Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-04-30
Cuba i'm the Past.

Ia NHhhSSAhOh WIN tLS PfNH~t%S ~ttes3
gle in Cuba the following items of Gu
ban revolutionary history will be found
of interest. They are furnished by a
correspondent of the Philadelphia Press
The first captain general was Juan de
Tejada, appointed in 1859. The power
of the attain general is absolute: he is
in fact &c it may be allowed to coin
such a world sub.king. He has the
power of life and death at his control;
he can send into exile, no matter what
may be the position of the Individual;
the laws are only in existence SO long as
they meet bis approval; he has no SUI
perlors in Spain but tho reigning sover.
eign, the term Of office is uncertain, and
his object is to make all the money he
can by the legal taxes, and he generally
finishes of by some extortion, to which,
from the despotic mode of government,
the people have to submit. The Cubans
being thus governed only to the adyan-
tage of the captain general, their own
interest being entirely neglected, have
for many years been dissatisfied, and
only held in awe by the superior number
of troops that are constantly patroling
the island.
The first outbreak that took place was
in 1923. In this the Cubans were en-
couraged by the great lberator of South
America, Simon Bolivar, who offered
them his aid.
The second took place in the province
of Bayamo in 1926, headed by Francis
CO Aguero and his brother. The pres
ent Col. Fernando Aeuero, of the revo-
lutionary army, is son of that patriotic
young man Of 1926. This family has
always been source Of trouble to Spain.
Living in district which has always
been rebelious, they have been foremost
in the revolts. Two of them suffered
with Lopez in 1851.
The next and most formidable one was
in 1928, and known rs :. Ell Aguila Ne.
gra" (tho Black Eagle.) This was in its
turn suppressed.
Again Cuba was convulsed with
fourth outbreak in lS4S. This was con-
fined to the provinces of Cienfuegos and
Trinidad; the leader of this was the
brave but unfortunate General Narciso
Lopez. Many suffered death by the
garotte, but Lopez escaped to the United
States, and early in the year 1850 com
menced preparations to invade Cuba,
which lie did by landing and taking
Cardaaes on the 10Th of July. The
garrison surrendered, and the governor
and other officials were taken prison
ers; the natives failing to rise, he was
compelled to retreat. At this Goncha,
the tyrant, was sent out rs captain gen.
eral. KS
Lopez, not discouraged by his two
former attempts, conceived another,
which he put into execution in 1851.
He embarked from the United States
with about four hundred poorly armed
men, and landed near the town of Las
Pazes, on the night of the 18th of Au-
gust After two or three engagements
in which he was successful, but could
not follow up on account of his limited
members, and being separated from Col
onel Crittenden--he was compelled to
retreat to the mountains, where be sur
rendered to San Christoval, on the 18th,
six days after he had landed. He was
taken to Havana, and garroted on the
1st of September in the Punta. Thus
passed away one Of the bravest and most
determined enemies of Spain.
Tho present revolution has been the
most formidable, having been in existence
since October. The men who command
the insurgents are able. Quesada served
in Mexico against the French. The gen.
erals are principally Mexicans, but GEES
pedes is commandment chief aud provis-
ional president.
Many of the Cubans are fleeing to the
United States with their families, from
fear of the Spanish troops, who know no
law and do not respect the non-combat
ants.