Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04

archy- Inc sentiment OF loyalty to the
throne does not appeal 10 them. We would
save Cuba for Spain. said one merchant
to me. but we will not sacrifice Cuba to
save tine throne. Sooner than that we will
ask for your flag, though it has been hate
full to u.s.
BlancO'S Problem.
At the palace the gravity of this Spanish
sentiment against autonomy is recognized.
but L am assured the task is not looked
upon as insurmountable. Captain General
Blanco found the conditions worse than he
had dreamed. Livery captain general who
comes to Cuba finds the same thing. Blan-
cos problem is not exactly to create new
political party out of nothing He has to
fuse together an organization out of ele-
ments which are abhorrent to each other
the fusion Of the Spanish and the Cuban.
And it is the Spaniard who must first be
tempered to the fusing point. The palace
assurance is that this will be done by de-
greeS." Patience. firmness and resolute
purpose are all to be exhibited. Meantime
the reorganization has begun by changing
the office holders. The police department
has been reorsanized from the top down
and from the bottom up. The admnistra-
tive Offices have been subjected TO an
equally Thorough ovorhauling The spells
captain general Those who are put out
neither ask nor expect sympathy. In the
present instance the Official of the highest
or the lowest degree who after twenty
months under Weyler has not lined his
pockets would not admit it because of the
contempt such an admission would bring
upon him from his fellows. All the Wey
Ter subordinates retire with completeness.
most of them with riches. y slight note of
protest is raised because while Cubans
have been chosen for the honorary posi-
tons, the good places, ever, have gone
to the new captain generals Spanish fol-
lowers.
Some astonishing results have followed
this change of administrative functionaries.
One day the customs receipts went up
from S,.pO to S11.gD. They kept gaining
by leaps and hounds until they reached
$1,000. Every body in Havana knew the
cause. and ever body except the victims
laughed The new customs officials had
refused - continue the arrangement of
their predecessors. Duties were being col
lected levied. and the importers were in
a dreadful state. 1t would be pleasure to
credit this change in customs receipts to
a change which would mean lasting hon
esty. What that kind of administration
show 1t would do away with one of the
causes which breed revolution. But To-
body here looks for this kind of admins
traion to continue. Honesty, as commonly
understood. is no part of the Spanish off
clal system whatever colonial policy is
being carried out. The customs receipts
are drifting back to normal figures and
the equilibrium of duties levied and duties
collected is being restored. The receipts
are now ia the neighborhood of $1,000
They are not likely to upset the balance
by asdin jumping to $T0D-D
Havana under the new regime makes
brave show of trying to forget what has
been going on for three years in and
AROUND IL The bull fights on Sundays are
largely patronizeti. The presence of a muI-
titune OF army officers is rot SO obtrusiye
as formerly. Martial law is enforced with
less offensive severity. The censorship of
opinion Is not so rigid. l have seen papers
which advocate independence pasted IN in
rohsplcuous places at the news stands.
Nothing Of this sort was possible unicr
eyler The desire to soften the rcmem-
brance OF the butcher seems sincere
however re VIII not be forgotten The
buh' oil Ava built his own monument In
tAe Ae.SAt OF his despotism WeyIer took
Ies9 tAP'islFe and perhaps a more endur-
ms way TO perretuate his fame. He had
the serViie municipal council change the
hame Of the historic Obispo street. the
IeadlnS business thoroughfare of the CITY.
10 'GeUe-aI Weylcr' street. That name
stdres at the passer-by who may be irving
70 forget the past III the present order
other memorials Of Wryler remain bu.
this Is the most conspicuous
still Starving io Death
Of the matter In which the American
people are most interested / shall have oc-
CASTOR TO write more fully after a more ex-
tended investigation. For the present il has
TO be said that what is left of the Cuban
country population is still starving to
death, yet not a. so great a rate as former
~ In Havana, l am told by those who
nave been here right along. the cordi-
tons have improved. They are said to he
better than month ago, much better than
TWO months ago The importation of cattle
enables those who have means to buy 10
supply themselves with beef though thev
Were never in danger OF starvation Tn
women and children. who were huddIed tn
Seihvr at Los FCsos have been suppIied
with clothing. fed and removed outside the
town to make healthfuI SURROUNDINGS /,
Is disputed whether 10 per cent of iter,
GIed or only ~ per cent. OF the !. 100 it is
d i4'I'I III tSllindte tnaJ not more than | Gu,
have persisted II it were not the testimony
ci those who have seen the whole tragedy
Gh4o!dei month by month the statement
mat the conditions have improved womb
appear doubtful To my eyes they seem as
bad as III May and June. II will take long
years 70 forget the evidences of SUFFERING,
seen during an afternoon spent in the nv
ways OF the city. The death rate. tco tells
q dlscouraginS story. 1t is still very high
Ninety persons are dying daily in d popuIa
ton which cannot be :JO.UvD
Regarding what has been done 10 relieve
1he recommendations and the starving peo-
PIE generally Stree General Blanco took
command. fair statement VIII give credit
l"f a sincere desire 10 better the conditions
and a rcgreuful failure to do much. Tho
gain under the rev policy comes through
the freedom of private charity 10 put forth
us efforts Under Weyler private charity
was iro"ncd upon Now. crippled though
Ihey may De through lack Of means. indi-
NiduaIs AMI societies are encouraged IN do
all IN their power. And they are accom-
p.ishihS something. But as government