Evening star., 1896-01-28

attempt to obtain the arms of the plantation
garrison, and especially when a large per
cent OF the former are without arms of any
description? This important phase of the
matter seems not to have been taken into
consideration by the authorities, although
1t is well-known and sorrowfully confessed
tact at the palace that nearly 1900 Mauser
rifles which now crack at government troops
were taken by the insurgents from small
plantation garrisons and outposts. Still, the
experiment remains to be made, and IL
Gomez, Maceo and the other leaders refuse
to allow their forces to interfere with the
plantation guards all will be well and the
grinding Of cane may go on.
The planters, naturally, hope this will be
they have been "bled' by all parties since
the beginning of the war. Some of those
whose plantations were spared are now al
most sorry of it.
bleeding the Planters.
The government first came ON with its
three months in advance tax (nearly all
taxes in Cuba are collected for from three to
six months in advance), and then a note
from Gomez demanding money for the rev.
olution would be handed the planter. He
would subscribe as literally as his pocket
book or conscience would allow, and the first
rebel army would pass on. In a week, two
weeks or a month, another note would come
perhaps this time from Maceo. 1t would be
practically repetition Of the first, and the
installment. If he was called upon the third
time, in all likelihood he refused to pay, and
his estate, or part Of it, was burned over.
So the lot of the planter has been, and still
is, maybe, very unhappy one. In the ma
1ority of instances he has been numerically
taxed by each side, and he almost hopes
that the government and the rebels could
be chained together and flung into the sea.
SuEnr Crop Ruined.
One of the wealthiest planters of the is
land said today: Whatever the outcome of
the war may be, and whether it may end
tomorrow or year Eenca, the sugar crop of
1896 is practically ruined. Hundreds of es-
| tates have been completely destroyed, and
1t will take at least two years before the
yield can be made again normal; and this is
providing the conflict ceases within a short
| time. The planters have no confidence in
| either party, and the outlook is certainly
anything but encouraging.
1.-The plantations which / formerly solely
owned are now i'm the hands of an America,
syndicate, and the property has not been
molested to any considerable extent. This,
/ believe, Is true in the case of most Amer
| lean properties on the island.
The planters, more than any other class,
are fast arriving at the conclusion that
their chief hope exists in possible annex
alton OF the island by the United States In
| the near future. Spain, of course, does not
want to give 1t up, but it is her pride alone
that Keeps her in that attitude, for during
lie past HVe years CuDd mas really been
burden to the Spanish treasury, in spite OF
| the excessive taxation. The secret of this
| Is in the utter corruption of her Cuban Of
ficlalS. 1t is no secret, for everybody knows
| how governors and captain generals, Gus.
| tom house officials, ETC., have made for
| tunes here.
Then, too, the taxes are farmed cut tc
| the Spanish Bank in this city, and tina,
| grinding plutocracy, backed by the authori
| ties. has made millions of dollars yearly
| This amount, which, If it should be col
| lected at all, should go INTO the Spanish
| treasury, finds its way into the pockets o1
| government officials here and in Spain.
| Therefore, as 1 have previously stated
Cuba is drain upon the treasury, and she
| would remain SO as long as the present
| methods were in vogue. But for all that
| the Spanish nation is too proud to grant
| any of the reforms asked by Cisneros, Co
mez and the rebel party, and you may be
sure she will expend every dollar and sacri
| flee every soldier at her disposal before the
| island can be wreSted from her.