The San Francisco call., 1899-08-17
THE CUBAN REVENUES

THE military government sustained in Cuba by
the United States controls the revenues OF the
island, derived from taxation OF the people.
Ii has been reported that very large sums have been
diverted frothese revenues to contribute to the per-
sonal state and sumptuous form in which officers
are maintained in Havana and in the provinces where
a military Governor and staff are located,
The reports have been to some extent contradcted
through the Associated Press, but the matter merits
further Investigation, for il there be any considerable
foundation foT them will be serious scandal to our
administration IN the island.
One OF the*complaints which produced the Cuban
revolution was. OF the pomp and pageantry at the
palace and tie draining of the peoples substance
maintain official state by Spain
The isandsis exhausted by long revolution, which
destroyed It's industries and impoverished its people
Their low condition OF starvation and misery was used
TO nlame tleunselfshness OF this country and bring
into action lis spirit OF sacrifice justification Of
the war One needs to go back only year and a
half be face face with the only spirit and the sole
purpose for which Americans willing bear the
burden OF a foreign war. That war formally ended
on the I4th OF August 1893. We did not take pos
session OF Cuba until some time later If the repre-
sentations OF the condition of the island and the
wrechedness OF its people we're true it is unbecoming
to take from their poverty large sums OF money to
be spent in sustaining the Spanish methods OF ex-
trayagance in order to impress them with power
Nor do our people wish either civil military Of
fcers sent abroad to ape viceregal forms. Such
gewgawry unfts them for the simple ways which
should be the ways OF republican people II a con-
siderable number OF these officers get taste of the
use of irresponsible power abroad and take money
from Cuban taxpayers without asking their consent
spend in trappngs and uxuries they will lose re-
All fcr bo-,,
car impress the current Of domestic government will
make much possible irresponsible to the peo-
pie the end that the luxuries attending the admin
stration Of a. satrapy may continue to begue their
hours wherat home The people did not go into the
Spanish war for. any such purpose
EX+President Harrison, it will be admitted is
pretty good Republican and pretty good American
He wasrecently: interviewed in Paris by Some friendly
French statesmen who are uneasy about the future
purposes OF this country especially as indicated by our
continued occupation Of Cuba
General Harrison quoted from our declaration OF
against Spain: The United States hereby dis
claims any disposition intention to exercise SOW
ere;gnty, Jurisdiction control over said island ex
ccp for the pacihcation thereof and asserts its de-
termination when this is completed to leave the gov
and control OF the island to its people" He
then assured the Frenchmen that 'he United States
have no desire for or conquest Their attitude
IS limited outside their own borders the safeguard
ire OF liberty Our written constitution is SO con-
structed that no act of party in power can become
ar actuality without the of the people and
the people are peaceful, industrious ard opposed TO
rew ventures. IDEAS colonization are attributed
to us that are not ours. America wishes to grow bv
the EXPANSION :of her commerce. by exporting he,
PRODUCTS, and not by force OF arms" We think it
would puzzle any to find in our written consti
tuition authority to wiring money from the taxpayers
OF Cuba TO spend in viceregal luxury in the palace
at Havana.