The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-04-15
THE SITUATION
IN CUBA.

THE s' .vs1 EoETHE CIVILIZED NATIONS IS. Of c The " :" sas sssss
IN CUBA y NIT the war between Spain and CUBA 70 continue
which must necessarily result in the ultimate destruction ana devaitation o
Cuba, is one Of those things which can not be recoacled with the spirit Of the
times. II is very evident that Spain will not be able to conquer the Cuban
insurgents. They will die before they will surrender SPANS ohy hope IL
10 wear out the insurgents and make a waste Of the most 'Allca n laVored
spot On the western hemisphere. Discussing the fearful effects which the
war is having upon the island, a correspondent Of the St Louis Globe Dem
ocrat details the following interview with a "leading financial maa'' Of Ha
vana. lie says:
THE sugar crop Of Cuba made 80 far amounts to 100000 tons 1t may BE-
increased to 10000, possibly to 20oo 900 tons but hardly think 80 We have
ahout eighty estates grinding. To show you what this means let me give
You from The record what our normal sugar crop is In 1894 we made 1.054.
2i4tons of sugar For 1898 our crop was iOo4 2@i tons. Then came the war
Last year the product was cut to 22l2 2t tons This year we shall fall far
short Of last year If we reach oneffth of mn average crop we shall do more
than present prospects indicate"
What will be your tobacco cropy was aaked
q think we shall realize about one fourti of a crop of tobacco, say 80 900
bales Itisimposdlet to estimate the value Two bales of tobacco were stolen
from a warehouse in this city a few night ago. They we're worth ssOM.
A bale Of tobacco may be worth 1000, or Ymay be worth only $1O 1t de.
ponds on the quality. This years crop WILDE of inferior quality. Owing to
the war, much of it will be harvested eiher before time O after time.
calculate that from sugar and tobacco wd shall get this year between s22-
600 900 and s2l 600 600 not more than that From sugar W e shall get So.
100000 and from tobacco perhaps S12 0MOp Cuba in time of peace, used
to ship more than 800 600 900 worth of Itoduct year o sell in different
countries"
How can tho island stand such los'
We can stand it, but we re growing pl1ef every day. The island is in
a dreadful condition. The greatest damage has boon done from the western
point to Matanzas We could easily have made 800 600 tons of sugar this
year, Notwithstanding the destruction of lat year if it hadn't been for the
devastation of the growing cane in the prbent campaign. Now we will
not have half Of that
"If Cuias production is cut short it meah a heavier burden for Spain"
was suggested.
Eyes" said the fnancir "the Cuban budiet will be increased enormously
The money car not be raised here. Spain viii have to remit to pay the ex.
penseS Of the war Spain had to send $4,000 600 Of her own money here
last year me VIII etc end Is much mfe this yearif the war continues
This disbursement Of Spanish money is wha1keeps II M II takes the place
of The money W would have realized for prdlucts sold if tbe war bod not in.
terfred
Would the island recuperate rapidly if phce was ratoredYr
"Ihls IL The cAes country IN the world 1t is astonishing what the soil
will produce, Everything that grows here dads in a wonderful a But
the war has put us in such Il condition that Twill be hard to ret II aoai,
The fuuroo of the island is seriously in dangt We have exhausted nv wn
capital There will be difficulty in inducingIutide capital to come miles,
IN assurance can be given that this trouble iIlot going to start again The
sugar crop for next year is in great danger. Next to nothing has beer done
toward preparing the cane, and the time is p1ine late. | don't know Init IL
is almost too late
what is tn remedy for the present cond AonT'
f@aceE VI" we want h United Su rs can give it to us do not
set any other prospect of the war termhnaI MS. The United States hasa
great deal Mt stake. American Investments Oh here The trade Of Cpha be.
longs 10 me uhtei otatesby virtue o. the lHItion and character of it. HUI
mainly calls for intervention. | believe thai the United States has lint n,
Jake hd Oh te Cutah question with deter Hnaton and it will be ended
There will be no danger of war with Spain. Mat country is ready for neao.
"aIohs IL would De te g@ndest thing Vesident Mckinney could do to
bring about lasting peace on this island. Kim satisfied it is in his mower
TOT it,"
He spoke with intense eagerness
To permit this war to continue il a Ictpe and the Irnitcd States isl
There is no doubt about the right Ian ability Of the United StatosI
0 stop u II thy Van I" me criminal Indifference with which President
'e''i""' 'c"'" 'ms question IS shockhSand compromising in the ex-
rene. Whether Mr. Mckinley will do ak better remains to he soon
There Is one thing certain, he can do no wor1~