The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-11
CUBA.
Her Grievances from n Cuban stand
point.

new 1Ork 1rlOune:-
An account of all the efforts made by promi-
rent Cubans to obtain political rights from the
mother country is story of humiliations
and disappOintments. During the reigns of
Philip IL and Philip III it was officially de-
Clared that Spain and her American colonies
ought TO be ruled by laws as equal and oonve-
nieDt to both as possible, the political condi
tion of Cuba and Spain being then entirely
alike.
In 1871 Spain enjoyed for the first time the
blessings of constitutional government, aud
Cuba was entitled to have two representa-
tives in the Spanish Cortes. Three years after
the despotism OF Fernando VII was established
and again overthrown by Riego in 1920. Louis
XVIII of France sent his nephew with
powerful army to replace Fernando on the
Spanish throne, and then commenced that
period which recalls the rule of Philip IL.
Fernando died in 1888, and the nation was
divided into two parties; one defending the
principles of fanatioism and absolute power,
the other the doctrine of political liberty for
the people. The liberal party was victorious
a ter some years of civil war, and then the
EStdtutO Real was given as a political chart to
the SpaniaTds, being introduced in Cuba, with
such alterations that the Captain-Generals re-
NAMED in full possession Of their autocratic
authority. Although the Cubans were greatly
displeased on seeing that they were considered
inferior to the inhabitants of the Spanish pro-
vinces they sent their representatives to the
Cortes. The EStdtutO was still-born. In 1886
the Constitution of 1912 was again proclaimed
in Spain; and the CorteS Constituencies agreed,
after some hesitation, that Cuba should send
a representative for every $4,000 inhabitants.
On the Oath of October, 1886 the Cortes Con-
StttuyenteS assembled, and Cuba had in them
four representatives.. These presented their
credentials, and not receiving any official
answer, Deputy Saco urged the examination
of said documents. In February of 1887 a
committee proposed to the Cortes resolution
'that in the future no representative of the
colonies shall be admitted to the Cortes."
The elected deputies drew up dignifed pro-
test, but the Spanish Government, neverthe-
less, confirmed to the Captain General "all the
powers granted by the royal ordinances to the
commanders of beseged places"
Tie news of the Constitution being pro-
claimed in Spain was brought to Santiago de
Cuba the 10Th OF September, and the Cover
nor, General Lorenzo, proclaimed it in that
department. Captsin-General Don Miguel
Taeon, sworn enemy OF all constitutional
liberty, sent an armed expedition against the
Governor of Cuba, and the latter, without
making any resistance was obliged to leave
the country, followed by all those who were
known by their liberal principles. The
Spanish Government approved Tacon's con-
duct without listening TO the Just reclama-
tions made by Deputy Valiente, who had been
sent to Spain to defend the proceedings OF
General Lorenzo.
In 1854 prominent persons in Cuba, we'll
known by their talents and wealth, asked
a Srepres entatian for the island in the Spanish
Cortes. Spaniard editor OF an official paper,
wrote a pamphlet in favor of the proposition,
but its circulation was prohibited by the
Captain General. The writer was the author
OF that memorable phrase, "Cubs must be
Spanish or African"
In 1850 another Spaniard, in a pamphlet
entitled "The Aspirations of Cuba" defended
the rights of the Cubans to send their repre-
sentatives to Congress; but all these efforts
were unsuccessful.
In 1861 Marshal Serrano was appointed
Captain General of Cuba, aud encouraged the
party called Concesionista to a new trial of
patience by asking the desired political rights.
Notwithstanding the opposition of the Spanish
papers in Cuba, General Dulce, the successor
of Serrano, authorized by the Minister of
the Colonies, caused the Common Council of
Cuba to elect Commissioners to be sent to
Spain. The secret instructions given to the
Captain-General appeared in decree issued
by him, in which it was plainly seen that the
electing of said Commissioners was made so as
to diminish the number of real estate owners,
increasing that of the persons who were
against the reforms. At last sixteen Commits
sioners were elected, and they departed for
Spain. On the Both of October the first session
took place, under the presidency of the
Minister of the Colonies. The 4th of No.
vember every Commissioner received a printed
circular with an interrogatory concerning ''the
best ways and means to regulate the labor of
the African and Asiatic population, and the
immigration more convenient for the provinces
of Cuba and Porto Rico" To treat such ques-
tioDs the commissioners had left their homes
and travelled hundreds of miles. The Presi-
dent denied them even the right to discuss on
the order of the questions asked and they
had to form four committees to give informa-
tion about the proposed points. 1t would be
tedious to give report of the sessions, in
which nothing was said about political rights.
The commissioners came back TO their cOun-
try with the sad experience that the Spanish
Government was more reluctant than ever to
grant Cuba the least particle of liberty.
Whether to punish the insoence of the colo
MES, or to throw upon the conoessionists the
responsibility of the new state of things,
Cuba was overburdened with heavy axa'ions,
which, having exasperated those who wanted
peace at any cost, have given the patriots en-
couragement to shake off the yoke of the CO.
lonial government
p Let not the American people be misguided
by false representations from the Spanish
organs representing the Cuban revolution as
an unlawful rebellion against the paternal
Government, or as premature outbreak of
political impatience. The Cubans are. fight
ing for the American principle, represented
by the United States, and every republican
nation must take an interest in the triumph
of the revOlutionists. Let the American people
take into consideration that the idea OF anita
gonism TO the Saxon race has never existed
In Cuba, and that the name OF the United
A Ill. . Nl,I9v,