Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-06-30
I'm OTHER LANDS.

Doen named Tor q high ONCE.
IN OTHER LANDS.
what is the Matter with 0uba2-Its
LuKurIance and Natural wealth.
Spaln,s Despotic Grip ON the Island-z
Machinery of the Spanish Political
Inauisition-The Mountain of Debt
No Hope Except Through tine Uni-
ted States.
HAVANA, Cuba, June 25.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
'sIf Cubans long for liberty why don't
they rise and win it by force of armsl" "f
the domination of Spain is SO hateful why is
it not resisteds' eff there is over two hun
dred million dollars in American capital in-
vested in Cuba, and in conducting business
with Cuba, why does not the Washington
government take cognizance of constant dan
ger and loss to its citizens through Spanish
misrule, and compel from Spain assurances
of fair treatment to American citizens so in
volYedf' 'sIf Cuba is country of untold
and untouched riches. and its present posses
sion by an inconceivably vile and barbarous
foreign power is threat against American
supremacy in America, why does not our
government buy it or take itf'-are among
many questions on similar lines which have
been asked through the mails of your cor
respondent. Their capitalization means:
What is the matter with Cubai This ques-
tion has never been informingly and sue
cinetly answered. I shall endeavor to do so,
although some of the questions cited can
only be answered by at once conceding the
colossal stupidity or cowardics of that which
stands, whatever political party is in power,
as the "foreign policy" of the United States.
In the first place, for over one hundred
years Cuba mas not in point of fact belonged
to Spain. The fundamental duty of all gov
srnment is the protection of life and proper
ty. Spain has never in single instance OF
particular discharged tLis prerequisite of
owaership towards Cuba. The actual and
damnabls history of Spain's relations to its
richest and greatest West Indian possession
is crystallizsd to the diamond point in Cuba's
dolorous adage: "Cuba es In vaca de Espa-
ma; pere hsce tempo que Ia vaca no da
lechel" c'Cuba is Spain's COW; but was
long ago MIXED dryP0 From first to last
abe has been held az dependency to be
robbed and ravished by Spanish officials at
the point of the bayonet. The history of
every successive Spanish cabinet, despite the
protestive force Of berallty and humanity
in all civilized governments, has been rec
ord of ever-increasing reeklessaess aud in
Justice towards Cuba. The elevation of eve
ry Spanish minister of the colonies has been
recognized through all Spain, from time i'm
memorial, as special reward to royal pro-
curator or public thief; his prime fitness
alone being measured by his devilish ingenu-
ity In wringing additional plumber from
Spanish h-American possessions; and the con-
scienceless creatures of each succeeding CO
lonial government have We'd with their pre-
decessors in wrong and rapine. These are
not mere sympathetic assertions. They
comprise q moderate statement of villainous
facts which anyone in days scanning OF in
| tsrnasional history can easily ascertain. The
revolt against this scandalous misrule by
| most of Spa.n's North and South American
colonies was practically Simultaneous, and
because such secured Important moral and
material support from the United States and
England, and was successful. Witness the
result A chain of splendid free republics,
TO the south of us. 60 closely in sympathy
| with all progress and aspiration through lib
erty, that freedom from dsspotism on the
| American continent (un1ess it remain in
| Cuba) is forever assured.
| sPAINs GOLDEN COW.
| Because of the indescribably natural luxu
/ riance and incalculable natural wealth of
Cuba; because this particular golden cow of
Spain could longest sustain an interrninable
stripping; because those who hoped for Cuba
Il ever looked forward for some sort of relief
| from the United States; the toleration of in
| tolerabls conditions here continued longer
| than in other Spanish-Amerioan colonies.
Then came the revolution of 1868. All con-
| sidsrations of justice aside, whether that
Il memorable struggle for Independence de-
served substantial and complete recognition
| by the nations OF not, Is best answered by
4 Spain's own admission of what 1t COST The
i war lasted from October, 1858, until the
patched.up peace of Lanjon, February 10th,
4 1878, period of nearly ten years, and ao-
cording to the estimate of Gevernor-Gene
raj Don Joaquin Jove1lar, two hundred
| thousand combatants perished in battle or
through disease; the contest desolated entire
provinces; and the cost in money to Spain
and Cuba was upwards of seven hundred
million dollars. In other words, the entire
power OF Spain expended in the attempted
subiugation of little island, whose total
population never exceeded million and a
half souls, was for ten YEARS inadequate to
enforce the supremacy OF authority. And
then, and then only, was quasi victory Sc
cured by practical treaty of peace with the
| heroic r6VOluLlOnlbls, III WHICH GnelE laying
down of arms was conditioned upon sacred
pledges by Spain that t'the island of Cuba is
granted an organic and administrative re.
gime equal TO the one which rules Porto
Rico; complete amnesty and liberation of all
| slaves and Asiatic colonists who fought in
the ranks of the insurrection; Cuba to be
permanently represented in the Cortes by
her own depdties duly elected, and thus tc
recover the privilege Of which Ashe was de
prised in 1885,
This treaty of peace was accepted by tht
Cubans in perfect good faith. It was a steI
gained towards relief from intolerable con
Editions. The resumption Of agriculture
business and all human activities through
out the island was begun with as genuin,
loyalty as was ever known on the part of an
earnest people who sought only the creates
good for their loved country. But Spain
which never kept pledge or treaty save un
der the whip of force, never intended t,
; keep faith with Cuba and never did SO. In