The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-10
Made i'm an Interview to the
Bankrupt Condition of Spain and
Her Slight Hold on Cuba.
SENATOR MORGAN SPEAKS
CANOVAS'S MURDER, HE SAYS, is A
PROTEST AGAINST WEYLERISM.
Spain's Enormous Burden of Debt-EI-
Exports of Gold Expected.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-In the absence
of President Mckinley all of the official
members Of the administration, except
Secretary Sherman, deem it the part of
wisdom to maintain silence on a subject of
international Importance. Secretary Sher-
man has submitted to an interview and it
has already subjected him to severe criti-
cism. If he has been correctly reported it
would appear that he has gone out of his
way to comment on the financial condition
of Spain and the desperate prospects it has
of successfully carrying out the war
against Cuba. The language for which he
is being most harshly taken to task about
is this:
Spain is very tenacious country. Her
hausted, but she means to hold on to Cuba.
Just how she can do it, under the circum-
stances, l cannot see
The quoted language ie regarded by the
secretary's critics being indiscreet and
untimely. It nevertheless is a substantial
confirmation of a recent published inter
view with him which he has been at pains
to deny and repudiate. The secretary's
language may be formally resented by the
Spanish minister and lead to unpleasant
results. Such will certainly be the case if
Spain is looking for trouble with the United
States, as many believe is her wish.
Senator Morgan has broken out in per-
feet food of Cuban talk. In the course of
a prolific interview this afternoon, he said
that he believed that the assassination of
CanOvas form of popular protest
against Weylerism in Cuba and the return
of the inquisition at home, and that it was
the forerunner of Spanish revolution, which
would be incidentally followed by the lib
GRAFTON of Cuba. He said that the manhood
of Spain took this way of expressing its
disapproVal of the prosecution of the Bar
ceona Anarchists and of the promotion of
Weyler to the position of butcher-in-chief
of Cuba.
The Foreign Office at Madrid has issued
a statement giving approximately for the
first time the total Spanish debt. This is
shown to be 81, ,765 1000, payable in gold.
This carries an interest charge of $4,000 900
annually, or nearly one-half of the total
gross income of the government. The
amount of debt incurred in the prosecution
of the Cuban war is not stated. but 1t Is
mentioned that of the seventy millions an
nual interest liability nineteen million dol
lars is on account of the military operations
in Cuba. Inasmuch as Spanish bonds bear
per cent. interest it would appear that
the war has thus far cost the parent gov
ernment $3.50, 100000 and it has been in prog
ress only two years and half
The Treasury Department which, con-
jointly with the Department of State, is
moving to secure a settlement of the Bering
sea sealing problem, is watching with in
terest the progress of the controversy be-
tween Professor Elliot, the seal expert, and
Hon. John w. Foster, of Indiana, who has
charge of the negotiations in behalf of this
government AT both departments the Off
cials who are conversant of the merits of
the sealing question do not take Professor
Elliot at his own apprasement of his
transcendent abilities in this field. Profess
sor Elliot is a specialist, it is true, but
there are at least half a dozen other men
in Washington who have given the subject
as much attention as he has and have en-
joyed as good, if not better, facilities than
he has to acquire accurate information.
The administration will, therefore, be equal
to the conduct of negotiations, even though
Professor Elliot be denied the privilege of
participating. At the departments it is held
that Professor Elliot in his attacks on Mr..
Foster has displayed a lamentable lack of
those judicial qualities which are essential
in the calm adjustment of disputed points
between governments or individuals.
Foreign exchange is now quoted at $4.S61a
| Inasmuch as there were exports of gold at
$4S7 and even as low as A.S6%, it will be
seen upon what an exceedingly narrow
margin of profit late gold shipments were
undertaken. In view of the fact that for
| eigners have practically stopped exporting
merchandise to this country for the time
being and that they are taking advantage
| of the rise in the stock market to unload
| on our home investors thirty to forty mil
! lion dollars worth of American securities,
! treasury officials feel warranted in the
opinion that the outflow of the yellow metal
is over for the season