Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-04-20
The Spanish Government fn
 Cuba.

ba, interrupted by short periods Of peace, says the Home and Farm.
 In 1868 the Cubans revolted, and the insurrection continued for eight years, inAicting a heavy loss of life ard treasure upon the Span ish government.
 The cause for these outbreaks is well described by the historian, Robert Mckenzie, in h1s work on America.
 "Cuba, says this writer, "is the noblest of all the islands which Columbus found in the West. It's area is one-half that of Great Brit ain. It's soil yields two and even three crops of corn annually, The perpetual summer of its genial cli- mate clothes in blossom through out the whole year the aromatic plants and trees which beautify it's plains. Sugarcane is a source Of vast wealth. One-half of the island is covered with dense forests of valuable timber still untouched by the ax. The orange tree, the cit- ron, the pomegranate, yield spon- taneously their rich harvest of precious fruits.
 But, continued the writer, the bounty of nature has been neutralized by the unwortbiness of man. The blight of Spanish gov, ernment has fallen heavily on this lovely island. Neither the obedi- enee of Cuba nor the rebellion of the other colonies moves the blind leaders of Spain to mitigate the evils which their authority inaict- ed. All offices were still occupied by natives of Spain All Spaniards born in Cuba were still regarded with contempt by their countrYmen from beyond the sea. Governors still exercised @ purely despotic au- thority, The home government still claimed a large gain from the colonial revenu. All religions but one were still excluded. The loss of a continent had taught no 1eeson to incapable Spain.
 "After the successful as ertion of independence by the Continental States frequent instructions testi- fed to the pressure of liberal spir- it in Cuba. These were suppressed without difficulty, but not without much needless cruelty. At length there burst out an insurrection that surpassed all others in dimen- sions and duration. It continued to rage during eight years; it cost Spain one hundred and fifty thous- and of her best soldiers; nearly one- half of the sugar plantations of the island were destroyed; the popula- tion decreased; trade decayed; poY- erty and famine scourged the un- happy island.
 "Cuba emerged in Q state of ut ter exhaustion. Many of her peo- pie had perished by famine or by the sword many had fled from 8 land blighted by 8 government which they were not able either to reject or endure. Spain sought to make Cuba defray the cost of her own subjugation, aud taxation be- came enormous. The expenditure of Cuba is at the rate of fifteen pounds for each of the population, or six times the rate of that of Great Britain. None of the devic- es to which distressed states are ac- customed to resort has been omit ted, and an inconvertible currency, so large as to be hopelesslY unman- ageable, presses heavily upon the industries of Cuba.
 U There are sixteen hundred govern ment servants in Cuba, nearly all all underpaid, all per- mitted to make ligings or fortenes by such means as present them selves. They maintain themselves, and many of them grow rich, by corruption, which there IS no public opinion to rebuka. The ignorance of the people is unsurpassed; not more than one-tenth of their mum Der having received any education
 at all. No religious teaching, ex- cept that which the Church of Rome supplies, is permitted within the island. Justice is administered according to the irresponsible pleas