The sun., 1897-05-13

States should do something to stop the dire dis
tress OF this country, particularly in view Of the
destruction 1t Is working to American interests.
The petition has the signatures Of A. Belmont s.
Co, Lawrence Turnure & Co, 7. +. Ward & CO.,
and other prominent houses Of New York.
The authorized letter from New York giving
the text Of the petition and the signatures to IL
was shown to the correspondent OF THE Sun BY
Appointment Spanish banker here, whose name
cannot be revealed for obvious reasonA
This is the only solution" he said to me,
and what Is urgently needed Is that 1t como
soon, before the country is totally destroyed and
nothing remains OF the island of Cuba but a
heap Of ashes. This country is ruined II the
United States does not interfere soon. Spain Is
unable to overcome the revolution, and the war.
without any clear end in sight has assumed the
most barbarous and destructive character"
What has precipitated this attitude OF the
business people in Cuba is the paper money
question. The issue of $50. 600 900 Of paper by
the Government and the forcing 1t upon the
people BY Gen. weyler a legal tender mean
the ruin Of every one who has property or bust.
ness here. Before Mondays run on the Spanish
Bank Of the Island OF Cuba, the newspapers here
began to advise the Government OF the evil in
the mild terms permitted by the press censor.
La Luchd went so far as to say: II the Gov
ernment does not take prompt measures on the
currency question, 1t will not be surprising IL q
grave crisis should occur"
But the only remedy. which Is to redeem in
gold the s3o, 900, 600 Of the paper issue, Is not
within the power OF the Government to apply.
Gen. weYler's only answer l. that the paper
money Is wrongly and criminally deprecated.
its value being fully guaranteed. He threatens
to arrest and deport as enemies Of Spain those
who do not agree with his views; and his stub
h,,r ir,d akeat tha ait
All commercial transactions are paralyzed.
The general panic is increased BY the fear that
the Government. Notwithstanding the present
distress. may make still another issue OF paper
money.
La Lucha suggests also that the proprietors
and inspirers of the Diarfo de Ia Marina are in
citing the people to act against the Government
on the paper money question The men OF the
Diario belong to the ancient Reformist party.
and most Of them are SpaniartS-
Every one here says that the present situation
cannot endure much longer. Havana Is ruined,
and the distress caused by the fearful poverty
thar now prevails Is aggravated by the epidem-
les brought here by Spanish soldiers, which are
threatening to depopulate the capital and the
whole country. Eight thousand persons arc
sick now from smallpox. More than 5000 SOL
diers are dying from yellow fever in the hospi-
tails. which are overrrovded- To show how ter
rible Is the situation from q sanitary point of
view it Is enough to say that the rate Of NOR
tality this year is estimated at 40 per cent. Of
the total population Summer is at hand. the
heat Is now extreme, all the maladies are in
creasing, and Cuba has become a great danger
for America
Those who have no business and no money to
lose also look to the United States to save their
lives, believing that the interference OF America
to stop the war will remove the great cause Of
this extraordinary mortality.
Outside OF Havana, In addition to these cpl
denies, famine Is raging. Last week 200 per
sons died Of hunger In Santa Clara province
$50 in Matanzas, so in Havana, and over 100 in
Pinar del Rio.
The war Ia waging more fercely than ever
The average OF daily engagements In all the
provinces Is now eighty eight