Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-11
The Misery or Spain.
N.ondon Taleglaph.)

MADRID, June 22.-There are other
layers of the population who are literally
starving. Throughout Spain, FOR example.
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. whose mission
IL is to impart elementary instruction
are terribly underpaid on paper. In real
ity they are not paid at all. With the ex-
cepfion OF two provinces. these wretchei
SPANISH "dominies" have not seen tho
color of the money owing to them for ten.
twelve, or twenty months. In various
parts OF the country There teachers OF the
future generation have openly taken 90
begging i'm the streets. The soldiers who
sacrificed their health. and who lost their
limbs i'm Cuba and the Philippines, ara
still the unpaid creditors OF the nation.
while the money which the government
expressly stipulated TO pay them has been
handed over TO the rebels as an Induce
mont TO keep the peace. And everybody
now knows how it was kept. Il few days
ago a sergeant decorated for his bravery
IN the colonies walked about the streets
begging a crust OF bread. until the crowd
gathered around him and took pity on the
pariah. The widows and orphans OF tho
thousands OF brave youths who lost their
lives I'm cuba are dying slowly OF starya-
ton.
The proportion Of women 20 men IN
cnatn has become very unfaYOrable Tor
the former. and in Madrid alone there are
about Is 900 more women than men Ana
few can realize the meaning OF this teiri-
BILE IN & The soldiers In Cuha az this
uresei,t moment have unsatished claims
against the government for six months
nav. and entertain scant hopes OF ever re-
ceiving H. -,
throughout tho whole peninsula, and N
every branch OF trade and manufacture
the same dismal story is told. IN Cadls
the population is face 10 face WITH pIanN
ruin Ships laden with Spanish cargoes
for the Colonies are obliged 20 deposit
tbem I'm that city, where trade and COM
merce are already dead. Barcelona, whose
rand growth and comparative wealth
were dependent upon the markets OF CupA
and the Philippines. Is suffering lncllcu-
loble losses Works and factories thess
have been closed, thousands thrown out
Of employment 10 whom forced ldlenes'
Is equivalent TO starvation, and beggaf-
dom is assuming proportions whlch as
NAV and baffle the police. TO make mo-
ters worse, other occupations "h,A
seemed independent OF the war. are SUI
forine al the hand OF nature, and every
thing seems hostile 20 Spain. In Aerez'
for instance. the ravages OF the redolbt-
able nhvlloxera are such that In a couple
OF wears more the native vintages VIII
have entirely disappeared. and sherry
wine in the good, old sense OF the term
will have become thing OF the past
No wonder IT, under such appalling
conditions OF existence. the people shouh
exhibit no enthusiasm for the hollo"
phrases Of glory, honor, patriotism g.
which are being trumpeted abrohd N
eloquent young men whose heaos @'o
| filled with names from Greek ana l'oin'I
history. and whose ambition yearnS Tor
a Mace i'm the Cortes. J could give many
startling instances Of this realistic cur
rent among the people, especially IN tho.'
who have 10 bear the brunt OF tho war
! But / have said enough 20 mako II cieA,
that Spanish politicians who have rulhel
| their country are not the spanish peop'
who only ask to be let live in peace