New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07
CUBA'S SIDE OF THE CASE
EVILS OF SPANISH RULE IN THE ISLAND
POINTED OUT
A REIGN OF TYRANNY AND LAwLEssNEss AS
SERTED TO EXIsT-TIE DELEGATION RE-
PLIES TO THE SPANISH LEGA-
TONS PAMPHLET.
TONS PAMPHLET.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrnr NE. ]

TONS PAMPHLET.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBt NE
Washington. June 6.-The Cuban delegation In this
| country through Fidel G.. Pierra one of its men,
bers. has prepared reply to the pamphlet recently
issued by the Spanish Legation in this city on the
question of Cuban affairs In the earlier pamphlet
the showing was decidedly favorable TO Spain and
Spanish rule in Cuba. and the claims OF the insur
| gents TO numbers. resources and prospects
| dealt with In vein of contempt or levy. The
| gument of the Cuban delegation Is interesting and
Is set forth at considerable length Before replying
10 the Spanish contentious the pamphlet gives
sketch of the early history Of Cuba. of which it
| Is said Columbus in his diary. October 2s.
1892. this is tho beautiful land ever behed by
| human eyes" Through gradual stages the reader
| is brought down to the Cuban revolution OF 1868.
which cost Cuba 5000 lives and sooo 900 900.
| Spain lost 100 900 In money the cost her
nothing. all expenses OF the revolution had to
| be borne by Cuba.
NO VOICE IN LEGISLATION.
| Then follows in the pamphlet a brief reference to
the causes OF the present Cuban revolution from s
beginning IN December. 1926. and the character and
| services OF the leaders The pamphlet then replies
| in detail 10 the statements OF the recent volume
| issued from the Spanish Legation. As TO represen-
ta;ion, II is pointed that under the electoral law
| In force in Cuba, which. Ike every other law, may
| be suspended modified the pleasure OF the
Captain the resident Spanards have almost
the absolute monopoly OF the electoral franchise.
| How far this monopoly extends is shown by the
statement that although In every 100 people OF the
| population there only ten Spanlards a. against
ninety Cubans. for every representative elected by
the Cubans the Spanards elect AT least seven and
sometimes ten. In other words $4,000 Cubans are
represented. when most successful. by seven Depi-
ties and sometimes by only three The 10000 Span
ards the Island have been represented by tsnnty-
| three Deputies and occasionally by twenty-seven.
| on the subject OF representation the pamphlet
| quotes from book of the eminent writer. Enrique
Jose Narona, which says in effect that In order 70
render the native Cuban powerless in his own coun-
| try Spain legislating for the island without re-
strction as II does has given him electoral law
| so artfully framed as 20 accomplish two objects;
First to reduce the number OF voters second always
to give a majority the Spanards Notwithstanding
the fact that they represent only "a per cent OF
| the total population OF Cuba.
Spain has made the electoral right dependent
upon the payment OF a very high poll tax, which
proved the more burdensomc rs the ten years war
had ruined the larger number o, Cuban proprietors
In this way succeeded IN restricting tho right OF
| suffrage 10 only $500 Inhabitants IN an island
which has n population o: about l."'v; thAt ~
to say 10 tho derisvc proportion o. per cent OF
the total number OF inhabitants. Speaking OF free
| dom o, loconotion and OF personal safety. IN"
| pamphlet says that no Cuban. whether man. ~om-
| an or child. venture out OF MS house unless
| provided with a Government license which costs
yearly from - cents TO So II he does. he Is ar
| rested Even heggars are not exempted from ar
| rest, 7, Is said with emphasis that cuhans do
| not enjoy personal security. In tho midst 81 tho
| mos, profound peace and without any process Ok
law they may be arrested. cast into prison or de-
| ported.
PERSONAL SECURITY A MYTH
Further quotations from tho writings OF schor
| Varona are given. saying:
and men Of law have disposed at VII q the prop,
erty the peace and the he q the inhabitants OK
SnGS ne have ben he terror o, cuban peaan
niireatment 10 which they subject the Inhabitants.
who in many cases flee from their homes AT NOR
| numerically the defcnccess cOuntrym"n. ana very
frequently they hay- hiea no.c Jne' "@,1 c'n
| notorious that the Commnnicr-iu-Chiet OF IN"
| a circular In which ne declared that his sub
| jec,s under pretext o. obtaining confidential In.
| The cases very frequent in which individuals
and keepers find Themselves In the necessity o, Us
| ing their WEAPONS" What the above declarations
signify !; sydeni Sc gct ~ the he cnr w
| 70 nut a stop to there excesscs but the state OF
| things continues the same
Scnor Varona continues on this topic;
| II the personal safety OF the cubans In period
which the spanards depict Win brilliant ro'ors
continues at tho mercy o, their rulers who are
aliens In the country both by birth and IDEAS. have
the Cubans' honor and property any better s'fe
| guard? Is the administration o., justice good. or
even endurabe? The very ilea Of a lawsuit fright
| ems every honest Cuban N0body TRUSTS IN" non
| esty or Independence Of tho Judges. Despite INC
| provisions OF the Constitution. without warrant ana
| for indefinite time imprisonments are nost com
| mon I'm cuba The magistrates can tighten or
loosen the elastic meshcs OF the Judicial proceed
win the Government hey can 90 1 nny me ~ S61
out incurring respVils.I3',;; s,ahIishing snecIa
| tribunal TO deal with offences Of the press. Twice
| has this special tribunal been established
FREE SPEECH SUPPRESSED.
Th. namphlet points out that the Cubans do not
| eniov freedom OF thought and expression. that
| newspaper writer's have been banished from the
island because they attempted 10 criticse the Gov
eminent and that one writer Manuel A. Balmaseda
was tried by court martial I'm November. 1891 for
having published an editorial paragraph in 'El
Criterio Popular respecting the shooting OF the
medical students by the Havana Volunteers. Inc
newspaper Eel Pals has been suspended several
times and the editors subjected to criminal proceei-
ngs for having mildly pointed out glaring abuses,
on one occasion simply because 1t called attention
10 the fact that the Of the president OF the Su-
preme Court holding an office against tho law.
II is asserted that the cubans do not enjoy the
right of holding public meetings. They ask the
ho,rs in advance and the privilege may be granted
or denied II granted. which Is seldom the case an
order the dscontinuance OF the meeting whenever
he may think proper Even asso9clatons arr ivr-
hidden to hold Ser a MAJ h the the
Associa ton Of Artisans. But this Is NOT all tne
pamphlet says II Cuban wishes to hoId recepI
pay for IT, Otherwise there Will be trouble Tor MN
Cubans have right to elect officers VINO govern r
them From the captain general down. all the ON
GERS are appointed In Spain. and the apponiees are
Of course, snaniards Only few minor c'erNSn'p'
held by Cubans
TAXED FOR THE BENEFIT OF SPAIN.
Speaking Of the taxation in the island the PAM
phlct says that the Cubans have neither vote nor
voice in the imposition Of the taxes or IN the expehdi
ture OF revenue This is done for Cubans at Madrid.