Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-21
IN DIRE STRAITS.
Spain is Nearly Bankrupted
by Her Two Wars.
Why She Has Failed in Cuba--Span-
ish officers Levy on Planters.
Some Of the insurgents Also Have Engaged
In the Traffic.

Washington, May 20.-(SpeciaD.-
ban matters are still uppermost in the
minds of the public men of the ns-
tional capital. The air is filled with ex-
pectancy as to future developments The
appropriation for relief of American suffer-
ers in the island was passed SO quickly as
to give an indication of what the spirit OF
the American people and congress will be
when events occur to rouse them. Mem
bers of the administration tell me they 90
not expect any war with Spain out OF our
relations to the Cuban problem. Even
If the president intervenes they believe 1t
will be done in such way that spain
will have an opportunity to save her pride
and appease her people. Spain Is IN no
condition to go to war. She Is well nigh
bankrupt. Her credit is exhausted in
every banking house of Europe. She has
used all her resources In the two wars that
have been going on SO long, one In Cuba
and the other in the Philippines. Her
expenditures in these two wars have been
about $15, 100000 a month, which Is
greater burden upon poor Spain than
$3.50, 600, 900 month would be upon this
country. If the president intervenes and
serves notice upon Spain that she must
surrender Cuba, but that she may have
money bonus, or payment of her war debt
by the Cuban revenues, that would afford
loophole for the fiery Spanish pride to
creep through. Spain would be mad to go
to war with the United States. The en-
gagement could not last long, and could
have but one result-the overwhelming
defeat and humiliation of Spain.
Getting Rich Out Of the Planters.
Why has Spain failed so signally in the
work Of suppressing the rebellion in Cubas
This is question often asked. The most
intelligent reply to it that have heard was
given by gentleman who recently came
from Cuba While there his business called
him out into tho country, and having the
protection Of the Spanish authorities he
was able to go and come as he pleased.
At several of the richest plantations he
was given an opportunity to look over the
books, and he found a great many entries
showing sums Of money paid to officers
in the Spanish army. These payments
were in sums ranging from $500 to S6, 600,
and they were quite frequent. OF course
none of this money ever finds its way to
the government treasury. 1t is perqui-
site of the military men. 1t is their chief
COI1lpcIlSdtIUu, as tIo luUuSJ Ill WulCu
Spain pays them their salaries, the paper
money, is at frightful discount.
lam told by this gentleman, who is in
position to know what he Is talking about,
that the Spanish officers have a regular
system of levy and division. They know
about how much each plantation owner
can stand to pay, and they work the traffic
for what it will bear, as railway men say.
A IN 10 %lo
officers, another per cent to the brigade
commander and q considerable part finds
its way to the pockets of those high in au-
thority. 1t is believed General Weyler has
become q very rich man since he took COM
mand Of the army in Cuba. Every captain
general Spain sends to Cuba is expected to
get rich while there and none of them
misses his opportunity. This system of
plundering the treasures of the planta-
lions is tho real reason why the insurgents
get off go easily. Tho officers say they
would be fools to put an end to the war
and thus rob themselves Of good thing.
In Favor of Annexation.
Not only the Spanish officers, but some
of tho insurgents, are in this business of lin
ing their pockets with the gold of the
planters. Between the two the planters
are having pretty hard time of it, and it
is not surprising that they are in favor of
ending the war and restoring order with
out caring very much which side wins or
what the form of government is. Among
the really substantial men of the island,
including good many Spaniards, am
told tho sentiment in favor of annexation
to the United States is growing. They
want peace and security at any price. If
Spain supprcsses this rebellion, they know
another one will soon break out and that
the only security they can get for the future
lies in the control of the island by some
power that is strong enough to maintain
order and an honest government.
Every time the horizon shows war
cloud our naval officers prick up their
cars and wear smiles on their faces. The
warmest he'd of jingoes in Washington
just now is the Army and Navy club,
where the officers of our two military cs-
Establishments meet to talk over the situa-
ton. Every one of them wants war
They are eager to show what they can do,
the army men being almost as anxious
for chance to show their prowess as TIL
naval officers. The latter are proud of our
now navy, and intensely DESTROYS of an
opportunity to show its fighting qualities
millions on millions of money in O navy
Il We are never TO have any war;" said a
naval officer tonight, slipping his glass of
wine at the club ST we don't get a
scrimmagc pretty soon, we shall all for
get how to fight Half our officers have
never been in an engagement, anyway,
and it is a perfect shame we can't have a
chance to win promotions and to gain a
more thorough familiarity with the noble
,rt of fighting"
The Office Craze.
was at the state department the other
Jay when an Office seeker came in "Here,"
he snid, 'are my papers. l have applied
for an office which l am sure will get be-
cause no one else will want it. 1t is a lit
tie consulship which pays only $1,000 a
year, there arc no fees, it is n long distance
AWAY, it will cost a man good part of his
salary to get there, and he may never return
because the climate is very bad one''
Assistant Secretary Cridler smiled, took
tho mans application, marked it on the
back anG tapped his bell. When the mes
senger appeared, in response to the sum-
mons, he told him to ask one of the men
in the fieroom how many applications
there were in for that consulship. In a
few moments the messenger returned.