Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-05
CONCLUSIONS In CUBA
Threatened by Native Aversion to
Spanish Oppression.
MANY OLTH-BOUND SOCIETIES
Prepared to Precipitate Revolution at an
Early Date.
4 MODERN PRISONER OF CHILLON

secret societies composed OF the wealthlest
and most determined of the natives,
and the deadly torch of revolution against
the oppression and tyranny of the Spanish
authorities may be applied at any
moment A native-born American, at
present engaged in one of the
large American projects in Cuba, is
stopping at the Oakland Hotel while in the
city and yesterday gave the details and
causes of the revolution which he declares
is inevitable. Owing to the strict surveil-
lance everyone in Cuba is continually under
and the grave possibility of his being pun
ished by exile or something worse, it would
be extremely inadvisable to publish his
name. He is vouched for, however, by
prominent Pittsburgers and his utterances
are not considered idle sensationalisns
"The political state of affairs in Cuba, I"
he said, sis ominous in itself The people
are fully cognizant of their condition in
comparison with other nations They har-
Dor rancorous feelings against the oppres-
sive hand of Spain who has not only de-
spoiled them of their possessions, but con-
tinues to grind them down by exorbitant
taxes and severe punishment Everyone is
under the surveillance of the Spanish
authorities, and there is no power in the
world hated more by each and every class
of citizens than is the Spanish Government
by the Cubank
Cubans DESTROYS of Home Rule.
'They want their government to be in
the hands of their own people, who will re-
spect their rights and advance their inter-
ests, and they want the State divorced from
the church. 1t would be difficult to define
which of the two important measures they
desire first. They are now doing as they have
been doing for countless years past, filling
the pockets of impoverished Spanish gran
dees and supporting vast army of clergy,
and as result with progressive, intelligent
people they object and intend to carry their
objections to the point of conflict where they
can have it decided by force, as they realize
the hopelessness of attaining their ends in
any other way.
"The Government of Cuba is that of Spain.
The chief official is the Captain General
He is and always has been a titled Spaniard
whose ancestors lost their wide possessions
during some one of the many Spanish wars,
and he finds himself with nothing but the
prestige of an honored name. He is sent to
Cuba Tor the express purpose of extracting
all the wealth possible from the natives.
He appoints his own governors and levies
the taxes as he sees fit. The streets of the
cities of Cuba are in frightful condition.
The sewers are nothing but bitches running
along the surface of the earth Disease is
bred in all quarters, and vet each year
tax for the building of sewers and the repair
OF the streets is levied, but the condition
remains the same. 1t is useless to appeal,
Tor the Captain General has absolute power,
and petitions that are not destroyed by his
dependents exist but a moment in his hands
Cubans Not Allowed to Fight
'tNo Cuban is permitted to enter the
army or navy, as it would be dangerous to
teach them the art of warfare. The cities
are filled with soldiers who are divided into
three classes, the civil and the municipal
authorities and the Spanish army. In
Havana there are eight Spanish forts, each
containing garrison of soldiers Besides
this there are upward of 1000 pieces of
heavy artillery. In Santiago, city of Co.
600 Inhabitants, there are barricades,
regiments of infantry, 2 regiments of cav
airy, 5 batteries and 1 gunboat always in
the harbor.
''Retribution for Nihilistic utterances is
swift and terrible. The castle of Moro, To-
Gated in the harbor of Santiago, now con-
tains number of political prisoners, and
their treatment is barbarous. This historic
bastile was built in the sixteenth century,
and previous to the present time of inven-
tion and powerful arms was impregnable
1t was here the massacre of the 42 Ameri-
cans and Cnbans of the vessel Virginius oc-
CURED in 1872. The vessel, under command
of Captain Fry, was captured by Spanish
gunboat. and the 250 men taken onto land
and all ranged against the solid stone wall
preparatory to ali being shot at once. After
42 had been cruelty murdered the arrival of
an English man-of-war answered the Ameri-
cans signal of distress and saved the re-
manning 20S from death
SIN the Castle de Moro is now political
prisoner who has not seen the light of day,
except by dim reflection, for many years,
and as he is life prisoner, the chances of
his ever breathing the free air depend en-
tirely upon the success of the revolution.
He is never allowed to converse with any
person, and spends his hours in the most
desolate solitude. His coarse food is brought
to him three times day and tie keepers
are not allowed to exchange q word with
him. What this means NAV be better i'm
agined by freedom-loving Americans than
described.
Waiting Years for a Trial.
"Another case of Cuban Justice is that of
q man who stole watch worth some $50
two years ago and is still in prison await
ing his first trial These military and Judi.
cial conditions may be the better realized
by comparing them to the state of affairs in |
at present where men are sup
porting an army to protect themselves |
against themselves. No Cuban is allowed !
and they are denied all privileges of hold |
ing responsible positions. The Cuban is |
the prey OF the Spaniard and his soul re- |
volts as his body has in times gone BY"
"How will it be possible for the Cubans |
to defeat the Snaniards?"
''By assistance of the native Cubans in |
OF whom there are large numbers. |
by assistance from Americans who have |
interests in Cuba and by the ma |
tives OF Cuba The Cubans are in commu-
nication with the societies in America and |
the present state of affairs is well known |
both in Cuba and in America among the ma |
tives AT present the authorities are very |
vigilant and very watchfuL
Dynamite Kepr Of the Island,
'cNo dynamite or explosives other than
stored upon a small islet, under the care of /
officers, and miners are only given a small
quantity at time and then only upon the
payment of 60 cents per keg-a rate in |
tself most exhorbitant But when the
lime comes the natives will be armed with |
he most modern arms and munitions OF war,
Ind the carnage will be dreadful
SIS the coast guarded well enough to pre-
7ent smuggling of the arms?"
"Ali except a small portion along the
lorthern shore. Here boats may land, but |
he risk is great as gunbosts are continually /
kirting the island. The people have little
opportunity for drilling and practicing, but
,ver in Key West which Is hot bed of
jubans, they are teaching and learning
anldlY The Cnhan 1s lazy hut when snch