Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-01-07
Queen of the Antilles" I"

EoOOa Va tiO I4ublliOot
just at this interesting period of
Cuban affairs anything that relates,
even in tho remotest degree, to the
Island Of Cuba, is read with deep in
tercst; therefore we lay the following
before our readers. Owing to tho
fact that it is tho largest of tho West
Understands, Cuba has received the
poctical appellation of "Queen of the
Antilles" The figure of Cuba is long
and narrow, approaching to that of a
crescent, with convex side looking
towards the north its western por-
ton lying between Florida and the
peninsula OF Yucatan, leaves two en-
frances into the Gulf of Mexico. The
greatest length of the island, follow
ing its curve, is about six hundred and
sixty miles; its breadth, which is
very irregular, varies from eleven to
one hundred and thrty-fve miles,
while the coast line may be estimated
at eighteen hundred miles. The to.
tai area Of the island is 48,4S9 Eng
lish square miles The coast is sur
rounded with many islands, keys and
reefs, but Notwithstanding the Difficult
ty OF approach TO it's shores, it has
several excellent harbors, that of Ha-
vana being ono of the best in the
world, As respects the civil jurs-
diction, Cuba is divided into three
provinces or departments, comprising
within their limits l6G pdrtidos or
counties. These three departments,
the Eastern, Central and Western,
have Santiago, Trinidad and Havana
as their respective capitols. The Gov.
ernment is vested in a Captain Gen
oral, appointed by the mother ooun.
try, who is supreme military com
mandant, and also civil governor of
the western division of the island -
The remaining provinces have each
Governor, who has Independent civil
powers, responsible only 10 the Court
of Spain. The island is also appor-
toned into three military divisions.
identical in Typographical distribution
with the three civil provinces, the
chiefs or governors of which are of
course subordinate to the Captain
General. The royal court of Puerto
Principe, of which the Captain Gen
eral is the er o6icio President, has the
supreme jurisdiction in all criminal
and civil affairs. The population of
Cuba, according to the most recent
statistical authority 1862 numbers
l,37O,211 people, of which 76i,75OI
are whites and tho balance coloied
persons. The total population is at
the present day variously estimated
at from 100000 to 100000. Cuba,
the "richest jewel in the crown of
Spain" was discovered by Columbus,
October 2S, 1892. 1t was first named
Juana, then Fcrnandina, and after.
wards Santiago and Ave Maria. The
natives called it Cuba, which name
has since come into general use. The
first Spanish settlement was formed
in 1911. The colonists carried on
continual war with the aboriginal in
habitants, who were almost extermi.
mated by 1860. General Lopez hav-
ing, in spite of prohibitions from the
Government of the United States, in
vaded Cuba at the head of on cxpedi.
tion of American filbusters, May II,
1850, and again August 12, 1851, was
captured by the Spanish authorities,
and executed at Havana, September |
1851. Cuba, as it is well known, has
always been considered by the moth
or country as an inexhaustible mine
for the replenishment of her treasury. |
Whenever money was needed by the
Spanish Government the purse Of this
"ever faithful isle' was invariably
taxed to its uttermost; whenever men
were required to fight tho battles of
Spain, Cuba sent forth more than her
fair quota of her loyal sons; whenev.
er any other burden had to be borne
the "Pearl of the Antilles" uncom.
plainingly offered her shoulders to
bear the heaviest portion of it, with.
out ever reaping any other recon.
pense for her many sacrifices than op-
preston of the most tyrannical kind |
The Spanish Government always look
ed upon Cuba as foreign country
or rather as upon conquered and |
hostile territory, and so did every Of |
flclal that Was sent to that fair isle,
from the Governor General down to
the meanest servant that was in his
suite. The country had long painted
for liberty, when upon the receipt ofl
tho news of the Spanish revolution,
Sept. Oct. 1868, an insurrection
broke out in this colony on tho 10th
of the last named month, and on the
same day declaration of indepen-
denco was issued at Manzanillo, and
national Junta formed. This revolu-
tlonary movement rapidly spread over
the whole of the eastern and central
divisions of the island. The Insurr.
ents appointed Don Carlos Manuel
Cespedcs, native Cuban, their com.
mander-in-chief and their Junta or
provisional government applied to the
United States for their recognition as
5eillgogents. Numerous skirmishes
and minor engagements occurred be.
tween the Spanish troops and the reb-
els with varying and unimportant ro-
suits. Whether the endeayors of the
Cubans to gain their independence
from tho Spanish rule will finally sue
coed, or whether the Spanish arms
will triumph over the insurgents, will
mainly depend upon the part which
the Government of the United States
will deem it to the interest of this
country to take in this question
When the King of Portugal addrcs.
aes his Wifn nnhlinlv hn L. nhlirnd 10