Year: 1876




PROGRESS OF THE COLONIAL CONTEST AGAINST
THE POWER OF sPAIN-coNDITIoN OF
AFFAIRS IN THE IsLAND-THE FORCE WHICH
THE RoYALIsTs REQUIRE FOR ITS RETEN-
TIoN-wHY. THE REBELLION IS NOT PUT
DOWN.


PoScE P. r., Feb. 81, 1876.
gentleman who has just returned from tour OF
several weeks duration through the central west
departments OF the island OF Cuba has written the
following slight description OF the state Of things
sng there, which is not without interest as the ex-
preston Of tho impressions mado upon the mind OF
intelligent and observant man, conversant with the
language and habits of the people and well qualified
in other respects to form an accurate opinon He
says


INTERESTING TOUR.


"Ay late trip Cuba has been OF great interest to
nc; II has enabled 70 obtain an insight into the
of affairs there, and has afforded idea OF
tho condition of political and other matters It
he a subject or reproach TO the Spania5ls
that for upward OF years the so-cacd revtu-
on been suffered to contiaue, aud that the island
has been constantly declining in wealth and pros
perity while the spaniards have been losing
ground instead OF gaining any during that period.


CHARACTER MOVEMENT


"I say the so-calcd revolution because at present the
Disturbances which prevail properly be credited
with the name of revolution The rebels now consist
chiefly ofscatered bands ofrunaway negroes and China
men, who are nothing than thieves and ncendi-
aries, acting without concert connection and with
out any political aim object tho mon leading
them are OF similar stamp and character The ac
tua state of things nowadays undoubtedly sustained
in consequence of tho fearful Generalization and
ruption pervading every government department. but
chiefly notorious IN the management OF the customa
and military branches of the admin nisirntion


SIXTY THOUSAND TROOPS.


Between Sagua Remedies and Puerto Principe on
the north side, and Ccniuegos Trinidad and villa Clara
the south. there posted about the country
nearly 60 600 Spanish troops besides the volunteers
dong service in tho towns and suburbs while it Is
generally estimated that the total OF the rebels
in the forests and mountainous that region
and coming close up 10 Colon do not amount to more
than ZOO men, about onetenih CT the Spanish iorco
in campaign against them.


al travelled far Caibarien the north side and
Cienuegos the SOUTH crossing the island twice and
from whnt saw myself and heard constantly con-
lrmed by resident merchants at the seaports and by
the planters in the country there Is effort
made TO nut an end TO the rebellion The officers seem
to about nothing but making money by any avail
able means the troops arc not properly led and are
BESIDES almost poweress in having 10 operate against
the Businesses and naturally protected retreats of tho
rebels that in fact ! am surprised that no more
property being burned and destroyed than is actually
the case.


"As 1t Is, the destruction Is very great The cane



the rebels when the payment of bacKmal exacted
from the estates is resisted sometimes by the slaves
themselves working on the estates-but il is seldom
that property totally destroyed Still this occurs
and 1t did happen almost within range Of my personal
observation upon property in the interior, about
sixty miles from Matanzas, and Colon.
band of about fifty men came down upon New Years
night and burned railway station and alargc sugar
tate just outside OF Colon, and close to where
than 600 Spanish troops without these having
to the rescue even attempting to pursue the rebcs
rhe owner OF tho estate had just before received an
Havana


JovELLAR-Ins GOVERNMENT


snow all attention and all hopes concentrated
upon the Captain General Jovellar but having the
example and experience OF his many predecessors be-
fore them business men, at any rate. are not disposed
to place much reliance upon his successfully dealing
with the many difficulties he has TO contend WITH The
fact is that TO do any good at all he would require to
begin by hanging lot of the officials each depart
in order to bring radical change. or late
every steamer from Spain has been bringing out fresh
patches of officials hungry and needy, TO take the
places Of the old returning home gorged with the
products OF successful plumber


"It Is commonly asserted that If only fifty per cent
of the duties, taxes and contributions raised we're
counted for the treasury would have more money in
its Golfers than could possibly be required for the
legitimate necessities of the government


SHOULD HE


'Jovellar is expected to act cnergetcaly and hon.
orably. He Is unquestonably popular IN Cuba, and
enjoys excellent reputation; and the fact that he
has left Spain when he gaining such important
and position for himself leads to the presump-
ton that ne has been influenced by real interest in the
affairs OF the island, and has with the full in
tenton OF doing what one man may 10 bring about
salutary roiorms aud, II it be late the
situation. In him. however, the Spanish government
plays ITS last card to maintain dominion and power
Cuba and If he, too should fail, chaos OF dis
order and ruin must ensue.





"Business in Cuba is at present in very depressed
condition. The crops OF sugar and tobacco will be
small, and the prices of the former article are not
remuncrative Many plantations close 10 the rcbelous
districts have been abandoned, and even of the
planters near Havana are talking of stopping tho
cultivation OF the cane until they be relieved OF
the enormous contributions exacted IRON them
by the government. Near Sagua thero is property
paying $500 monthly for beef alone of tho
troops quarered there for its protection The OF
provisions and of the chief necessarcs of life
mously hgh and but for the power conferred by the
INSCRIPTIONS of slave labor forced up to It's
most PITCH It would be impossible at present to
tinuc the cultivation OF the sugar in Cuba.n


The DidrIo de la Marina states that, from nforma
ton which 1t has from all the chief producing dis
trcts the sugar crop will this year fall thirty per cent
or about 200 000tons short of last seasons