Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-05-27

| the theory OF utlllty Is ueceptINe. Span
ish government in Cuba is a self evident
failure, aud cannot be made anything
else.
In the course of the very interesting
conversation had the pleasure of hav-
ing with Captain General Marin, now
the governor general of Porto Rico, he
said he was q man who held ideas in
high estimation. and that there were
"many of the best people of the island"
engaged in the attempted revolution of
1865 78-the ten years war-but he
contended that the real grievances that
then existed had been reformed accord
ing to the terms of the final pacification.
Well, that war resulted in fastening upon
the revenue of Cuba more than 5000, =
900, 900 of war debt, or nearly, alto
gether, $40, 900, 900 year interest, the
price of the temporary subjugation of
Cuba, paid for by herself. But this mon
ey does not go to Spain and never can
go to her. 1t is swallowed up as in a
sinkhole in the island.
A Mortgaged Plantation.
Cuba is mortgaged plantation
mortgaged to the full extent of its worth
and Spain, as the unfortunate proprie-
tor, looks over beautiful estate whose
future can have no income for him to
dispose of. The only use of it is that Of
country for the education, discipline
and adventure Of Spain's young men be-
yond the seas, and fat places for her
military chieftainv and their fayorites,
and the support of a swarm of migrate
full and Unsuitable officeholders.
Following the figure of the mortgaged
estate, Cuba is the farm that Spain has
borrowed money ON until the rent bare
ly pays the interest. Is there anything
going to happen on the farm that will
make it again the lucrative, enriching
possession that it once was, or seemed to
be by false bookkeeping? Are the ten
ants happy, Industrious, contented and
putting their hands heartily to produc
tive labors? Quite the contrary is true.
They are devastating the fields, burning
the sugar cane, trampling upon or neg
lecting, to its destruction, the indigo
nous seductive and delightful tobacco.
Here we find that labor is annihilating
the capital of the country. 1t is the
worst conflict the world has seen.
The sugar and tobacco of Cuba, under
favorable conditions, amount in round
numbers to 500, 900, 900 annually, and
this magnificent mortgaged farm is the
prey not only of remorseless usurers,
but implacable strikers.
This is a combination that leaves no
chance. 1t will make the richest island
in the world infiict impoverishment
alike upon princely proprietors and
thrifty workingmen. Why should the
Spaniard impoverish himself to hold an
empty title for land that must change
owners before it can yield income? The
question is whether Spain will ruin her
self for Cuba s sake.
One of Many.
/ I met in Havana gentleman who
gave his confidence unreservedly as to
his affairs He had once and not long
ago large income. He was aff1uent,
and his habits expensive. His family
was large and happily is still unbroken,
but his possessions have been vanishing,
as he says, under the blight of the most
dreadful misgovern1nent. There is moth
ing the matter with the earth or sky of
Cuba. Sugar, though the island no lon
ger has the big end of the monopoly, is
still gold, and SO is tobacco. 1 quote his
very words. He said: 81 am not poll
tician. 1 have not been theorist in
government and have not taken strong
partisan position-am not partisan. l
am man of business, and yet l know
now that my only hope and that of
thousands like me to escape utter ruin
is that the United States will find some
way to annex Cuba before it is too late.
/ am not the enemy of the Spaniard, but
if Spain wins in this war I am ruined.
l know we'll what Spanish government
is. and if it goes ON here 1 am ruined
ruined! I know right we'll, too, what
the Cuban agitators and dreamers and
revolutionists are, and how they would
govern the island if they got it into
their hands. I am assured they would
ruin it. 1t is as plain as that Spain
would do it. l am not man of war or
intrigue, not politician at all. Misgov-
6IulDtDU HAS bdhtu Iut Ouo tulliS
after another until can see the end and
know positively and precisely what it
is. If l was the only man in this fix.
why let me go. One man is nothing to
nation, but if he represents class,
and that class has furnished the gold
for court and camp, the class in the in
terest Of the product should be regard
ed as part of the country"
This gentleman strong point was,
of course, that he was representative.
He spoke for the sugar business of the
island and did it most intelligently and
eloquently, and there should be enlight
eminent in his utterance.
Reduced to Beggary.
There are millionaires in Havana,
men and women, who were worth mil
lions in the old days, and are in poverty
SO pinching that it would be adyanta-
geous to their personal comfort to ex-
change places with their old servants.
A man came to me, who spent not less
than $50, 200 year for 80 years, and
regarded it as economical living who