The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-21
The BIG J0BOF GEN. CAMp0S
Misrule in Cuba Has En-.
gendered the Strife.
lack of Roads Stimulated the Up
rising. Climate Strong Factor
in Proof of the lnsu3rection-
lists. Spanish Loses in
Twenty Years.

II tue Spanish rule in Cuba were not
incompetent as well us tyrannous, it
would not be easy for tho insurrection-
lists TO keep the island in turmoil for
years, as they have done before, and as
: they are likely to do now, unless. hap
PLY, they tire SPnin out and win their
Independence without loug struggle.
What has Spain done since the ten wears
war ending i'll 1873 to render the recur.
renee Of such conflict difficult or i'm
possible? The railroad between tho two
largest cities OF the island, one of them,
Santiago the headquarters of the pres
ent Spanish operations, is not yet half
completed. The mountains overlooking
both the north and south coasts Of east
ern Cuba are now haunted by patriot
bands, who, having cut the telegraph
wires, can play tho mischief without
having their doings reported for days OF
weeks. When General Martinez Campos
is called from one to another of his mill
tary stations along the coast, he has to
make slow journey by sea.
No part OF the island is better adapt
ed for railroad building than the into
rior plain north Of Santiago The diff
cultles In the way have already been
surmounted by the completion of the
yaalroad through the mountains back of
Che port, but no attempt has yot been
made to connect Santiago with Gibara
or any other north coast town So n
journey that would take three or four
hours by rail requires two to three DAYS
by steamer. The country is also wretch
eddy provided with wagon roads, and
the difficulties of transport make the
task before General Martinez Campos
doubly formidable.
The general is assuring tho people
that as soon as this unpleasantness is
over work will be plentiful, for an era
OF railroad building will be usbcred in.
This will be locking the stable door Mt
er the horse is stolen. One Of cast Gu
ba's greatest grievances is that thou
eands of the people have been kept in
dire poverty by their inability to send
their products to market save ut ruinous
cost. Lack Of roads was one of the causes
that stimulated tho present uprising.
Lack of roads will make ii difficult. if
not impossible, to suppress it.
ms month the rainy and the sickly
season opens, and the outlook is certain
~ not bright for the thousands of Span
ish soldiers, taken from their homes for
colonial service, and most Of them con-
lined TO the low and unhealthful coast
regions during the trying period of tho
year. General MARTINEZ Campos is call
ing for more soldiers, and no will need
MI he can get The climate will kill n
score OF his men whore one will fall in
battle. In five years after the revolt of
1858 began Spain sent so, 900 troops to
fhe island, and only IL, 900 Of them
we're alive at the end of that time. At
the close of tho ten years war Spain
had sent lao, 900 soldiers TO her revolted
colony, and yet the agony and bitterness
OF that experience taught her nothing.
Cuba is nowhere densely populated.
but as we watch this struggle we should
not forget that in the third of the island
now in active revolt over 400, 900 people
live, and that the insurgents, in their
uplands and mountains, have an advan
tage in position that is worth many
thousands of men to them. Tho iyno
rance and poverty of the masses twin
curses which Spanish misrule has fas-
tened upon them, are their greatest dis
advantage. They are capable of better
things and will attain them when at
last they succeed in shaking of the in
cubus that has weighted them down so
long New York Sun.