The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-08-06

islands ana their natives n cites
some of the causes that have led I'D 10
the revolution. Speaking of the sit
uation he says that Admiral Dewey is
N complete command, and, continuing
says:
Communication with the shore is
easy, thanks to the permission of the
admiral who has shown most remark
able powers of administration under
anomalous circumstances. 1t must be
understood that Spanish rule still pre-
walls, and hat there are about 25, O
troops in the capital. 1t is said that
the government has enrolled about
100000 volunteers, but this, | take it, is
brag. 1t would mean hat it had reen-
forced the insurgents with that num-
Der of men.
Here, then, is Dewey, with his small
squadron. not only ~cverawing the
heavy odds of Spanish troops, but in
possession of the harbor and prevent
ing the arrival of supplies. Hunger, or
rather famine, will render any mar
desperate, but, although there is some
stealing and robbery, yet the city is
hNpl III hoDlN SOOu lhCl Dul
only on account of Dewey's presence.
1t is, however, not safe for a stranger
to perambulate the almost deserted
streets, andmore dangerous, of course.
to go openly as an American CORE
spondent. Letters OF introduction
from Shanghai friends to an old and
wealthy German resident left the i'm
preston that | am here in the interest
of a German paper, and l have taken
excellent are not to destroy that illu-
sion. The consequence is that the
Spanish officers TO whom l have been
introduced talked with freedom.
\ walk through the business part of
the city has a depressing influence.
The Plaza del Padre Morago and the
Rosario are deserted save for the
staggering, fierce-looking Spanish
officer, who has o yet realized hat
Othello's occupation is gone. These
officers, N and all, are convinced that
Europe will interfere to prevent the
despoiling of Spain. They talk of kin
dred races, and in the same breath
mention the absolute certainty of Ger
man intervention. 1t is all nonsense,
of course, the attitude of England is
such thatno European power will dare
Obstruct Admiral Dewey's measures.
only mention the tenor of these con-
~yersations to show that all self-refi-
ance of the Spaniards is utterly gone.
1 doubt very much if u troops Will
have to fight, Notwithstanding the fact
that the very existence of the Span
iards is at stake. There is no ghost of
a doubt that every ~inhabitant of Ma
Mia, excepting those who boast of be-
ing born iii Spain. is al insurgent or a
sympathizer with the in~surrection.
These people will not talk to me, being
suspicious of the company l frequent,
but / can readily account for the
hatred prevailing against all that is
Spanish.
Native PHILIPPINES, residing in Mad
rid, expressed their grievances in an
address to the Spanish people. It con-
tains extracts from the Philippine
budget for the last administrative year
QS96-97) and enumerates the follow
ing CRYING complaints. Quoting from
the budget il states that the Philippine
treasury pays a heavy contribution to
the general expenses of the govern
ment at Madrid; pays pensions to Duke
de Varagua (our guest during the Co.
lumbar eXhibition) and to the mar
.quis of Bedmar, besides those of the
sultans and native chiefs of the Islands
of Sulu and Mindanao; it provides for
the entire cost of the Spanish con-
sulates at Picking, Toxic, Hong-Kong.
Singapore, Saigon, Yokohama and Mel
bourne: for the staff and material OF
the minister of the colonies, including
the purely ornamental council OF the
Philippines; the expenses of support
ing the colony of Fernando Pc, in
Africa, and all the pensions and retir-
ing allowances of the civil and military
employees who have served in the Phil
ippines, amounting to the sum OF ST.
10000 a year.
What a mich cow these islands have
been to the ~Spaniards! What a host
of ignorant, idle hidalgos have fat
tened upon huge sums diverted from
the unfortunate workers.
And what has Spain done in return?
The document from which translate
this states the facts with scathing
hluntness: More than S17,OOO,OOO is
the amount consigned in the Philip
pine budget for that year, but not a
is allowed for public works,
highways, bridges, or public buildings,
and only $4,000 for scientific studies,
indispensable repairs, rivers and ca
nails, while the amount set apart for
religious purposes and clergy amounts
to nearly 81, 4OO, 900. This sum does not
include the amounts paid to the clergy
for baptisms, marriages. sale of in
dulgences, papal bulls and scapularies,
which exceed the government allow
ances. The magnificent sum of S4O.-
900 is set apart as a subvention to rail
way companies and new projects of
railways, but the College for Francis
can monks in Spain and the tranSpor-
tation Of priests comes in for S55,0Oo!"
1t seems really as if the world had
gone back three centuries and as if
we were living in the time of bloody