New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
WAR SPIRIT IN MATANZAS.
CAUSES OF DIsAFFECTION TOWARD
SPANISH RULE
TRADE RUINED AND TAXES MADE BuRpENsoME
wRETcHED CONDITION OF RICH AND

BEAUTIFUL REGION.
,,ov .PrclAl CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Na,anzas Cuba, Dec. 29.-Matanzas once held
,sace festival. The capital and commercial
rrart O, rich province. the largest city In
cha after Havana IT was we'll fitted for a GEL
.bra,ion OF the victories OF agriculture and
,rsds The festival was celebrated in ISL
.h-oa wears after the termination OF the Ten
wars War and when the recuperative forces
=, the island had had time TO develop them
calves This festival OF peace proved harbin-
cor O, real prosperity for Matanzas and the sur
ornding country. Ii ushered in a ten-year
,s4od Of economic successes and OF comparative
contentment The sugar plantations reached
,be,r most productive stage. The carrying
,,sde took fresh strides. On the heels OF this
neroa came the reciprocity treaty with the
United States The vessels In the haroor DID
not grow fewer. but the flags OF European ma
zion. began 70 disappear. Their place was taken
nv the stars and Stripes.
rben came the abrogaton OF the reciprocity
,,eatv Matanzas Province felt the depression IN
The sugar industry. Matanzas City felt the loss
=, ,bs carving trade and political agitation
and nnutter.ngs OF instruction followed Inc
..,,,ce IN its great prosperity had patiently en-
sr-sd the gross abuses OF a political system ad-
N-,.,..o,o, from, without The heavy burdens
=. ao,,rle taxation which corrupt administra-
.,o, entails had not become great that the
ao,a-., welfare was affected. Under such con-
S,.,ors tho agitation within constitutional lines
-. roeor,os the movement for autonomy, did not
become a formidable political demonstration
c.. r.san,roent as was felt against Spanish
,,,,a ,,as NOT widespread. but what there was OF
{, was intense When the die was cast not
MANY Nantanzas Autonomists went INTO the
ca NTH tho Insurgents because there were
-. ,v.o 60 Those who did take up arms
Rod ,or the most part been open believers In rev.
o,,,,or az the only means for securing home rule
.. cuba and they expected to gain home rule
nv winning independence Though their num-
,a-s u,srA not large and though Matanzas was
among the first Of the provinces which General
Uevler declared to be "pacifed. enough IN
.u,gen-s are in the hills TO keep FIVE thousand
troops constantly employed.
The en,rlt OF the war is as strong as In the
.as.ern provinces 1t has come to permeate all
classes OF Cubans strongly that IN putting
che regimen Of autonomy into enect the Gov
eminent finds difficulty in finding men whose
sympathies are not too deeply enlisted WIN
the insurgents in the field. II cannot anoro 10
trust Itself entirely 10 the hands OF passive sup
porters The lack Of historic Autonomists was
20 marked that the new Governor had 10 De
sent from Havana. He is Mr.. Cespedes' Jaw
yer OF amiahle qualities, who was a Heformistn
rather than an Autononist The Conservative
element is split up into a radical and a mod
crate faction. but neither element couio De oe-
pended on 70 give the Government support
VACANT DOCKS AND BURNING CANEF1ELDs.
With this statement Of past and present con-
ditlons. II may be understood that there Is Nt-
Gle nroenect Of Matanzas celebrating another
peace festival in the near future Her decay
was as swift as her rise to the heights or COM
mercial prosperity. Her splendid docks are ht-
orally rotting away. Two or three small coast
ing schooners are moored TO them The ensign
a. no foreign nation IS seen futtering in the
harbor. Next week there will be an American
vessel 10 take away the sugar that has been
ground Other mills will furnish further car
goes and before the season ends more Ameri-
can vessels will be in the harbor. The tempo
rary activity in the shipping may bring BACK
the CLEAN O. the old times but the promise IS
for nothing more than a CLEAN. Even now the
sugar planters and the vessel owners are de-
pressed for the smoke from burning caneheIds
can be seen in several directions around Matan-
zas small caneheld however makes big
smoke. The destruction is not general ana IN
spite Of contrary reports, is not likely to be-
come widespread. Some planters ii is alleged.
have not paid the tribute agreed upon ana
some have declared that they will depend on
General B.anco for military protection. The de-
structon Of the canefelds. for whatever cause.
Is wanton waste Of Cuba's depleted resources.
which should be husbanded TO a single stalk OF
cane Nevertheless. it is a demonstration Of
a. he
mills are TO be protected the troops alone are
not capable Of doing II. The insurgents show
that they, too. must be consulted
Another cause exists for the failure OF Ma
tanzas to respond to the invitation to accept
autonomy and awaken into new political and In
iustrial life 1t is the economic depletion OF It's
sources Of labor supply. single season under
the most favorable conditions would suffice 10
restore and recuperate for work the country peo-
pie who were concentrated in the towns. The
conditions however, have not been favorable.
The inability OF the Spanish Government to sup
ply sufficient food has been proclaimed TO the
world by President Mckinley. II does not re-
Quire comment. But If General Blanco's inten-
ton in revoking Weyler's decree and extending
The zones % cultivation had been fully carried
1ut great stride forward would nave Deen
aken In enabling the country people TO reed
hemse.Ves The rich valleys OF the Yunari ana
he San Juan in yielding a fraction or then
ichness would furnish ample food supply. WITH
'ut going into details ii must he said that TINS
las not been done. Farms almost on the edee
u the town are not permitted 10 be cultivated
The zone OF cultivation has barely been ex-
ended at all IT includes more OF the rocky
ILLS than Of the fertile valleys The susie
ance that might have come from cultivation OF
he soil must for a time longer come from with
ut-from the United States
THE SUFFERING RECONCFNTRADOS.
The concentration Of the country people was
n itself heavy blow TO Matanzas. In all 14.OOO
ersons were brought within the gates OF the
lily. and their support entaed upon the mu-
icipality. the resources Of whose citizens were
apidly depleted without means OF renewal. Out
the survivors OF the concentrated population
My three hundred men were found capable or
ding out the sugar plantations TO work. Inc
iretched pacfcos still drag themselves through
he streets. begging food and pillaging the gar