Evening journal., 1897-03-22
n0AEY PaAlc IN CUBA.
Financial Distress Worse Than
Insurgent Arms.
E5D Of War APPARENTLY NEAR
The Faprr Money Ediots Have Demoral.
iced Business, ana Even Royalists Ara
Getting Tired Of spanish Maladminis
tration-Wc Has Been III.


ish oiicors refuse 20 admit that Cuba j. |
lost to che crown. Resident Spaniards con /
fcss they can sec no other outcome. IL /
fact evidences that Cuba may in the enc
bo freed by Spanish residents themselves |
are many and strong
The Calmost minds predict the end %
Spanish rulc within two years Some say
not so soon, others say within one year
After much Investigation j incline te
the opinion that Spain will retire in lesi
than two years.
Tho Spanish element is condemnina
with more and more emphasis tho fruit
less. cxbausting policy of General Weyler
They sec his idea Of pacihcation is depop
ulation, his plan for peace devastation
Farmers lnborars and all wealth pro
ducers in the country are driven thereby
70 their graves on TO the rebel ranks to de-
etroy what romains. Wealth already pro
ducod Is given TO flames.
Thoy see that Woyler is making nc
military progress. The Cubans are being
left moro and more In possession of the
country. Thoy frequently sack small towns
close To HAVANA They are in force IN
cities of tho fourth and third class once on
twice u month. such raids grow more
common
Woyler. knowing that with fewer troops
he cannot hold the smaller cities of the in
terror, has begun to abandon them. lie
has given notice TO tho Spanish residents
that an property owners must protect
themselves The troops ar5 needed for the
ports and seacoast cities
sancti SDiritus Abandoned.
sencu spiritns. a city OF $4,000 people,
ls already abandoned
The merchants, money changers, sped
umtor5 oaportera importers and planters
realili - that Cuba is lost now, want the
change to come as quickly as possible. Io
end The war. it's losses and disturbances,
they favor the sale of the island To the ca
bans on the guarantee Of the United
States, expecting that a short lived repub'
lie Will, through financial entanglement,
give way 20 annexation TO the United
States Anything save anarchy would be
better than the present situation.
Paper money TO the extent of SEQ, 600,
900 has been issued, based on $1,000, OOl
In silver and per cent Of the monthly
customs duties (Which amount to about
81 O0O, O00) added 20 tho reserve
Wcylcr says this paper must pass cur
rent 40 par on pain of arrest for rebellion
and imprisonment for life. No one dare'
quote what &c Is really worth except be
hind closed doors There It's value is sai6
TO be per cent less than gold and 22 pei
cent loss than silver. But this secret quo
tation fixes It's purchasing power, an'
prices are put accordingly
Only tho creditor the poor workingmal
and tho cahmen are imposed upon The
cannot refuse it Where a cahman alvey
got q silver pseta Geo cents) ne now get
four paper cent pieces, makes a wry fac
and pockets them. His baker will tak
the paper, but his loavos arc smaller thai
the cabman formerly obtained for coin
Reducing the weight OF bread is not rebel
lion.
Business Is becoming paralyzcd. IL wi
soon bo completely so L am told ON excel
lent authority that the American Ban
Note company of Now York is printin
$40 100000 moro of this silver paper moi
oy for Cuba, and that il viii be put in Gil
culntlon shortly 10 will be found impo'
sible 20 Goat it except at "a great discount
All firms which had large sums in papC
have sold it at 30 and 40 per cont disooun
prelering 90 make q known loss nov
Tho business community remembers I'll
Inst war. Spain then gave out 1000, O1
i'm paper and redeemed IL in silver at
cents on tho dollar She is harder presse
now.
How Long Can Spain Stand IT,
The total revenues Of the island al
about 81, 800, 600 month. The total O.
pense of tho military and civil goverl
ments is nearly sll ,O0O,0 600 a mont
Those figures are from official sources
How long can Spain stand it,
No soldier, official or gOvornment en-
ployeo in Cuba has been paid in fl
months Sran owes them today 500, 00C
900, She must have money if she has
make It.
This largo and sudden issue Of pap
money is not TO meet a demand for a c
culating medium It is a dishonest, inc
nf fu.s a., Il tft "A Z
rect tax.
With all their loyalty, tho Spaniards he
would revolt at that or stop doing bu
ness. They arc taxed to the limit now.
the government takes a roundabout W
60 collect the tax. Ii would cheat and pa
perize its subjects.
The issue Of $50, 600, 600 in paper is
dered The Spaniards say they fully
pect that after the war the government
tends to pay only 20 or 80 per cent on I
dollar on its paper II win call the otl
70 or so per cent war tax This Is an
Spanish trick.
To put confdenco into the people
Spanish Bank Of the Island of Cuba v
recently directed to exchange silver
paper at face value II was announ,
that this would be done from 10 IN {
p. m. daily. Enormous crowds have sii
blocked the streets. Soldiers clerks,
hoiefs ali SORTS got IN line nc dayhg
regiment Of police pull, haul and Of
bayonot the frantic men trying to
good money for bad
The bank takes its time That mel
aa hour for each person-or four
arc accommodated, not more OF th
without iniluence-and only $40 is
changed for each one at a time
Tho troops are paid in paper. They
beginning to complain. Prices have &
up 30 per cent in silver
10 Is Impossible TO get tho paper
changed lor silver or gold, but it is rel
lion 10 refuse to take It, So debtors
pay with it. Naturally nobody sends
collect bills, and credits arc curtailed.
Thus are tho forces for freedom from
financial mismanagement of Spain e
more powerfully at work in Havana Il
are the forces OF war for political lbg
in the woods