The Democratic advocate., 1898-03-26

I
pected to pay in case they are again sub
dued) are reckoned to be about S120,
600, 900 year. The debt of Spain, in
Guiding that on account of Cuba, is more
than billion Of dollars, and is rapidly in
creasing by reason Of the revolt in both
Cuba and the Philippine Islands, as well
as by unfavorable conditions at home. A
little item of interest to Americans, in con-
nection with this debt, is the fact that over
500, 900 of it is due to the United States.
Some idea of what it costs Cuba to main
tain the parasites that have for a long time
been draining her life blood (the Spanish
civil, military and other functiOnaries set to
misgovern and keep her in subjection), is
furnished by salary items. The population
of Spain and all her colonies is scarcely
three eighths as great as that of the United
States, but the governor general of Cuba,
having in charge population about three
fourths as great as that of the little State
Of Massachusetts, is better provided for
than the President of the United States,
the executive of a mighty people, inhabit
ing country compared with which Cuba
is a mere speck. This Spanish appointee
has a salary or $50, 900 year, Il palace in
Havana, and a summer house i'll the coun-
try, with servants, coaches, and "a fund at
his disposal for the employment Of spies
and pimps-is maintained at the expense
of the Cuban people in a sort of regal dig
nifty to which our Chief Magistrate is IL
stranger, though the nation over which he
presides is the richest on the globe
Here follows list of salaries paid other
civil officers, and of those appointed to
military, naval and other crown positions
Director General of the Treasury. .SlS, 800
Archbishop of Santiago. ......... Is, 600
Bishop of Havana................. $4,000
Commander General of the Naval
Station. .......................... 1G.392
The General who is second in COM
mand in the island. .............. $1,000
The President Of the Audienca Is. 900
Governor of Havana. na............... 5000
Secretary of the General Govern
meut 5000
Postmaster C,eneral. 5000
Collector of the Havana Custom
House e......................... t.UUO
Manager of Lotteries ............... 1000
Chief Clerks of Administration.
first class. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1.OOo
Chief Clerks of Administration.
second class Observation-Disclosures. 1000
Chief Clerks of Administration,
third class S....................... 5000
Maior-G Generals. each. ............. 100
Rrigadier-G Generlls. each. ........... 1900
Brigadier Generals. each when in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ...... 1000
ColonelS, each (salary is increased
when in command .............. 3.450
Captains Of largest men-0f-war,
each. .......................... y. 1hu
Captains Of frisates, each ......... 1850
Lieutenants Of the navy first
class. each Observation-Disclosures 3.3IO
All these officers are entitled to free
lodging and to domestic servants at the
public expense. \ host of minor officials
have proportiOnate salaries.
Some Of the items of annual expenditure
help to bring into stronger light the finan-
cial burdens borne by this people for the
purpose of keeping themselves enslaved.
Judged by American standards, ON the
basis of our State government expenses,
the following summary gives figures six
times as great as would be necessary under
purely local rule, and Il writer, apparently
fully informed as to Cuban affairs says
that this money taken under forms Of law
does not represent more than is taken by
peculation and fraud These are the fig
mes for year under ordinary conditions:
how much more astounding must they be
in time of war, if we admit that the island
ers will eventually be made to pay
Interest on the Spanish ma
tional debt bt...............S10, 500, 600
Army and navy............... 1000, 900
Civil St........................ f,uOu, UOu
Pensions to retired military
and civil officers and their
widows. S....................,.. 2,OOO; OOO
Department of Justice..... 1000, 900
Department of Finance. .... 100, 900
Even these figures mark an expenditure
of Sl5.44 per capita, or 6S per cent. Of
the entire currency per capita OF the United
States
The paternal government makes no ap-
preparation to educate the masses. 1t
would be harder than it has been to keep
the people in bondage if popular education
was provided for
I'm addition to the direct eXactiOns spok en-
of, the tariff and other commercial laws
passed by the Cortes are 50 framed as to
benefit Spain, while they discourage in
dustry and enterprise in Cuba and prevent
the full development of her great resources
This article is intended mainly to explain
in brief the economic conditions of Cuba
as brought about by more than three hun
dred years Of misrule. The story of fill
clustering attempts to wrest her from her
Spanish masters, OF rather to aid her citi-
zens in doing this, and of the repeated
of the islanders themselves to es-
tablish their independence and institute
free government, would require volume
told however succinctly it possibly could
be. As said previously, foreign powers
have occasionally held temporary posses
sion The expedition of Lopez (1S5O),
in which Crittenden, the gallant young
Kentuckian, lost his life but spoke words
of defiance and of high meanings when
standing before his executioners, which
must have thrilled even the crul Spaniard,
and which his home people will think upon
as long as they cherish valor, this of it
self would require chapter.
Uprisings have been many during the
last half century-in 1850-51, 1855,
1868, 1885, and 1895. The struggle
which began in February, 1895, has been
waged until this time and the
end is not yet.
In 1868 began q ten-year conflict. At
loct Saain,y tho bonalaScnaSs Of +ba;. o,,,.o