The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-08-19
Cuba.

Cuba.
The island of Cuba, from its contiguity to our
coasts, its commercial importance, the charac-
ter of its institutions, and the attempts which
have been made by organized bands of men
from our own shores, to revolutionize and an
mex it to our political system as an integral
portion of the Union, has become SO important
a subject ofpublic attention and political dis
cussiOn, that few deta Is respecting its history
may not be unacceptable to our readers.
The island Of Cuba was discovered by Colum-
bus in the year l402. 1t has always retained
the Indian name of Cuba, although upon some
of the old maps it is described by the names Of
Juaua Fernandina and Santiago. 1t is some
what questionable upon what part OF the island
the first settlement was made, though Baracoa
was its capital until 1922, when the seat
of government was transferred to Santi-
ago de Cuba. For nearly half a century after
its discovery the island had but little political
or commercial Importance in the eyes OF the
home government, being used chiefly as mil
itary depot adjacent to the coast OF Mexico.
There is some discrepancy in the various ac-
counts concerning the original site and found
ing of the present city of Havana Its certain
however, that it was q town OF considerable i'm
portancc in 1888, and from its excellent and ca
pacious harbor had become the chief naval rem
devious between Mexico and Spain.
In 1861 the town contained 800 families; at
the end of the sixteenth century the number
had nearly doubled, and about the middle OF
the seventeenth, the population had Increased
to 10, 600 souls. The first Captain General took
up his residence there in 1889 and, in 1888 the
Offices of Governor of Havana and Captain Cen
eral of Cuba were united. For nearly three
centuries the ill;berai commercial policy of
Spain, offered no stimulus to the enterprise of
the inhabitants, and nearly prevented any de-
yelopment of the great natural resources OF the
island. Cuba contains an area of about ~, 600
SQUARE English miles, the soil (which is of al
most ineyhaustible fertility. This is equal to
more than 100000 900 Of acres, every three OF
which is capable. with proper cultivation. OF
producing one hogshead of sugar annually.
And vet the annual exports of the island did
not exceed 1880 hoysheads before the year
1878. In that year the ports of Ia Trinidad,
Santiago de Cuba, and Havana were thrown
open to the peninsular trade, and from this
time the growth of tie island in population and
wealth was extremely rapid. In 1909 those
ports were opened to the trade of the
world, and the progress of Cuba since that Pc
rod is noble example of the benefits and add
vantages which flow from an unrestricted COM
merce.
at the middle of the eighteenth century, the
revenue derived from the island. by the Span
ish Government did not exceed $4,000, and
in 1919, only ten years after the restrictions OF
commerce were removed, it amounted to 81,
7S5, l47. In 1913 the exports of Cuba amount
ed to s26,00O,0O0, and her imports to S25O0O,-
900 : she yielded a revenue of Sl3,000,O00, and
the property of the island was estimated at
SS00,O00,000. And yet but about One-iifth OF
the island was supposed to be under cultiva-
ton! Meantime the population OF the Island
has increased in proportion to its commerce
and wealth. In 1917 the inhabitants number
ed little more than half million, and in 1853
they had increased to nearly 100000 Oh
these COO, 900 were whites, Co., O0 were slave
black, and about 100000 free black. NJ free
colored persons are allowed to land on the is
land ON any account whatever, although by a
comparatively mild provision of the Colonial
law, any slave may if he please purchase his
| freedom.
1t will be seen that the black population con-
siderably outnumbers the white. This may be
accounted for by the prodigious extent to which
the slave trade is carried on between that is
land and the coast of Africa; which trade
though not specially authorized. is evidently
connived at by the Spanish authorities. FOl
several years the British Government has been
making strenuous efforts to procure the aboli
ton OF slavery in Cuba, with the Interior de-
sign unquestionably. of affecting that institu
ton as it exists in the Southern States. 1t is
this fact which renders the South so jealous Of
all foreign interference with the affairs Of thai
island, and DESTROYS of its speedy acquisition
by ourselves. 1t naturally belongs to our pc
litical and commercial system and whether il
will fall to us under the law Of naturc-whicl
Mr.. Seward thinks so highly ot-or by pur
chase, or the sharper arbitration of arms, re-
mains to be secn.-BufaIo Democracy.