The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-10-24
SPANISH NISRULE,
Little Cuban Ancient History-what the
Country Needs
IFrom the Cbicaqo Journal

Little Cuban Ancient History.-what the
Country Needs.
From the Chicago Journal
In 1887, the condition of Cuba had
become much worse than it is at pres
ent. Not only was business depressed .
but lawlessness and violence had over.
spread the colony. Havana was
robbed by ring of thieving officials,
while public order disappeared, and
gamblers, thieves and ut-throats
ruled the streets. Murders and rob
berries were of daily occurrence, and
the police and public officials were
known to be in corrupt collision with
the CRIMINALS. The island appeared
to be on the verge OF anarchy, ard in
danger OF relapsing into barbarism.
The home government OF Spain was
overwhelmed with reports regard
ing the serious condition of Gu
ban affairs. Fully approaching the
emergency which had arisen, Tacon,
Spanish statesman and military
commander OF great force of character
and great fertility OF resources, was
sent to Cuba as captain general.
To the Cuban ring and criminal class
the change caused no alarm. They sup
posed that they could corrupt or in
tlmldate HIM as they had corrupted
or lntlmidated his predecessors, and
that their vlllalnous callings would be
uninterrupted. Tacon assumed com
mand OF the island and his charaC-
ter was soon manifested He called
the police before him and demanded
the arrest of a number Of the most
noted criminals whom he designated
by name. The police murmured and
began to protest. With q frown and
a stamp OF his foot, he demanded in
slant obedience, and the officials
crawled away, soon to return with
their prisoners. They entered Tacon' s
presence with SCOTS and bravado.
The iron courage and savage reproofs
OF Tacon soon reduced them to silence.
He then called each man up in turn
and recounted his crimes Turning to
all at last, he said 81 know you.
'But | will give you one more chance.
81 add you to my force of police.
''Death VII be the penalty for the first
'lapse of any man from the path OF
"striCt rectitude." Hesent them about
their duties, and, after one or two
were shot, all fell into the line OF strict
fidelity and obedience.
The effect was miraculous. The
rigOr of TacOn's rule banished crime
from Havana and all the Cuban cities.
With the restoration of law and order,
prosperity resumed it's sway, and there
followed for Cuba peaceful and thrifty
era so long as Tacon ruled its destin-
les.
An example OF his administrator of
Justice is described. A lovely girl
named Pepita, betrothed to q young
man named Pedro, long resisted the
advances of the Marquis OfVillafiores,
a profigate nobleman, who at length
abducted her. He had castle, a lit
eral stronghold, garrisOned by his fol
lowers, to which he carried the girl
Pedro appealed to the Captain Gen
eral, who at once espOused his cause.
Entrance was procured to the castle
of Nillahores by a large number of the
Captain Generals forces, who went III
disguise, ASK for work, and under
other pretexts. They overpowered the
garrison and carried the Marquis a
prisoner to Tacon. He was confident
and defiant and did not deny thegirl's
story, or the fact o. the outrage which
he had perpetrated. He was a wild,
over, and TaCon commanded him to
make the girl his wife. He at first re-
fused, but a careful study of Tacon's
cOuntenanCe caused him to change his
mind. The priest was brought and
the ceremony was performed. The
chroniCler tells the balance fthe story
as follows:
Pepita became the Marquesa de
Villaflores. Capt.-Gen. Tacon con
graduated her on her newly acquired
rank and fortune, and offered her the
hospitality OF the palace for a few
days. The marquis, he said, might re-
turn to his estate to make fitting
preparations for the reception of his
bride. He was escorted on the way
thither by the same band OF the civil
guard that had brought him in pris-
oner. The Cuban roads are lonely,
and on the way out, it was said, the
marquis assaulted a member of the
guard and en1eavored to break from
them. He was shot down. Little &C
cidents of this kind often happened to
obnoxious or dangerous persons in
Cuba. A few days after the Marchion-
ess OF NillahOres, who succeeded to all
the wealth and estates of her late
childless husband, was married to
Pedro, the artisan, who was raised TO
the dignity corresponding to his new
position.
eve want another Tacon" is said
to be the most frequent remark now
heard in Havana, and there is nc
doubt Of the fact.