The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-29

amply prove my statement 10 bS hue'
Most ridiculous is this talk Of freedom
OF the press, meeting and speech The
Spaniard wants t-.e world to believe that
, the mere fact OF the enactment of lib
eral law carries with it the full appliea-
ton of that law. General Weyler told
your correspondent nothing about the
counter laws which make 1t possible for
the Spaniards to violate the liberal laws
upon one pretext or another.
'The General says that public offices
may be held by Cubans, and that the
! only reason why they are left out is that
they do not apply for the offices. He
also tells your correspondent that 80 per
cent OF the public employees are Cubans,
and that no province of pain has such
large proportion of State employees as
Cuba has. That statement is absurd
All the important places are held by
Spaniards who are named in and come
from Madrid.
General Weyler tells your correspond
ent that there are no drastic qualifications
required and that the possession of only
! SD of taxable property per annum IS re-
quired for a man to be a voter and thus
/ qualified to become an otiice-holder
/ Nothing seems more reasonable on its
| face. but in reality it is most drastic
requirement. The taxes are indirect, and
a man would have to be the possessor Of
1 a small fortune before he becomes the
/ owner of $50 of taxable property. Law
! yers, physicians. men of brain, education
and culture are barred from voting, while
/ ignorant policemen and mental govern
ment employees are especially franchised.
So with the Spanish merchant His
clerks and porters are registered as part
ners before an election, and they are in
that manner franchised.
The General cites as proof of his fore
going statement that all the political
/ parties of Cuba are allied with the gov
/ ernment as against the rebels. Is that
/ true? Most decidedly not.
The General assures your correspond
/ ent that there win be no confscation of
property, because he says only the credi-
/ tors who are allied with the government
would suffer If this promise is true,
i then Weyler claims that the Cubans have
| nothing But the war contradicts him.
! Leaders are all men of means, and they
/ are aided by property tyholders and profess
! sional men scattered all over the country,
! All of wnom are contributing to the best
Of their ability. How much financial
ability they have is shown by the war.
And finally the General hastens to as
sure your correspondent that Cuba was
not asked to contribute towards the ex-
nenses Of the government in crushing
out the rebellion. That is absolutely a
falsehood The maintenance Of the
Spanish soldiery has been derived entire
ly from the placing Of hypothecated
Cuban bonds, guaranteed by Cuban debts
and revenues alone. Even now the
section interior loan which Weyler has
effected has been done only by assuring
the Spanish people that as soon as poss-
BILE the entire debt will be upon thrown
Cuba which will have to pay all the
expenses of the war, should Spanish
victory result. This state Of affairs
only serves to increase Cuban determin-
alton and makes it impossible for the
war to be ended by treaty arrangements.
In such an event Cuba would be over
whelmed, plunged into an abyss Of debt
from which it could not engage for CEN
tury to come.
3 Nothing short OF absolute and COM
plete independence will satisfy the Cuban
patriots. Nothing else will they accept
and they will go on fighting to the bitter
end. They are bound to win and they
will not lay down their arms until they
have secured the prize they cherish so
highly"
HOW COLOAIA NET DEATH.
jacksonville. Fla. Nov. 2S.-A special to
the Citizen from Key West, says: Lopez
Coloma was executed at Cabanas Thurs
day at sunset. He was slapped in the face
by the commanding officer for crying out
viva Cuba Libre," before he was shot
One hundred and twenty-one Cubans
were arrested in Havana and banished to
Chafarina's islands. The Spanish ship
left two days before time to sail.
Pendleton arrived on the Oliyett to-
night He was detained from leaving
on the Aransas to prevent him from
bringing out news.
The army of Maceo is scattered and
Weyler cannot find Maceo. Many OF the
troops have crossed the trocha and gone
to join Gomez, as all reinforcements are
cut off and provisions are scarce.
COAST DEFENSES HURRIED.
Jacksonville, Fla, Nov. 2S.--A special
to the Citizen from Pensacola says:
Major +. A. Mahan, United States En-
gineer, in charge of government work in
this harbor, arrived to-day with orders
from the War department to select
site for another battery of heavy guns
to be located on the main land near the
ruins OF Old Fort McRee. The force
Of men at work on the battery for dis
appearing guns located on Santa Rosa
island has been increased to 225. They
are divided into three gangs, working
day and night. 1t is expected that one
bastion will be ready within fifteen days.
FIrrZ, JR., SPEAKS FOR HIS DAD.
Havana, Nov 28.-A son of Consul
General Lee, sends the following to La
Lucha:
'''In view Of the wild and unautAentic
reports concerning my father now Being
circulated by the American press,
respectfully ask you to publish the fol
lowing:
II am able to state through his letters
that fhe Consul General who is now In
Virginia will return to Cuba in the near
future.
HE declines to be interviewed Ag all