The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-17
Havana Paper Announces Seriously
full, but Not Cultured.
COMING TO THE GOLD BASIS
LARGEST CUBAN FINANCIAL INSTITU-
TON SHOWS WISDOM.
Announces Semi-Annual Dividend
VIII BE Paid i'm American Gold
-Beggars and bandits.

HAVANA, July 1.-THE pronunciamertc
recently issued in the city of MatanEas,
signed "Betancourt,' and calling on Cubans
to prepare to hurl from the country the
crafty. eagle" as they had removed the
naughty and hungry Spanish lion" is now
believed by many to have been the produc-
ton of the civil governor of Matanzas. The
reasons for this view are not very convinc-
ing, but Senior Betancourt has not positively
denied the authorship. and 1t is notorious
he has expressed Utmost identical senti-
ments heretofore. He once used language
closely resembling that Of the 'proclama-
ton in the presence Of an American briga-
der general and an American colonel. Both
officers believe it quite probable he wrote
the appeal. If not it's author, then, in their
judgment he was cognizant and agreed to
the use of his name. Many Cuban officers
of high rank are also satisfied Senior Betan-
court was in some way intimately related to
the publication and the circulation Of the
address to the people Of Matanzas. General
Wilson, military governor of the Matanzas-
Santa Clara department, will doubtless ask
the civil governor for an explanation in case
there be no denial from him.
The Banco Espanol, the largest financial
institution in Cuba announced recently a
semi-annual dividend of 3ll2 per cent, pay
able in American gold. The Advisador
Commercial. the leading finance journal,
which processes to be shocked at this sud-
den change of policy on the part OF the
bank, says: ats capital is Spanish. Why is
not the dividend made payable in Spanish
gold? Certainly the idea must be to please
the Americans in order to gain future
banking favors. For no other reason can We
see why the bank did not declare 3.S51a In
Spanish gold. A prominent banker says the
real reason Of the banks action is a desire
to place it's capital on an American basis,
particularly at present, when Spanish silver
is inflated far beyond justifable reasons.
This authority says he considers 1t will be
only q matter Of months before silver is re-
duced to it's former level. and that it is bet
ter to get upon the American basis before
that reduction is accomplished. 1t is un-
derstood that for several weeks the bank
has been getting rid Of a large deposit OF
silver and has consequently made immense
profits. The Santiago branch bought last
autumn more than 100000 at 80 cents.
This now stands at "a.
Ell Diario de Ia Marina says: IF the hu-
man ideal is material interest. then the
United States possesses the highest form
Of civilization, but, thank God. the Span
iards and Cubans "a been taught in a
nobler school. The predominating influence
in the United States is capital. Monopoly,
coupled with the use of machinery, has only
served in the United States to curb personal
in e~llectual effort, to disappoint such ambi-
tions and TO make culture and knowledge
hardly worth the candle. 1t is only neces-
sary to glance through the columns of the
American newspapers in order TO md let
tiers and interviews from returned officers
which nave gradually changed the entire
American sentiment toward Cuba While
the Americans may be richer, stronger.
more active and more businesslike thar
ourselves, they canno claim to be Gull
tured, not even to the degree Of SPANS
Cuban offspring"
A Cuban major called at the palace yes
terday to ask an interview with the gov
ernor general, whom he said he would ask
to give an appointment in the customs
house. Lieutenant Castle, Of General
Brooke's staff. informed him he must make
his application in the usual way. setting
forth his qualifications and submitting a
certificate of good moral character. To
this the Cuban officer replied he had earned
the position by fighting for the revolution.
and that If he did not get 1t he would k
to the woods, as several others had done.
During the afternoon another applicant,
a negro lieutenant, insisted on seeing Gen.
eral Brooke in order to make a personal de-
mand for $75. He said he needed the money
and insisted on waiting. After an hour or
so the man.. who looked fat and happy,
asked Lieutenant Castle for the loan Of 10
cents.
The Commercial says: The worst method
of treating the bandits is the legal method.
and 1t puts honest men at mercy of rob-
bers and frontier law. The best method Is
to capture them. let them try to escape and
then kill them. The reason why Mexico
now has immunity from bandits is that she
has followed this course"
Citizens and property holders at Batabano
have protested TO Governor General Brooke
against the appointment of Martin Casuso
as mayor, owing to the fact he is a nom
resident. They nave asked for the appoint
ment of Major Dubouchet. but Senior Ri
vera. the civil governor, insisted on the ar
bitrary appointment of his own friend.
The temperature in Havana at 3 O'Clock
this afternoon was IS degrees.