to over.
come. These remarks apply to the Of
flce-holding class (many have gone in-
to business after holding office. and
such Spaniards as have a peculiar mo-
nopoly of trade. There is a class OF
/. Spaniards here who respect the Cubans
and who are ready to accsp. peace at
most any price. yet who dare not ex-
press themselves to their fellow-coun-
trymen. They say II the proper time
comes they will make their influence
felt.
Gomez still remains In the eastern
part Of the Province of Matanzas.
whether he intends to remain in that
province or move on east into Santa
Clara Is not known here. Antonio Ma
Geo IL coming back from the Province
Of Matanxas. On the 18th he was at
Los Palos. a place Of about 700 inhab-
itants In the eastern part Of the Prov
ince Havana. Today he is reported be-
tween San Felipe and Batabano.
marching west. The Cubans say he
has 1900 men with him. 1t is said he
intsnds to march back to the City OF
Pinar del Rio, which Is at the extreme
western part q the island. He 10 re-
Duetsd - saying he Intends to give the