The record-union., 1898-07-25

lemon gardens, are now seen frequent
ly abandaned or half neglected. Irriga-
tion, which would make this sunny land
bring forth by handfuls, is not only not
pushed and increased, but the old chan
nels and waterways are uncared for.
If to all this neglect you add the wan
ton destruction of forests and woods,
it is not very hard to realize that what
the Industrious Moor made a. garden
and what long was a. very granary to
Europe is to-day a decaying and vast
ed land. THE King lives by the field. =
This widespread and growing agricul-
tural decay and this progressive ex-
haustion of the land work mischief all
around. The small trades, industries
and manufactures that are linked with
and live by successful and profitable
farming and fruit growing are either
dead or dying. Large numbers OF per-
sons are without their natural employ
nent in the fields. Food is scant and
of inferior quality. Money, even in the
form of small silver, is scarce. Hence
arise the circumstances when fools be-
take themselves to silly ways Of gain,
such as gam bling and lotteries, and
desperate men to robbery and brigand-
age.
BURDENED LAND OWNERS.
According to competent authorities,
a large proportion of the old estates
are heavily, if not hopelessly, encum-
bered. The land owners are to a great
extent held in the bitter bonds of des-
perate debts. A condition of things
obtains strikingly similar to that found
half a century ago in Ireland. and
which called for drastic measures by
the wise legislation of the Encumbered
Estates Act In Spain for years a
wretched system has prevailed OF bor-
rowing money on the growing crops
and the timber fit to be felled. Very
often the crop was deficient, or failed
altogether. A new bill or a larger
debt, or new mortgage resulted The
bankers are frequently the money lend
ers, and foreigners hold the mortgages
and the bonds.
Because of this overburdened condi-
ton. the land owners have been able to
do but very little to develop the re-
sources of the country. These are both
many and great. If half utilized the
work made necessary would give
abundant and lucrative employment TO
the peasants, and would yield steady
and large revenue to the owners. But
the mines and quarries are either un-
wrought or are in the hands or
strangers. One direct result OF THIS re-
ally bankrupt condition of many of the
landed gentry is the crowding OF the
younger sons into the army, the navy
and the colonial offices. The military
the naval. the official life is adopted
of necessity and not seldom with one
clear object. That purpose is to secure
some post in a colony where, by we'll
known and commonly practiced meth
DDS, a fortune can be laid up for a
speedy return home in after years.
Here we see the outstretch Of the iron
hand that has killed and is killing the
geese that have laid for Spain the
golden eggs.
An ex-Minister of Spain stated in Ma
drid that the amount of money mis-
appropriated by the officers of the army
must amount to millions Of pesetas a
month" And a story is told of poor
Captain renitting from Havana to his
wife at home about $1,000 in one-half
year.
THE STATE OF THE PEASANTRY.
Ignorance, misgovernment. extreme
poverty. and sullen endurance. That
is the condition of the peasant. He de-
serves a better lot. He is to-day the
best man in the land. He has fine
qualities; he has large capacities; he
| has many virtues. Give him real
| school. a fair days wage for a fair
6ay's work an honest and capable