The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-06
The Spanish People.

While Justly indignant with Spanish
officials and above all With the srrant
dsmasogues who seem to rule the luck
less lteriao Peninsula. it Is bu, just to
extend the mantle of pi'y over the
Spaoish people. 10 the excitement
which Spanish official arrogance has
created scarcely any one has noticed the
deplorable condition Of that country
itself. The population is steadily di-
uioishiog. 10 1887 it va, II 500, 900.
To-day i: is estimated at 10000 600
In other words. it is diminishing 10
population more rapidly than any other
civilized power. A steady stream Of
its young men eulgrases each year to
other countries 40 enormon. amour.
of territory is owoed by the church.
which each year becomes greater bur.
deo upon the uorkiog classes.
Although many Of the monasseries
are falling into ruin and .be nunneries
are Inhabited chiefly by the oal and the
bat. there are still more than Eve hun
dred thousand people belonging to she
church who are taken away from the
producing classes of the com
neoi,y. The income of the nation
as whole has been gradually growing
smaller. Thirty years ago it was
estimated a, 81 200. 900. 900. Three
years ago it was 5000, 100000 aud
'as. yesr it was only $3.50 100000
The governments spent 5000 900 900
ST this, SO that only $3.50 100000 was
left for the entire nation, sum so
smsll as to Involve the psuparizatiou Of
more than ope-tepth of Its citizens.
Iiliterscy is about SO per cent aud
the death rate is abous the highest in
Europe. The Cuban and Philippine
wars have cos, the country what it could
least afford TO lose, its yoong men,
OF these more thso one hundred thoua-
aud have been killed and another bun
dred sboosand taken away from the ma
=tion's productive Industries To this
awful drain must be added the large
standisg army which must be support
ed TO preven, republican insarrecsioD
Ia the big cities. and C.rliss rebellion
IN the rural. aod especially ,be noun
taio districts.
Tb;s army pun bers 80. 600. .nd If to
it be sdded The police and other govern
ment officials, total Of l50, 600, max
ing a still greater burden upon the
shoulders of the people That there
are riots esery week is no wonder.
The only wonder is ,has there is oo
revolution. The average waee in
Barcelona i, 40 cants per day and in the
oeuntry districts 80 ceoss while. owing
70 the cruel .axation of the government
and the more craei speculation of the
merchants. wheat is nov 50 80 a
bushel. The rational debt il far larger
than chat Of the United States. As
published BY she government in Decem
Der. the parmanent debt was 81 800. :.
600. .000. and the annual interest charge
was over $s0.0O0.OOO This. however,
does not inolnle nlscellanecu. indebted
nesn. arrears sod defauised payments
OF shese the amount is not koovn, bnt
N uas he very large. 10 Cuba alone it
aggregates moro than 100000. 900.
snd in Spain is said to be still larger
So far as can be ascertsi.ed, the national
debs Of tbe country is DOW over 50. .o00,-
900 900. The Dasionsl resources are
all pledged, and even doubly pledged.
to foreign financial concerns. aad the
Treasury is but short remove from
irretrie vable bankruptcy and ruin.
Under lhis terrible load the people.
igooran., poor aad miserable, bave
maintained courage and bopefnloess
altogether admirable. Bus so ia, ss
Gao be seen. there is LITTLE, OF 20 hope
for Spain. II it goes to var i. will be
crushed, aad If it does not go to war it
will collapie. In either case the end
will come 70 civilization which has 10
longer reason for its existence
Y Mail and Express.