Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-03-25
A BRREzE FROM CUBA.

HAVANA, Cuba, March 10. Christopher
Columbus on the 2sth day of October, 1892,
after having landed at some Of the small |
islands Of the Bahama group, made his |
most important diacovery-the Island of |
Cuba. He gave It the name Of Juana, in |
honor Of Prince John, son Of Ferdinand |
and Isabella. the sovereigns Of Castillo and
,Aragon. At the death of Ferdinand the |
islands name was changed to Fernandina,
afterward again to Santiago, an mark of
respect to the potent saint OF Spain, still
later, to demonstrate their piety, the In
habitants named it Ave Maria In honor of
the holy virgin. In length from east to
west Cuba is about eight hundred miles,
and in width it varies from twenty to
something over hundred miles.
The climate of Cuba in winter and early
derfully uniform. The fertility of Cuba is
above comparison almost and vegetation
thrives to an extent beyond Imagination.
The important city of Havana, with its
two hundred thousand inhabitants, Ia stu
sted advantageouslY on the north shore of
the crescent shaped island, nearest to the
United States, being but hundred miles
from Key West.
The harbor is extensive and perfectly
land locked, making altogether one of the
best, as well as, perhaps, the most pictur-
esque port in the world. At the harbor's
entrance both sides are protected by for
tificstion; on the one hand La CsbaEa and
the frowning walls of Moro castle, on the
other Castillo de la Punta. These FORTH
cations are fully equipped and mount
something like two hundred and fifty guns.
There are also several other forts nearby.
The peculiar arrangement of the batteries
make them quite as capable of destroying
the city as of protecting it from enemies
from without, This is wise precaqtion
of the Spanish, for there is. indeed, far
more danger Of revolution than there is of
war with another nation. The political
situation in Cuba Is, and always has
| been decidedly sad one. Wholly
a sHs cubsns have absolutely no voice in
affairs, either trivial or great. Cuba's sole
purpose of existence ia to benefit Spain,
| and standing army of police and soldiers,
larger in number than the entire army of
the United States, is sent from Spain to
gee that her purpose is not changed.
| Governmental abuses by the mother
| were those of England toward her Amer
lean colonies upward of q hundred years
| ago. Taxation without representation, as
outrageous as such principle is in this
era of enlightenment, is not the greatest
hardship that the governed have to bear.
villainous system of espionage thrives.
A mans house Is not only not his castle,
but Is simply domicile which he may use
by the grace of government.
These abuses of the most vital principles
by the powers in Spain find ready imi-
tators in the resident officials who have to
do with the less important but perhaps
more annoying affairs of daily business
life. The Spanish sppointee, from the
governor-general down to the policeman,
is ever on the alert to annoy or barrasa
those over whom he has authority.
These methods breed corruption natural
1y, and the consequent is that the whole
fabric of government in Cuba is a &C ,ndal
on the intelligence of the age. And yet
and the governed, walk the same streets
meet casually everywhere, scowl at one
another, and agree only in hating each
other most cordially. Plots against the
government are of frequent occurrence, in
| surrections occasional and revolutions ere
sometimes resorted to. The last revolt as
sumed the proportions Of civil war, and
was sustained in desultory sort Of way
for several years. Whole armies fresh
from Spain fell, but the slaughter wal
mostly done by Cuba's trusted ally-tht
yellow fever. The bullet played small par
comparatively in these troubles, the SWORD
or bayonet none whatever Almost ths
only valorous deeds were those of woods
men frem the interior of the island, who
for years kept up sort of bandit warfare
| making sudden and Violent raids on tn,
Ill trained fedgling soldiers newly imported
The outlook for betterment is obscure
The Spaniard ia tyrannical. Tyranny is in
bred in him and has become his natura
trait.
Il The Cuban is poor and indolent, there
fore is eubservient, that is, the Cuban as
! rule ia 30, yet there are many exception
to the rule. A casual visitor soon learns
!, even there where patriotism is a GRIM
,, and loyalty a cempulsion, of the nobl
sacrifices that Cubans have made to forc'
, their land from the Spanish yoke. On
,, notable example is recalled-an iutellfgen
and wealthy Cuban resident in Havan
: | took up the cause during the Last revolu
ton and gave to it all of his energy ant
day his palatial home, with its msgnifcen
: rooms beautifully fresooed (having fallel
| into the hands of the Spanish) ia used TO
8 cigar factory. But it is not the purpos
| of this article to tell of the political mis-
= fortunes of this fair isle, but rather t
J. speak of what of interest thsre is to b
= seen there.
g HOW TO GET TeERE
g Being in Florida, or indeed anywher
d else in the United States, the best way t
r get to Cuba, is to take one of the two e.
n cellent ships, the Mascot or Olivette frol
Is Port Tampa, between the two, they max
l. three trips each week. These steamer
4 touch at Key West and on the outwar
70 bound voyage stay at that unique plse
J. half q dozen hours, which is time enoug
e to see what of interest there is. The con
mercial interests of "The Island City," 6
Key West Is called ARE considerable. Thre
lines of steamships touch there. Til
Q cigar industry Is the principal one, and th
a adorable, the great mass of all ciga1
made there being extremely poor, thong
> costly.
r At the start of cigar making in Re
West some years ago quite an enviable reI
4 utatfon for good goods was established fo
the place by a few Havana manufacturer
who set up branch factories there, thu
3 furnishing similar work to that made |
their Cuban factories, and by this m3s
saved to their customers ccnsiderall
money, which in the imported Havana al
tiole had to be paid at the United State
custom houses. With that peculiar fat
9 ulty possessed by the certain class, of whor
there are so many In the Tobacco
n and cigar trade, the legitimate reputatio
which the Cuban manufacturers had mad
for their Key West made product was take
: advantage of and New York, Pennsylvani
o and other large cigar producing district
y sent down there many manipulators of tn
weed and these trading on the reputation
4 &c III. hal