Evening journal., 1897-08-30
NOW FOR CUBAN FREEDOM.

NOW FOR CUBAN FREEDOM.
With the elaborate interment OF the
remains Of Canovas del Castillo, SpaR's
lamented Bismarck, at Madrid, the
Spanish crown lost a forlorn hope OF
retaining her last North American pos
session. The impress of the strong
hand Will remain for a few days, and
then 1t will be obliterated, and II the
predictions of the leaders of the revo-
lutionary movement, now confidently
made after the subsistence OF the wave
Of sympathy that followed the tragic
fall Of Spain's pillar of strength, do not
go amiss, Havana is TO repeat in Cuba
for North America the history of Aya-
cucho, in Peru, for South America-de-
feat, capltulation, evacuation. The be-
lief among the more conservative OF the
Cuban leaders that the end is near, is
based on the mutterings of discomfort
that nave been growing louder and
louder since Canoyas' death on the Sc
cret exultation OF the Carlists, who see
partisan opportunity in national loss;
on the protest OF the common people
against further sacrifice of their hus-
bands, their brothers, their fathers and
their money, and on the inevitable
clash that must arise between these in
terests, and so menace the safety of the
throne, that the army of occupation in
the colonial artery must be weakened
TO protect the heart that supplies It's
life blood
The latest news we have from Ha-
vana is that Weyler has forwarded his
resignation to Madrid, and II this be
true, and he rehnquishes command OF
the troops in Cuba, the hope and be-
lief OF the revolutionary leaders will
be still further strengthened, for no
matter who the successor OF Weyler
may be, the blunders he will have to
remedy. the ridiculous situations be-
queathed to him by his predecessor
that he must encounter. will consume
so much of his time and attention, un-
Hess he continue the abortive efforts OF
Weyler, that the insurgents will be
given opportunities OF which they will
not be slow to take advantage.
Weyler's administration in Cuba will
soon become a black page in history
to haunt the survivors of Spanish roy
atty. 1t is not possible to accurately
estimate the number of lives that have
been sacrificed since the Cuban insur-
rection began, in February, 1895, but II
is certain that in two or three battles
of our own civil war there were as
many men killed by b ullets as there
have been daring the tive years fight
ing in Cuba.
AS near d. can be estimated, 10000
Cubans have been killed. 10000 have
starved TO death, and 10000 have dice
from diseases incident to the war
The Spaniards have lost, according t
their own official reports, $4,000 b,
bullets and disease, but these figure
cannot be relied upon. The actua
number is nearer 10000, OF which 35,
900 or 10000 died from smallpox, feve
and other maladies The cost of tn
war to Spain up to this time has beel
more than 5000, 900 600, and severa
millions of this sum has been embezzle
by the Spanish officers who had an op
portunity to handle the money. III
cost Of maintaining the Spanish arm
Is 81 900 900 a month, which include
the stealings. Thus far out of S125, 900
600 in American property interests /
Cuba, s1O,OOO,OOO has been destroyed
The two great crops of the country
tobacco and sugar-have been all br
ruined. The sugar product in 1895 wa
valued at $7O,OOO,0OO. In 1S96-97 it wi
not amount to more than S14,000,00
The normal tobacco crop for 1896 Wa
worth about $4,000, ,OOO That there wi
be any at all in 1897 il a question. tt
average annual imports from Cuba
the United States before the presel
war was s75,OOO,O0O. In the year 49,
they had fallen OF to 100000. and Il
exports from 100000 to $4,000.
the end of the year 1897, whether pea
is established or not, the imports al
the exports will amOunt to but fe
thousand dollars.