The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
Spaim's EXtOrtiOmS
From Cuba.
BY RAlMUNDO CABRERA,
i'm Gunton's Magazine for january.

llldl Ol lIle HGG1Cn ClIlZp1, uOuDle
the amount paid by the Spaniard in
Spain, and nearly thrice the rate per
capita in the United States.
All these estimates, which from 1850
to 1895, represent a total of 800 million
of dollars. have been applied to the pay
ment of the foreign war expenses al
ready mentioned, the revolution in
Cuba, the interest and amortization of
the debts contracted in consequence of
these wars, and above all the
support in the island of a
large personnel of officials in
the administration, appointed at Mad
rid and coming from Spain; also to the
maintenance of an army of occupation
for in each annual estimate the amount
destined to improvements in the island
to agriculture, public works or educa-
ton, has never reached one million
dollars, say, one twenty-tifth part Of
the budget.
In 1S94-'95 the sum appropriated for
internal improvement was $171, ,125. To
the national debt and general oblga-
tions, the arm, navy and government
administrative officials, the whole bal
ance of $25,962, 1877 was devoted. Are
stronger motives needed for a people
to arise and struggle desperately to
break their yoke, and overthrow the
system that thus despoils and crushes
them?
When the revolution broke out in
February, 1895, Cuba was saddled with
a public debt of $175,OO0O 900, at the rate
of Sis per capita.
Spain. as ever, desired that the Cuban
| should himself pay the cost of the war
provoked and sustained by her to pre-
vent his emancipation, and let us see
how with that object in view she man
ages the money of the rebels
To convert and consolidate all the
| Cuban debt, the Spanish Parliament
in 1890, authorized the isue of bonds
amounting to $l75,000,000. At the out
set of the revolution she still had or
| hand $1l3,76S, 200 of the bonds witt
which she was to complete the conver'
sion and pay all legitimate creditors.
Instead of applying them to this OBJ
ject, the government has negotiated
said bonds at 80 per cent, discount
with the Bank of Paris, Banks of tn,
| Netherlands, and the Banks of Spain
| and Barcelonia realizing therefron
$50, 900, 900 with which she has attended
to the expenses of the war for the first
year. BY reason of this operation tn,
debt of the island of Cuba stands thus
Total amount of bonds issued in
1890 to consolidate and convert
all the debts .....................Sl7 .Sl70, ,OOO, %
Amount of bonds negotiated to
| cover the expenses of the first
year of the revolution ......... 113, 7G3, 20
| Previous debt, left without con-
solidation and conversion .... 100000
The interest OF this debt, at fiv
per cent. amounts annually to $4,000,
900. The Cubans have put up wit
Spanish domination during four hun
dred years; but they will not be abb
to bear the terrible burden which thi
debt implies, nor the other expense
that are increasing every day throug
the present war. At this moment tn
debt represents a mortgage of $2Ol, an
$l1 yearly interest per habitant.
Whoever studies dispassionatel
these figures, must realize the deSpera
ton which has again driven the heroi
people of Cuba to the determined strug
gle now waging.
No one can fail to recognize its jus
tice nor see that the entire responsible
ity for it's horrors rests upon tn
mother country.