Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-18
SITUATION IN CUBA.
SPANISH HOLD ON TIE ISLAND
is FEEBLE.
Cen. Weyter's administration Has Eecu
an Utter Eailurc-His Paper Money
Not Accepted by the Merchants OF
the Gem OF the Antilles"

New York, May IA dispatch to the
Herald from Havana says:
There is a grim humor in the official
announcements as TO the state Of the
instruction and the outlook which
causes sneer in Havana, where food
is scarce and sound money scarcer. As
the situation grows worse at every
point the palace reports become more
roSe-colored and more Ut war with the
facts.
For instance for centcn, which is
worth $3.50 in Spanish gold, one can
get the equivalent to $1l.30 in paper
money today in Havana.
1T is significant that the paper mon
ey of Spain is at greater discount at
this moment when the reforms are
said to be at hand than at any time
since the war began. During the IT,
years war a centen was 1T one time
worth $13 in paper, and no one doubts
that the billets will reach or pass that
point again. Two months ago cell
ten was worth $3.50 in paper, and then
there was less talk of pGcification and
81 reforms than now.
The fact Is no one pays any atten-
ton to Gen. Weyler's proclamations
about the peace he says he has brought
about. or to his talk about the golden
time that Is coming now that the queen
the reforms.
am
These things are mere sound.
But the paper money is grim fact,
and the determination with which all
persons refuse to have it thrust upon
them at par has forced even Gen. Wey-
Ter TO recognize that the money ques-
ton is superior to his decree and to
abandon his declared intention OF pun
ishinG any one who looked twice 1T
these shin plasters.'
'The plight of Spain is bad enough
without the rioting which would be
general if an attempt were made to
force this paper down the threats Of
men already grown sullen because of
the disastrous and tagging military poll
icy OF Gen. Weyler.
mo one here can see how Spain will
be able to carry much longer the fnan-
cial burden with which she is saddled,
and which is increased tremendously
every month.
Still there are official announce
meGts that the military outlook is
roseate, despite the fact that engage
ments are daily reported and wounded
soldiers carried into the garrsoned
towns prove the activity Of rebels in
every province.
Officially there has been no fight Of
importance in this province Of late, but
the arrival of these men means that
Spanish columns have been ambushed
by Gen. Castillo with his usual success.
The fight was at Covea.
Gen. Weyler is in Santa Clara again,
and his arrival there does not well &C
cord with the announcement he made
so recently that the province was paci-
fed. 1t may be that he heard the same
rumor which reached Havana and
which was to the effect that Sagua La
Irande was threatened by a concentra-
ton of several thousand insurgents in
he hills there, and an attack was evi-
IDENTIFY meditated.
No one, even Ct the palace, pretends
hat Matanzas is pacificd. and | know
hat messenger Is on his way to New
York who will tell the junta that the
insurgents in Pinar del Rio number
nearly 1000 armed men and that four
brigadiers there, who served under Ri
vera, have acted vigorously and in har-
mony ever since his capture, obeying
Gen. Gomez orders not to engage the
Spanish force until he gave the word
hat the time had come"