The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-04-21

poor subjects were simply wasting
away and waiting for the end. The
spectacle was revolving, an inhuman
disgrace in this 10Th century of civiliz-
alton.
| DR.. May, while at ,Matanzas, had a
desire to go into the country, or small
or towns, and witness the spectacles
there. The Spanish government does
not allow this, but the speaker,
an old traveller, purchased ticket for
a larger city, and then took the wrong
train. The conductor put him off at
the first station, just where DR.. May
wanted to get off, until a train came
along the next day to take him back
to Matanzas. The scenes were similar
there. He became acquainted with
the owner of plantation, who drove
him out to the same, five or six miles
distant, and showed him the ruins of
superb estate, reduced to ashes by
Spanish soldiers. He took DR.. May
to the top of mountain near by, and
from there could be seen down in the
valley the flag of the Cuban Army of
Liberation floating over the camp of
struggling patriots. Here DR.. May
emphatically asserted that the Cubans
we're in complete control of the east
ern portion of the Island, could cap
ture any city in the west except Ha-
vana, but could not hold it on account
of the concentrated superior force of
Spanish arms.
1t was while in this small place that
DR.. May learned something regarding
Spanish elections. The owner of the
plantation told him that an election
had been held a short time before.
There we're no ballots cast in that pre-
cinct, except few blank ballots, but
Notwithstanding this the precinct had
been returned as three to one in favor
of the government. "That is the way
the Queen wanted it returned" said
the owner, "and that is the way we re-
turned it." And that was the way the
elections were held all over the un-
happy Island.
Speaking of the recent revocation of
the Weyler reconcentrado order, DR..
May was particularly bitter. He said
it was farce, as the people to whom
it applies are too ill to work, and have
nothing with which to start, and no
strength. Blanks have been issued
which are to be filled out with requi-
sitions for whatever they need and
sent to, Havana. The mockery of it is
that the farce ends with sending the
blanks. Nothing moro is ever heard
of them. The relief work is going for
ward rapidly in 2lO towns, but there
are between $4,000 and 10000 recon-
centradoes who must die, however
generous the relief, for they are be-
yond help.
The speaker gave superb word
picture of the beauty of the Pearl of
the Antilles, of it's climate, and of the
fertility of it's soil, and it's capabilities
to produce almost everything. He
spoke of this vast acreage now pro-
ducing practically nothing, on account
of the war, while it was being drenched
with Spanish and Cuban blood.
"There is not railroad or sugar
plantation in operation in Cuba, but
what pays tribute to the insurgent
government for the privilege of oper
ating. The owners know too we'll that
the insurgents would, destroy every
thing if this tax was not paid, and
hence they are required to pay al
double tax-one to the Spanish and
one to the Cuban government"
DR.. May exhibited a machete that
once had been the property of a Gu
ban officer, who had fallen in battle
for freedom. He explained why they
we're such deadly weapon, saying
that the Cubans learned to use them
in infancy, in cutting caue and clear
ing roads of trees, etc., and so clever
were they with them that they would
make both the down and up stroke
count in striking.