The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-21
'SPAINN dire STRAITS
Nearly Bankrupted by Her Two
Wars.

Wv dISs
WHY SHE HAS FAILED IN CUBA.
Spanish Officers Levying on the Cuban
Plantcrs-Some of the Insurgents Also
Have Engaged In che Tramc-The Craze
For ONCE.
WASHINGTON, May 20.-[Special. Gu
ban matters arc still uppcrmost in tho
minds of tho public men of tho na-
tional capital. Tho air Is filed with OK
poctancy rs to future developments. The
appropriation for relief of American suffer-
ers in the island WINS passed so quickly rs
to give an Indication of what tho spirit of
Tho American people and congress will be
when events occur to rouse them. Nom
bers of the administration tell mo tbey do
not expect any war with Spain out of our
relations to the Cuban problem. Even
II tho president intorvenes they believe It
Will bc done in such way that Spain
VIII have an opportunity to savo her pride
and appeaso her people. Spain is in no
condition to go to war. Sho is we'll nigh
bankrupt. Her credit Is exhausted in
every banking house Of Europe. Sho has
''N>A ''A hSA icSOuICcS III VIC TWO WARS tlnG
have been going on so long, ono in Cubn
and tho other in the Philippines. Her
expenditures in these two wars have bcen
about SD, 100000 II month, which is n
greater burden upon poor Spain thnn
Sl5O,0O0,O0O u month would be upon this
country. If tho president intervcncs and
serves notice upon Spain TINT she must
surrender Cuba, but that sho may have n
money bonus, or payment of her war debt
ny tho Cuban revenues, that would afford
ioopholc for the fiery Spanish pride to
creep through. Spain would be mad to 90
TO war with tho United States. The en-
gagcmcnt could not last long, and could
have but ono rcsult-tho overwhelming
defeat and humiliation of Spain.
Getting Rich Out of tho Planters.
Why has Spain failed so sgnally in tho
work of suppressing the rebellion in Cuba?
This is II question often asked. Tho most
Intelligent reply to it that have heard was
given by gentleman who recently camc
from Cuba. While there his business called
MIN out into tho country and having tho
protection of tho Spanish authorities he
was able to go and como us ho pleased.
AT several of tho richest plantations ho
was given an opportunity to look over the
books, and he found q great many entries
showing sums of money paid to officers
IN tho Spanish army. These payments
were in sums, ranging from $500 to 81, 600,
ana thoy were quite frequent. OF course
mono of this money ever finds its way TO
the government treasury. 1t is pcrqui-
E,to of the military men. 1t is their chief
compensation, rs tho money in which
Spain pays thcm their salaries the manor
money, is ut u frightful discount.
am told by this gentleman, who is in
position to know what lie is talking about,
that the Spanish officers have n regular
system of levy and division. They know
about how much each plantation owner
can stand to pay, and they work tho traffic
1or what it Will bear, us railway men say
A certain percentage goes to tho minor
officers, another per cent to the brigade
commander and n considerable pnrt finds
Its way to tho pockets of those high in au-
thority. 1t is believed General Weylcr has
become very rich man since no took com
mand of tho army in Cuba. Every CAPTAIN
general Spain sends to Cuba is expected to
get rich while there, and mono of them
misses his opportunity. This system of
plundering tho treasures of tho planta-
tions is tho real reason why tho insurgents
get off so easily. Tho officers say they
would DO fools to put an end to tho war
and thus rob themselves of good thing.
In Favor of Annexation.
4Noo piiiS lHS 'oiIuIilSn Objects, Dut some
of tho insurgents, arc in this business of lin
ing their pockets with tho gold of the
planters. Between the two tho planters
arc having pretty hard time of it, and it
is not surprising that thoy aro in favor of
ending tho war and restoring order with
out caring very much which sido wins or
what the form of government is. Among
tho really substantial mon of tho island,
including good many Spaniards, am
told tho sentiment in favor of annexation
to tho United States is growing. They
want peace and security Mt my price. liz
Spain suppresses this rebellion they know
another ono will soon break out and that
the only security they can get for the future
lies in tho control of the island by some
power that is strong enough to maintain
order and an honest government.
Every timo tho horizon shows a war
cloud our naval officers prick up their
ears and wear smiles on their faces. Tho
warmcst bed Of jingocs in Washington
just now is the Army and Navy club,
where tho officers of our two military os-
Establishments meet to talk over tho situa-
ton. Every ono of them wants war.
They arc eager to show what they can do,
the army men being almost ms anxious
for chance TO show their Drowoss rs tho