The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-11

NEW YORK. May 18-A dispatch to the
Herald from Havana says:
There - grim humor In the oHiciai
announcements as to the state OF the m
surrection and the outlook which causes
a sneer in Havana. where food Is scarce
and sound money scarcer. As the situa-
ton grows worse. at every point, the
palace reports become more roSe-colored
and more at war with the facts. For m
stance, for a centen. which Is worth $o.W
in Spanish gold. one may get the equlva-
lent of S1l. 30 in paper money today In
Havana.
1t is significant that the paper money of
Spain is at a greater discount at this mo-
ment, when the reforms are said to be at
hand. than at anytime since the war De-
gan. -
During the ten years war acenten was
worth tlS in paper and no one douots tnae
the billets win reach or pass that point
again. Two.. months ago q centen was
worth $50 In paper. and then there Was
less talk OF pacificAfion and reforms than
now.
The fact is. no one pays any attention
TO Gen. Weyier's proclamations about the
peace he says he has brought about, or
his talk about the golden time that - COM
ing. now that the queen regent mas oeen
kind enough to sign the reforms. THESE
things are mere sound But the paper
money Is a grim fact. and the determine
ton with which all persons refuse 10
have il thrust upon them at par has forced
even Gen. Weyler to recognize that the
money question Is superior to his decree
and TO abandon his declared intention OF
Furnishing any one who looked TWICE al
these shin plasters.
Indeed. Spain. over his head. suggests
that the biliets be accepted In custom
houses with an increased duty correspond
ing to the depreciation Of paper The
shopkeepers do not accept any biilets IN
many cases, or IL they do. the customer
must pay twice the gold price Inc piiiet
is lust so much deprecated paper, and the
country will not recognize II as any lnhis
else.
The plight of Spain il bad enough with
ont the rieting which would be general IL
an attempt were made to force this paper
down the threats of men already grown
suIIen because of the disastrous and lag
ging military policy OF Gen. Weyler. NO
one here can see how Spain will be able
10 carry much longer the financial burden
with which she is saddled- Still there are
Official announcements that the military
outlook is roseate despite the fact that
engagements are daily reported. ana
wounded soldiers carried into the garrison
In the towns prove the activity OF the
rebels in the province.
There are engagements. too, which are
not reported. and these are the more seri-
Gus. Three nights ago 100 wounded sol
diers were carried into Reglad on their
way to Havana hospitals. and some of
them died in the station. Officially there
has been no fighting of Importance in this
province OF late, but the arrival Of these
men means that the Spanish columns
have been ambushed by Castillo with his
usual success The fight was at Govea.
No one even at the palace pretends that
Matanzas is pacified. and now mes
seuger lis on his way to New York who
will tell the Junta that the insurgents In
Pinar del Rio number 1000 men: that
they have acted vigorously and in har-
mony. obeying Gen. Gomez order not to
engage the Spanish force until he gave
the word that the time had come.