The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-14
CUBA.

Lying close 10 our shores, comprising z
an extensive area. blessed with boundless
fertility and a genial climate. being to the
Guli OF Msxico what Gibraltar is to the
| Mediterranean, il is II OF surprising that the
people OF The United States regard it with
deep interest. not nnmixed with anxiety
as to lis future. OF late years. events tha.
do not require recapitulation have shown
that no uconsiderabIe portion OF The ma
tive inhabitants of Cuba look anxiously
forward to the annexation OF their heauti-
!ul birthplace II this country. and that q
strong party within our boundar is de,
srous of Fastening this consummsiion
The proposal made by France aud Eng-
land TO the United States to renouuce the
idea OF gaining Cuba a, any future time,
ii proposal promptly rel .cted by our gov
ern,nent. shows that the dreams OF the
annexationists are not purely chimerieal,
and that the annexation OF Cuba is a CON
,iDgency to be provided for. How near
or how distant may be this event. II is in.
possible to cor ec,ure. but we do not doubt
that one day the stars and stripes will
float over the Moro castle. Cuba was
one Of the earliest discoveries Of Colum.
bus in l492. and it's name is that by which
it was known to the gentle aborigines who
were supplanted by the fierce and greedy
Spaniards. The area OF Cuba, accord
ng to Ilumboldt. is As $50 geograp phical
square miles. Its length is about ITO
miles. and its breadth variss from 25 to
90 miles. A range of mountains extends
through the centre OF the island. from east
to vest. leaving strips OF comparatively
level land Of unequal width between their
base and the seashore. The staple pro-
duets of the island are sugar, tobacco and
coffee. bot the fertile soil >is capable Of
producing sl'nos, anything. The banana.
orange and pine apple grow almost wild
The forests comprise great variety OF
wood. among which are the finest mahog-
any and cedar. The history Of Cuba is
diversified by few events of an interest.
ing character, In l538 French corsair
attacked Havana and reduced i, to ashes.
In 1889 the office of captain general was
created. Ci ths long line of captains
general, very few have earned the respec,
OF the Cubans or labored for the true in
terests of the island. Royal fsvori.es
uuSS thVi' o''C fNiteHS vi
power TO enrich themselves as speedily as
possible, and of late years, bribes for con
uiving at the, slave trade have offered the
reaGiest means of building up Illegal Tor
tunes. Velasquez. one OF the early gov
ernors. was an atls and energetic man,
but the scourge- of the aborigines. In
l7GO, the British conquered Havana, but
it was restored in the ensuing year. In
1898, the Cub ans. imbued with liberal
ideas, attempted an insurrection. which
was speedily suppressed. In 1896. there
was rising at Caracas. In. 1928, an-
other incipient revolution was crushed by
the government. This was in the time, oil
General Don Miguel I,acon, despolic
captain general. but man who did much
to ernbellsh Havana and improyel,s san.
tary condition. IIesis still regarded with
mingled adm.retion and dcies,ation. In
1913. a conspiracy was&torned in Glen
fuegos and Trinidad. forsths overthrow oi
the, Spanish power: 1t tailed. like al pre-
yions attempts btt itsssptincipal' leader.
General sNarciso Lopez. sneceeded in
etfec.ing bis escape. 10 return twice again,
and fin ally perish in his attempts 10 revo-
luiiotiize and l,berHte the island. Not
withs,anding the present political oondi-
lion Of the island. from which spring mum.
berless annoyances TO visitors. it is such
region of delight, that the traveller from
The north is amply repaid for the vexaiions
he encounters from the moment he sets
foot upon the enchanted shore. He for.
gets them all in the enjoyment Of that
glorious nature that wears in no other
quarter of, the globe SO seducing an as
pect. Nowhere else do you hnd such
refreshing breezes, such delicious fruits
The beauty of the ladies. the languid ele-
gance Of the Creole manners. the pictures
queness OF the street population, the curl.
Gus customs. the unrivaied scenery, q
thousand features it would require vol
ume to describe, make up picture, which
once seen can never be forgotten. A
weeks sail from northern port, brings
the voyager into a realm Of romance. and
carries him back into the past, for while
the res, Of the world has been rolling on
| like river. Cuba has rem main ed sta,iona.
nv TOR the las, hundred years. .-Baltou's
| Pictorial.