The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-23

ing death rate of twenty in 1000 that
would give 1.50O deaths In a year.
But here we have $500 deaths in four
months, more than seven times that of a
normal death rate, and the sad thing of
1t all Is that the excess above the aver
age rate shows the number of deaths from
starvation and from nothing else.
On the cars was told that in San Girls
tobal one coach, used as a hearse. had
carried to the cemetery 500 dead in 26
days, while many uncofffned dead were
disposed of In other ways, and in an
other place of 5000 inhabitants (San>a Cruz
del Norte) not far from Matanzas. every
dog and cat has been eaten, and utter
deso!ation confronts the place, unless re-
lief comes soon.
The mayor OF this town was in Havana,
and he is responsible for the statement
have made. He begged Miss Barton to
go to the relief of the place. which she
promised to do, but God alone knows how
much good it will do under the circum-
stances.
Miss Barton says that this is a worse
famine than that of Armenia or India.
In India famine came because of the crop
failures. and in Armenia as the result OF
religious fanaticism, but here in Cuba
is famine of cold calculation, with Ter
tile land on every side, ready to produce
abundant food in response to the demand
of human labor.
That labor has been withheld, in accord
ance with the program laid down by
heartless military ruler. and now the
lands are uneultivated and the people
starving.
The number Of people who have starved
in Cuba will never be definitely known.
1t is estimated that 10000 were driven
from their homes into the cities and
towns.
/ had it from Spanish authority that &C
cording to their figures 225,W0 nave al
ready nerished. but ii is said that'th Red
Cross Society is in possession OF ngures
showing that $4,000 Cubans have died as
a result of Spanish cruelty from starva-
ton. and that 200, 600 more must inevitably
die making an aggregate of $4,000. or al
most twice the population of the Dlstrlct
of Columbia, or the State OF New ramp
shire DIR. Lesser. an authority on the re-
suits Of famine. who is now on the grOund'
saws that Of the $4,000 not taken into the
account above. at least . per cent OF tne ZEN
will die making a grand total OF oS+'VV'
deaths of men, women and children, as
the result of Weyler's inhuman and bar
barous decree.
An Awful Picture.
What a picture is that, so miles from
our shores. And yet this great nation
folds its arms, and officially says:
Am | my brothers keeper"
Thank Heaven. the government Of
France did not reason that way when
Lafayette fought side by side with Wash
ington and Stark and Mad Anthony
WAYNE. when our fOrefathers were Tight
ing for human freedom and Independence
1t may be that the government Of Spain
and the cities Of Havana and MatanZas
are doing something to relieve this ter
rible suffering, but II so / did not see any
evidences OF IT. The hope Of the poor
remaining sufferers is in this great Gov
eminent. and Heaven be thanked. our
people are reaching out the hand of SYM
PATTY and afTectiOnate interest in the
shape of food medicine and clothing.
| have been asked many times. What
Of the Maine?''
do not know.
This. however. ] do know. A govern
ment that will deliberately starve 4c0,-
OCJ of its own people will do pretty much
anything.
II the ship was blown up from the out
side what should our Government do?
Perhaps ] should forbear to discuss that
question now, but this l will venture to
say:
Human life. purposely taken, cannot be
paid for in gold or silver.
Mark my words, ''pUrposely taken
And if 1t shall appear that such was
the fate Of the go odd brave American
sailors, then Heaven pity the guilty par
ties.
1t will not be a question for arbitration.
but a question involving the dignity and
honor Of this great Republic
OF course. for these words | will be call
ed a lingo" whatever that may mean,
but l would infinitely rather be a jingO
than a tory.
A vigorous foreign policy is necessary
to the strength and dignity Of any nation.
| and it is the best possible assurance OF
peace that can be given
There is little real loyalty TO Spain in
Cuba as will be demonstrated when the
hour Of trial comes. Cuban sympathiz-
ers are found everywhere On the cars
between Habana and Matanzas a prom
inent business man of the latter city
openly expressed his deep sympathy for
Cuba, and. drawing from his pocket a
little package. asked me if l would not
like picture OF Gomez. the grand and
intrepid leader of the Cuban army.
The picture is here. a treasure with
which 1 would not lightly part.
do not believe that Spain can sub
que the Insurgents. AlltdtE the WI
has cost Spain the lives OF AT least 100
600 soldiers and vast amount of treas
ure, and the approaching rainy season
will decimate the Spanish ranks at a
fearful rate.
The Cubans have been oppressed so
long that they prefer death to contin-
ued Spanish rule, and why should they
not?
Mr.. President. has this Senate any idea
what Spanish rule in Cuba really means?
Let us look at the matter of taxation.
In addition to all direct and indirect
| taxes on real estate. there is a tax on
| every door, every window and every
chimney in every house.
There is a tax on every letter IN
| every business sign.
There is a tax on every name on
| every hotel register.
Licenses are required to build houses
and to paint houses.
There is n tax on food animals as a
whole. and also special taxes on the
horns, the hoof and the hide.
In addition to all this. the interest on
the debt is a tremendous burden the
salaries of Spanish officials are beyond
all reason and the amount of money
wrung from the Cubans to keep the Mad
rid government from complete insolven-
cy is simply enormous.
What would we think of such a gov
eminent as that?
No people on the face of the earth have
| been so oppressed. the treasury of Spain
| being literally supplied from the revc-
nues extorted from Cuba and the Phil
ippine Islands.