The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-24

a detailed story OF viss. 10 Los Aocas,
the place where che reconeentrados daily
assemble To get food, WAS also given. A
few weeks ago. when Miss Barton siistov-
cred the place. there were SIS people lying
on the floors. many Of them entirely made
and al suffering the paags Of starvation.
Nuca has been done by the Red Cross So
Getty 10 alleviate The condition OF those
wllo still renain. hu; scores OF men. women
and children are yet there. gaaat ard hony,
almost skeleton. many of them COW
cred with sares. directly lraceahle 10 insult.
fieiens food.
What Il chapter Of horrors ard death 10
that and still she tragedy goes on. How
much longer shall IL continue largely de-
bends upon the f0reeRyance Of 4 great
people. VINO through suffering and sorrsw
achieved their own independence and whose
sympa,nses always have gone out To the
oppressed of all nations of the world
\ vivid picture was then drawn By Mr..
Gaiiinger OF trip 10 the city OF Ms,anzas.
All along the route were wretched people
in rags. aut no, until the city was reached
was the full extent of the suffering real
ICED.
lit occurred to ne | looked upon the
scenes OF sufferings and horrors that the
Cuban reeoncentraios might well have
adopted the words of Dante. Who enters
here leaves hope behind when they were
driven from the fields and heried like cat
lie IN the cities and towns of this fertile
land. The truth 10 that Weyler devised u
scheme of human suffering and sorrow that
pui Dante's Inferno In the shade. and
converted a contented. prosperous people
into herd OF suffering. starving unsor-
tunates.
"Mafanzas is literally a place of beg
gary and death. Never before did my eyes
behold such suffering. and never again 10
expect to see such havoc wrought through
crnel and inhuman decree. A visit 10
the Matanxas hospitals revealed an even
more shocking condition than the streets.
A member OF the Red Cross Society who
had visited one of the hospitals two weeks
before. was almost overcome upon discov-
ering that nearly every one OF the inmates
az that time had since died There pow
erty. SORROW and suffering were depleted
in their worst forms. Children. gaunt in
face but with abdomen and limbs terribly
swollen: women in the las, stages of ema-
citation. and men there rapidly drifting 10
death.
IF there was food in these hospitals"
said Mr.. Galiinger. II dill not discover II,
neither were there signs Of medicine or OF
proper nourishrnen; or care"
The governor of Mantazas informed Mr.,
Gallinger that the first day ne occupied the
palace, fifteen persons had died In the court
yard. He said further that in the city
liza had died in November. iso In Decem-
Der. go in January. and 5oD in February.
The death rate was decreasing. SIMPLY be-
cass@e the reconcenirados, by death. were
becoming fewer.
The number Of people who have starved
In Cuba viii never be definitely known
1t is estimated that SO,ea were driven
from ther homes into the cities and
towns. had IL from Spanish authority
that according 10 their figures a.ss0n az
ready have persisted. but IL Is said that
the Red Cross Society is In possession OF
figures showing that ss5.0D cubans have
died az result OF starvation. and that
3a.o" more must Inevitably die.
Il have been asked many times. what
of the Maine? do not know. This. how
ever, | do know: government that will
deliberately siarve 10000 OF its own peo-
pie will do pretty much anything. II the
ship was blown UP from the outside,
what should our government; do: Per-
haps l should forbear TO discuss that
question now. but this | will venture TO
say: Human lie purpose.y taken cannot
be paid for in gold or silver.
Mark my words. purposely taken. IL
IL shall appear that such was the fate
of 20 brave American sailors. then heaven
pity the guilty parties. II will not be q
question for arbitration. but = question
involving the dignity and honor OF this
grea. republic
Mr.. Gaiiineer said that there was little
real loyalty to Spain in Cuba. as would
be demonstrated when the hour of trial
should came He did NOT believe that
Spain could subdue the Insurgents. The
Cubans had been oppressed so long that
they preferred death 10 Spanish rule.
Discussing the question OF Spanish rule
Mr. Gal.inger referred 10 the matter OF
taxation. In addition to all direct and
indirect taxation on real estate. there IL
u tax on every door. every window and
every chimney in every house: on every
letter in every business s.gn and on every
name on every hotel register. Licenses
are required 10 build houses and paint
buildings. There IL tax on food animals
as a whole. and special taxes on the horns
and boots and the hide. In addition 10
all this tremendous burden, the salaries
of the Spanish officials are beyond ali rea-
son. anu the amount OF money wrunK
from the Cubsns TO keep the Madrid gov
eminent from complete insolvency il
simply enormous.
NO people on the face Of the earth have
been So oppressed. the treasury 90 Spain
being literally supplied from the revenues
estorted from Cuba and the Philippines
our forefathers went 10 war because
the mother country put tax tea. Cuba
has ten thousand more reasons than We
had for rebellion. and she deserves the
sympathy OF every true American
Fortunately the people of this great
republic are thoroughly aroused TO the
situation. and the great heart of the
American popusace - In full sympathy
with Cuba. Religion and humanity alike
demand that the war shall close. ard
eeas. IL should. even though the glitter
and giamor of military rule shall end and
decaying ard disso.ute throne snail
pass away. never TO return.
AZ @hnstEd I,a ffone Mr. f.ai-