The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-20
She Has Been Nearly Bank
rupted by Two Wars.
Why She Has Failed so Sig
nally In the Case of Cuba.
Spanish Officers Are Levying on
PlanterS-CraZe for Office.

pdu MATTERS are stlll uppefinOst III tne
minds of the public men of the national
capital The air is filled with expectancy
as TO future Developments. The appropria-
tion for relief Of American sufferers In the
island was passed so quickly as 10 give an
indication of what the spirit Of the Amer
lean people and congress will be when
events occur % rouse them Members of
the administration tell me they do not ex-
pect any war with Spain out Of our rela.
tions 10 the Cuban problem Even If the
president intervenes they believe IL will be
done An such a way that Spain will have
an opportunity 10 save her pride and APP
pease her people. Spain is in no condition
TO go TO war She Is we'll nigh bankrupt
Her credit Is exhausted in every banking
house Of Europe She has used all her re-
sources IN the two wars that have been GO
ing on so long one In Cuba and the other
In the Philippines Her expenditures in
these two wars have been about SIS, 000.-
900 a month, which Is greater burden
upon poor Spain than $3.50. 900, 900 a
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
the fiery Spanish pride TO creep through.
Spain would be mad 10 go to war with the
United States. The engagement could not
last long and could have bat one result
the overwhelming defeat and humiliation
of Spain.
Getting Rich Ont OF the Planters.
Why has Spain failed so signally in the
work of suppDssing the rebellion in Cuba9
This is a question often asked. The most
intelligent reply to 10 that have heard
was given by "A gentleman who recently
came from Cuba. While there his business
called him out into the country, and hav-
ing the protection Of the Spanish authori-
ties he was able TO go and come rs he
pleased. At several of the richest planta-
tions 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 pay
ments were in sums ranging from $500 to
$6 900, and they were quite frequent. or
course none of this money ever finds Its
way 10 the government treasury. 1t Is a
perquisite of the military men. It Is their
chief compensation, as the money in
which Spain pays them their salaries, the
paper money, is at frightful discount.
am told by this gentleman, who Is in
position 20 know what he Is talking about,
that the Spanish officers have regular
system Of levy and division. They know
about how much each plantation ownSr
can stand to pay, and they work the traffic
for what IL will bear, as railway men say.
A certain percentage goes to the minor
officers, another per cent 10 the brigade
commander and considerable part finds
its way to the pockets Of those high In au-
thority IL Is believed General Weyler has
become 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
plundcring the treasures of the planta-
tons is the real reason why the inurgents
get of SO easily. The officers say they
would be fools TO put an end to the war
and thus rob themselves of a good thing
In Favor of Annexation.
Not only the Spanish officers, but some
Of the insurgents are in this business Of
lining their pockets with the gold Of the
planters Between the two the planters
are having a pretty hard time Of it, and
it is not surprising that they are in ia
vor of ending the war and restoring order
without caring very much which side wins
or what the form OF government is. Among
the really substantial men Of the island,
including good many Spanards l am
told the sentiment ia favor of annexation
to the United States is growing. They
want peace and security at any price. IL
Spain suppresscs this rebellion, they know
another one will soon break out, and that
the only security they can get for the fu
ture lies In no control Of the island by
some power that Is strong enough TO main
tain order and an honest government.
Every time the horizon shows war
cloud our naval officers prick up their
ears and wear smiles on their faces The
warmest bed of jingoes in Washington just
now is the Army and Navy club where the
officers of our two military establishments
meet To talk over tho situation Every one
of them wants n war. They are eager to
show what they can do, the army men be-
ing almost as anxious for "a chance 60 show
their prowess as the naval officers. The
latter are proud of our new navy, and in
tensoly desirous of an opportunity to show
Its fighting qualities. 'What in the devil
is the use Of spending millions on millions
of money In n navy II we are never to have
any war;" said naval officer tonight,
slipping his glass of wine at the club. "If
we don't get scrimmage pretty soon, we
shall all forget now TO fight Half our
officers have never been in an engagement,
anyway and II Is a perfect shame we can't
have chance to win promotions and To
gain more thorough familiarity with the
noble art of fighting"
Tho once Craze.
I was at tho state department tho other
Say when an office seeker came in. Here, "
he said, are my papers. have applied
for an office which am sure l will get be-
cause no one else will want it IL Is n lit.
tie consulship which pays only 81 900
year, there aro no fees, 10 is a long distance
away, 10 will cost "A man n good part Of his
salary to get there, ana no may never re.
turn because tbs. climate Is "A very bad
one
Assistant Secretary Cridler smiled took
the man 5 application, marked it on the
back and 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 fleroom how many applications
L.. T.. sl...t ~