Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1896-10-23
CUBA WILL soon Be FREE
Spain Is Soon to Cease Hos
tilities.
THE WAR IS ALMOST OVER

island VIII Be surrendeSed TO this
In'urgents-spain Cannot Expect te
Hold Both Cuba and this Philippines
Cadiz, Oct. 19.--H Spain has not
put down the insurrection in Cuba by
the 1st Of March, it IL the intention OF
the government TO give up the struggle
and let the island go. The Significance
of this statement. coming direct from
an officer Of rank in the Spanish army,
within the week, must certainly be re-
garded as Of nolittle importance. The
above determination is an open secret
among those who are close to the gov.
erDment, and it is said that the policy
is being adopted Of exaggerating the
magnitude of the trouble in the Phil
ippine islands with a view Of preparing
the people for the ultimate design OF
letting Cuba 90.
BY way Of further corroboration of
this estimate of the situation it may be
remarked that while Spain is sending
more than 200, 600 troops to Cuba. who
are in the main very young and undis-
ciplined. she is carefully keeping her
10000 well. disciplined and efficient
soldiers who may be available in case
of an outbreak at home. She is also
keeping in Spanish waters twelve war
ships which are ready for sea, and
which could be Of great service in
Cuban waters in aiding the United
States in that police work which she
now asks that country to do for her.
w. g. Foster, manager Of the East
ern Telegraph Company here, speaking
of the situation, said:
"There is no question that the gov
ernment is trying to use the Philippine
islands troubles to distract the peoples
attention from Cuba. There 10 no
doubt that Spain intends to do her
utmost to crush the Cuban insurrection
between now and March. Failing in
that, / am informed that she will give
up the struggle.
"An important issue is the fact that
Cuba has debt of $500. .000.0 900, and
that II Spain puts down the insurrec-
tion, Cuba will have to pay that debt,
whereas If Cuba wins, the payment Of
that debt will fall on Spain. who con.
tracted 1t on behalf of Cuba. Natur-
ally the planters who have been driven
from the half-ruined plantations, how
ever loyal they may appear to be to
Spain, really want to see the Cubans
succeed, as in that case they would not
be taxed by Spain to pay the interest
on the debt. and could then start again
under more favorable auspices.
Meanwhile every one is talking
about Cuba, and little is said of the
Philippine islands, although the latter
comprises 1l5. 900 square miles. against
40, 900 for Cuba. In point of popula-
tion the PHILIPPINES have s.636, 600 as
against 2,276, 600 for Cuba and Porto
Rico combined. | am satisfied that
Spain will either have won in Cuba
by March l next or have given up the
! shrugged.
Governor Abril, governor Of the
province of Cadiz, was next inter.
! viewed. In substance he said that
4 Cleveland had not done much fol
I Spain, and he did not see how change
in administration could make matters
worse, unless the independence Of Cuba
should be acknowledged. He says he
does not contemplate war between
Spain and the United States. The gov
ernor would not say that great Cuban
victory would precipitate trouble in
Spain, and did not think that such an
event was likely to take place,
AS to the effect of the war upon
Cuba the governor did not seem tC
think it had been very grave. he
added that the Compana Transatlan
tica Espsnola was almost altogether 90
cupied in transporting government
troops and munitions of war, so thai
there naturally had been no falling
off in its traffic.