Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-04-16
From Harper's Weekly
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.

The determined efforts made by the
C1bans to conquer their independence
by the expulsion of the Spanish army
and of the Spanish GOvernorship have
from the fiCst engaged the sympathles
of the American people. There is the
same Justice inthe Cuban revolt against
Spain that there was in our own reYOlu
tfOn of l776. A colonial dependency
has been held in subjection by the
mother country, and governed in the
interests of the latter rather than in its
own. 1t is true, indeed, that the Span
ish Government has tried a concilia-
tory policy since the revolt broke out.
Captain-GeneraI Lersundi's regime was
too Bourbon-like to suit those who had
lust oVerthrOwn the rule of ISABELLA
II. DuIce, therefore, took LERSUNDI'S
place and tried to suppress tho revolt
bv an offer of amnesty. To this the
CTIbans justly replied that they asked
not for mercy but for independence.
Their continuance ofthe rebellion soon
caused the parent Government to re-
! turn to the seyerer policy which has
been carried out forthe past few weeks
/ The offer of amnesty was Withdrawn,
! an order was issued that no prisoners
| should be taken, but all should be shot
and within the present month between
800 and 400 political prisoners have
/ been sent to the penal station at Fer
nandO Pc for no other crime than their
devotion to the cause of their country.
The island of Fernando Poi is situated
( on the western coast of Africa IN the
/ Blight of Bafra, at the eNtrentc end OF
! the Gulf of Guinea. 1t was discovered
/ by the Portuguese in 147l, and by them
ceded TO Spain in I77s. he island is
! 3e p north of The equator, ami Is from
40 to 30 miles long, and from 20 10 ~
miles W de. 1t is one of the most
picturesque islands that adorn the sea +;
it is covered with rank vegetation and
4, Il
to the shore. No large animals are to
be found but birds abound, snakes
and lizards are 10 be found in great
numbers. and scorpions and centipedes
are not uncommon. The island is in
, habited by avery PECULIAR people called
Boobies, about as primitive in the1I
, habits as any savages on the globe. A
penal station was established here
about ten wears ago. The cOnvicts are
employed 10 make roads, cut trees
work hard in the hot sun, and O.
, course the climate makes short worn
! of them. The malaria causes fever
; and many die of it. The rains are
heavy and continuous, the heat is very
great, dysentery and liver complaints
are also common, and the negroes VII
I be the only people who Will be able u
live on the island for long time L
come. The great number of graves
testify to the great mortality amOns
f the whites, and the transportation o
these political prisoners to Fernando P'
, is an outrage against humanity and
disgrace to civilization.
The revolution has already accom-
I plished important results, though j
has by no means achieved its mail
7 purpose. The emancipation of tn
slaves by the revOlutiOnists has givel
, their cause more strength for itself AM
: increased sympathy abroad. The West
q ern Department was the only portion
= of the island involved in the origing
: : outbreak, but gradually the Who'll
Z island has been inflamed. Many out
! RACES, doubtless, have been committe
9 in the name of liberty, but the pei
), petrators are not recognized or supper
4 ted by the mass of the revolutionists.