The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-09-19
CUBA.

our readers something Of the position OF
that country. We cannot 60 into the poll
,icaI history and political condition OF that
country. because the space at our disposal
will not permi, US TO do so
The island Of Cuba is about seven hun
dred aud seventy miles in length, varying
in width from twenty-five to ninety miles.
A portion Of the eastern part Of the island
is mountainous-.som Of the mountain.
peaks being seven and some eight thousand
fee, above the level Of the sea. In this di-
vision Of the island the mountains occupy
srea, portion ctihe space; but the ra!!eva
between the mcrntains, and even the sides
of the mountains 10 considerable extent.
are most fruitful, and productive of those
tropical products which are SO valuable in
the commerce Of the world.
The Indian population OF Cuba. when
first discovered by Columbus in 1892. was
about two hundred thousand, That popu-
lation had none of the tools, means, or ap-
pliances of agriculture; yet, with genial
climate and a fruitful soil, their necsssaTles
were more than supplied. Bu, the sTea,
value of Cuba has been derived from the
intellect of the East. A! its first discovery
The sugar cane was almost, if not entirely.
unknown as source uf usefulness or pro.
fit. In proof OF tins, it is only necessary
10 stale that the sugar cane was not cult.
vated until 1880, and that slave labor to
cultivate the caue was unknown until l7S4.
In the mean tine, the Spanish authorities
had reduced the Indians to species OF ser
vtude infinitely worse than slavery. The
most casual reader Of history cannot have
failed to notice the utter subjusation and
practical enslavetuent of the aborgines
Cuba, even before the landing oil Cortez
on the coast of Mexico. Humane men,
like Las Casas. endeavored TO mitigate the
hard late of the Cuban aborisines; but their
exertions were attended with no practical
effect. Laws and DEGREES were obIalned,
hut the hard servi,ude Of the ludian re
mained. Even the humane recommends
tons of Curlez himself gave them no prac.
,ica succor. CorteZ was man of war
Of vlolence--but he had no ,enemies be-
youd the battle field. His powerful sup
port to the rhlan,hroric efforts Of Las Ca
sas ought no. TO have been without results;
but unfortunately they were, and the ma
live population Of Cuba was degraded be-
low the level Of slaves.
In l762 the English took Havana by an
escaIade on the left and rear Of the Moro
Castle. The blockade continued some
time; but, if we are correctly Informed,
less than lour thousand men. with two can.
non, took the Castle. The men and guns
were dlsembarked TO the lei, Of the Moro.
The guns entiIaded the road from Havana,
while the men scaled the walls in the rear.
Cuba lies between 90 deg. l2 min. north
latitude and 10 deg. 43 north latitude. Its
length, as we have already stated, Is abou,
no miles, and ils breadth varies from %
to 90 miles. AT any point on the island
man is not as miles from the sea. This
fact, considering the great produc1ivencss
of the island, would make il the most val
liable island Of the ocean. But, indepen-
dent OF this, Cuba lies opposite to the Keys
between Cuba and The Florida coast; south
Of Cuba the current sets in to supply the
Gulf stream: consequently, the north coast
of Cuba commands the outlet from the
Gulf. while its south shore commands the
inlet TO the Gulf. The north shore Of Gu
ba is the southern bank OF the Mississippi
river, The arsoses which float on the
western waters are not free 10 spread their
sails until Cuba is left behind them. Even
in the Gulf they are land.Incked. Sailing
south by Cape Csrtoche, and coasling Yu.
catan, they must meet a current six days
10 week. and then double their distance TO
any point on The Atlantic seaboard. They
hardly dare. sailing east, 10 go between the
Windward islands and the southern coast
Of Cuba. Sailing west. they may safely
follow six,y.mile current.
This island, So happily situated, is not
ge, effectively productive. We mean by
his expression 10 say that its enormous
surplus product does not stimulate indus
Try and agriculture. The inhabitants OF
Cuba are borne down BY the most onerous
taxation. The captains general are sent 10
Havana, like proconsus, to make their for
unes by oppression and taxation. Last
year The production Of Cuba paid tax Cf
more than twenty -,hree (nesrIy twenty
ive) millions Of dollars 10 the Spanish
government. A large portion Of this enor-
nous sum was expended in the pay of an
army Of 10000 men-,he comm ander-in-
;hIei all the while specializing on private
account, and for definite consideration
giving countenance and commercial en-
10 the slave trade.