The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-04-01
THE SPANISH PEOPLE.

The ST. Paul Globe in discussing
the difficulties existing between this
country and Spain, few days ago,
said that the only obstacle in the
way of a peaceful settlement of mat
tiers was ignorance; that if the people
of Spain were as intelligent as the
people of this country there would
b no trouble whatever in arriving at
an agreement which would be per-
fecty satisfactory to both countries.
There is much truth in this, yet
there is much demagOgism among
those who stand high in authority in
the Spauigh government, yet some
OF these may be forced because of the
cOndi ion existing among the people
as the GlobC states. But while Am
orleans may be justly indignant with
the Spanish leaders, the condition of
the country is such as to excite pity
for the Spanish people in spite of
their bitterness against US. The
New York Mail and Express review
ing Spain, gives few facts concern
ing the people and the country that
are not generally known, and which
60 TO show how futile would be an at
tempt on their part of war on the
UnIGed States. 1t says:
1ne population of the country is
steadily diminishing. In 1887 it was
Il 100000 Today il is estimated at
l6,UU0,OO0. In other words, it is di
furnishing in population more rapidly
tuIn any other civilized power. A
steady stream Of it's young men emf
graUes each year TO other countries.
An enormous amount of territory is
owned by the church, which each
year becomes greater burden upon
the working classes.
Although many of the mOnaSterieS
are falling inUO ruin and the nunneries
are Inhabited chiefly by the owl and
the Dat there are still more than five
hundred thousand people belonging
TO The church who are taken away
from the producing classes OF the
Community. The income of the ma
ton as a whole has been gradually
growing smaller. Thirty rears ago it
Was estimated at ST, 200, OOO,O 600. Three
years asO it was 5000 900, 900, and last
year it was only S750,000,0 900. The
government spent 5000, 0O0,0 900 of this,
So that only $3.50, 100000 was left for
the entire nation, sum so small as
to involve the pauperization of more
tn IN one-tenth Of it's citizens.
llllteracy is about 81 per cent, and
the death rate is about the highest in
Europe The Cuban and Philippine
wars have cost the country what it
could least afford to lose, its young
men. Of these, more than one hum
dred thousand have been killed and
another hundred thousand taken
away from the nations productive
Industries. To this awful drain must
be added the large standing army
which must be supported to prevent
a republican insurrectiOn in the big
cities, and Carlist rebellion in the
rural, and especially the mountain
districts.
This army numbers 10000, and if to
il be added the police and other gov
or ,ment officials, total of 10000
making still greater burden upon
the shoulders of the people. That
there are riots every week is no won
Ser. The only wonder is that there
is no revolution. The average wage
bn Barcelona is 40 cents per day, and
In the country districts 80 cents,
while, owing to the cruel taxation of
the government and the more cruel
speculation Of the merchants, wheat