istration during the years of war, and to
meet tLe expenses of the military occupation
of the country. Here follow a few figures :
The Budget for the fiscal year of 1878 to
1879 amounted to $46,594,000 ; that of 1879
to 1880 to an equal sum; that of 1882 to
1883 to $35,860,000 ; that of 1883 to 1884 to
$34,180,000; that of 1884 to 1885 to the
same sum ; that of 1885 to 1886 to $34,-
169,000. For the remaining years to the
present time, the amount of the budget has
been about $26,000,000, this being the figure
for 1893 to 1894, and to be the same by pro^
rogation for the current fiscal year.
" The gradual reduction that may be noted
was not the result of a desire to reduce the
overwhelming burdens that weigh upon the
country ; it was imposed by necessity. Cuba
was not able by far to meet such a monstrous
exaction. It was a continuous and threat-
ening deficit that imposed these reductions.
In the first of the above named years the
revenue was $8,000,000 short of the budget
or appropriations. In the second year the
deficit reached the sum of $20,000,000. In
1883 it was nearly $10,000,000. In the fol-
lowing years the deficit averaged nearly



A POWERFUL APPEAL. 143

$4,500,000. At present the accumulated
amount of all these deficits reaches the sum of
$100,000,000.
" As a consequence of such a reckless and
senseless financial course, the debt of Cuba
has been increased to a fabulous sum. In
1868 we owed $25,000,000. When the
present war broke out our debt, it was calcu-
lated, reached the net sum of $190,000,000.
