The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-12

SocN AM
mitted to acquire it. In 1S48 President
Polk offered Spain 500, 900, 600 for
Cuba, but the offer was peremptorily
rejected.
In 1849 Narcisco Lopez, who had
served in the Spanish army, became i'm
plicated in revolutionary movements and
fed to the United States. He represent
ed that the creole population was ripe
for revolt and annexation to the United
States. The first expedition fitted ont by
Lopez for the conquest of the island was
defeated by the vigilance Of the United
States authorities, but in 1851 Lopez
and Colonel Crittenden. q Kentuckian,
left New Orleans with 500 men and
landed at Morillo. The people did not
revolt according to expectations, the
revolutionists were routed, Lopez was
garroted, and Crittenden and 30 of his
followers we're SHOT in Havana. In 1859
President Fillmore refused to join with
France and Great Britain in guarantee
ing to Spain the possession of Cuba, and
since then the United States has been
the ground of preparation for numerous
revolutionary expeditions.
From 1852 to 1858 there were numer-
Gus small revolutions, but in the latter
year Franciso Augilera, Manuel Agui-
lera and Francisco Osorio formed a most
formidable conspiracy to liberate Cuba.
Generals Cespedes, Alvarez Vicente
Garcia, Marmol and Fernandez raised
bodies of armed men, and a desperate
war ensued that lasted ten years. The
revolutionists captured several imporS
tant towns and routed the Spanish troops
on numerous occasions. Spain soon had
nearly 30, 600 men in the field. The
revolutionists elected Cespedes presi-
dent Of the Cuban republic and Manuel
Quesad as commander in chief.
In May, 1869, General Thomas Jor-
dan, q graduate of West Point and an
confederate officer, landed 175 men
and arms for 2, 600 more and Joined the
revolutionists. Jordan was soon APP
pointed commander in chief of the pa
triot armies. For years the revolution
lists held the center Of the island despite
the fact that Spain sent thousands Of
troops to quell the outbreak. During the
war the American ship Virginius, .
blockade runner, flying the stars and
stripes, was captured in British waters
by a Spanish warship, and SO Of her
men, many of them American citizens,
were shot in q public square at Santi-
ago. The act aroused q storm Of indig-
nation in the United States and nearly
resulted in wal with Spain. The United
States and Great Britain both protested
against the barbarous act. and Spain set
tied the trouble by paying the United
States an indemnity Of about $500, 600.
During the first three years Of the
war Spain spent over so, 600, 600 in
fighting the revolutionists, and thou
sands of her troops were killed. From
1868 to 1872 Is. 600 of the revolution
lists were slain in battle and 43, 500
prisoners were put to death by the Span
ish authorities. In 1878 the insurgents
had been driven to the mountains,
whence they could not be dislodged, and
Spain made peace with them, promis-
ing to reform its corrupt and oppressive
administration Of the islands affairs
The promises were not kept, and Cuba
10 now taxed beyond endurance and
practically without representation. Il is
said that SPANS levies are equivalent
to $50 per capita Of the inhabitants. In
1880 General Calixto Garcia and Jose
Marti, the present president OF the, rev.
olutionary party, landed in Cuba with
. small force and held their ground for
six months. The country was not ripe
for revolt, however; Garcia was cap
tured, and Marti was driven from the
oountry% He located in New York and
has since been planning revolutions.
Marti is about 40 years Of age and has
been working for Cuban freedom ever
since he was . boy Of Is. He has boon
twice banished from Cuba and impris-
oned in Spain. but each time made his
: escape.