The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-15
END OF THE CUBAN REPUBLIC


After ten years of constant and most
trying warfare, in which much blood has
been shed and vast amount of property
destroyed, it appears that the last hope of
the National or Republican party has be-
come extinct. Its leaders. have been
compelled to accept terms of peace
which, although quite favorable, and
from Spanish standpoint highly pro-
gressive, yet fall far short of the end for
which the struggle was inaugurated in
October, 1868. The concessions now
made by the Spanish Government to the
patriotic Cubans have been extended by
the desperate heroism of the Revolution
lists, and the latter can console themselves
with the reflection that if entire success
was beyond their grasp their labors and
sutterings and privations have not been
entirely thrown away. 1t is stipulated
that hereafter the people of Cuba shall
enjoy the same political privileges
organic and administrative, as
those now enjoyed in the Island of Porto
Rico-oblivion of the past to all political
ofenses committed since 1868, and a
general pardon to deserters from the
Spanish army to join the revolutionary
forces freedom to the slaves and Chi
nese now in the insurgent ranks-exemp-
tion from military service until peace
shall be established throughout the
isiand-free exit from Cuba by all who
may wish to depart, the Spanish Govern
ment to furnish the means of emigra-
tion-the capitulation of armed bodies
to be made in some uninhabited place,
Rnd all ways of communication, both by
Bea and land, to be left open to the dis.
banded troops.
1t is one of the sad fates of failing re-
bellions that their history should never
be fairly or fully written. The historian
loves to chronicle success and glorify
it. The Spanish revolution which
drove Isabella into exile seemed t.
the Cuban Republicans a favorable
hour for action. They, had no hope tina
the liberal measures adopted by the ole
mother country would be extended t.
them. The leading spirits in the insur
rectionary movement were Cespedes
Francisco and Manuel Aguilera, Alvarez
Garcia and the Fernandez brothers. TIL,
outbreak was fastened by the attempt O
the Government to arrest the conspira
tors. On the 10th of October, 1868, tn
Cuban Republic was proclaimed at Yara
near the eastern end of the island, ant
the brave Cespedes took the field at the
head of few hundred poorly armed
and equipped followers. 1t is impossi
BILE in our limited space to follow the
varying fortunes of this little band
Their leader had chosen their position
with sagacity on part of the island re
mote from the capital, which the Spanish
troops could reach with difficulty, ant
where they would be compelled to NEE
The revolutionists upon ground of thei
own choosing. Inadequate as th'
forces of the latter were
they met with unvaryin;
uccess for the first two or three years
Their forces at one time reached abou
ten thousand, but they were largely com
posed of manumitted slaves, and wer
poorly supplied with the material of wal
The formidable character Of the revolu
ton can be somewhat estimated from it
effects. From October, 1868, to October
1873, it cost the Spanish Government
sixty-eight thousand troops out of eight
thousand which had been sent to Cuba
besides the large loss of resident Span
iards loyal to the mother country
During'the first three years the expense
amounted to about $l00,00O,O00. Th
destruction of the sugar estates, in whicl
the eastern provinces were particular
rich, aggregated many millions of dollar
in value Until the end of 1874 continu
Ous fighting was kept up, in which II