Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-08-11

I8Idu06 uHu udlhCS SAhOS
some of the causes that have led up to
the revolution. Speaking Of the sit
uation he says that Admiral Dewey is
| In complete command, and, continuing
says:
Communication with the shore is
| easy, thanks to the permission of the
| admiral who has shown most remark
| able powers of administration under
anomalous circumstances. 1t must be
understood that Spanish rule still pre-
walls, and that there are about $4,000
troops in the capital. 1t is said that
| the government has enrolled about
| Joe, 900 volunteers, but this, take it, is
| brag. 1t would mean that il had reen-
| forced the insurgents with that num-
Der of men.
Here, then, is Dewey, with his small
squadron, not only overawing the
| heavy odds of Spanish troops, but in
possession of the harbor and prevent
ing the arrival of supplies. Hunger, or
rather famine, will render any man
desperate, but, although there is some
stealing and robbery, yet the city is
| kept in remarkably good order, but
only on account of Dewey's presence.
1t is, however, not safe for stranger
to perambulate the almost deserted
streets, and more dangerous, of course.
to go openly as an American CORE
sDondent Letters of introduction
from Shanghai friends to an old and
wealthy German resident left the i'm
preston that am here in the interest
of a German paper, and / have taken
excellent care not to destroy that illu-
sion. The consequence is that the
Spanish officers 10 whom I have been
introduced talked with freedom.
A walk through the business part of
the city has a depressing influence.
The Plaza del Padre Morago and the
Rosario are deserted save for the
staggering, fierce-looking Spanish
officer, who has not yet realized that
Othello's occupation is gone. These
officers, one and all, are convinced that
Europe will interfere to prevent the
despoiling of Spain. They talk of kim
dred races, and in the same breath
mention the absolute certainty of Ger
man intervention. 1t Is all nonsense,
of course, the attitude of England is
such that no European power will dare
obstruct Admiral Dewey's measures.
only mention the tenor of these con-
versations to show that all self-reli-
ance of the Spaniards is utterly gone.
1 doubt very much if cur troops will
have to fight, notwithstanding the fact
that the very existence of the Span
iards is at stake. There is no ghost of
a doubt that every inhabitant of Ma
Mia, excepting those who boast of be-
ing born in Spain, is an insurgent or
sympathizer with the insurrection.
These people will not talk to me, being
suspicious of the company frequent,
but / can readily account for the
hatred prevailing against all that is
Spanish.
Native PHILIPPINES, residing in Mad
rid. expressed their grievances in an
address to the Spanish people. It con-
tains extracts from the Philippine
budget for the last administrative year
(1s96-9) and enumerates the follow
ing crying complaints. Quoting from
the budget it states that the Philippine
treasury pays heavy contribution to
the general expenses of the govern
ment at Madrid; pays pensions to Duke
de Varagua (our guest during the CO.
;ulAbian exhibition) and to the mar
1uis of Bedmar, besides those of the
sultans and native chiefs of the islands
of Sulu and Mindanao; it provides for
the entire cost of the Spanish con-
sulates at Picking, Toxic, Hong Kong,
Singapore, Saigon, Yokohama and Mel
bourne; for the staff and material of
the minister of the colonies, including
the purely ornamental council of the
Philippines; the expenses of support
ing the colony of Fernando Pc, in
Africa, and all the pensions and retir-
ing allowances of the civil and military
employees who have served in the Phil
ippines, amounting to the sum of ST.
10000 year.
What a mich cow these islands have
been to the Spaniards! What a host
of ignorant, idle hidalgos have fat
tened upon huge sums diverted from
the unfortunate workers.
And what has Spain done in return?
The document from which translate
this states the facts with scathing
bIuntness: More than $l1,OG0.OoO is
the amount consigned in the Philip
pine budget for that year, but not 4
penny is allowed for public works,
highways, bridges, or public buildings,
and only $4,000 for scientific studies,
indispensable repairs, rivers and ca
mails, while the amount set apart for
religious purposes and clergy amounts
to nearly 81, GOO. This sum does not
include the amounts paid to the clergy
for baptisms, marriages, sale of in
dulgences. papal bulls and scapularies,
which exceed the government allow
ances The magnificent sum of $40,-
OCO is set apart as subvention to rail-
way companies and new projects of
railways, but the College for Francis
can monks in Spain and the transpor-
tation of priests comes in for $55.0oOl"
1t seems really as if the world had
gone back three centuries and as if
we were living in the time of bloody
Philip H., after whom these most I'M
fortunate islands were named. Six
thousand dollars for all new improve
ments, vet the choir of The Manila
cathedral receives $4,000. and 100000 Is
set apart for the support of the cathe-
dral! Public instruction, including
naval, scientific, technical and art
schools, must be maintained at a gross
expense of 100000, and from this pit
lance museums, libraries, the OBJ
servatory and a special chair in the
University of Madrid must be paid.
Add to this the squeezing and pecula-
ton of every Spanish official from the
encouragement down to the lowest
i - Il Z 10