The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-12

mitted to acquire it. In 1S4S President
Polk offered Spain 500, 900, 900 for
Cuba, but the offer was peremptorily
rejected.
In 1849 Narcisco Lopez, who had
served in the Spanish army, became i'm
plicated III 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 out 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, 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 so of his
followers were shot in Havana. In 1852
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 1868 there were numer-
Gus small revolutions, but in the latter
year Franciso Augilera, Manuel Agui-
lera and Francisco OsOrio formed q 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 impor-
tant towns and routed the Spanish troops
on numerous occasions. Spain soon had
nearly 30, 900 men in the field. Tho
revolutionists elected Cespedes presi-
dent of the Cuban republic and Manuel
Quesad as commander in chief
In May, 1869, General Thomas Jor-
dan, graduate of West Point and an
ex-Confederate officer, landed IT'S men
and arms for 1900 more and joined tho
revolutionists. Jordan was soon ap-
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 Spanish warship, and 90 of her
men, many of them American citizens,
were shot in public square at Santi-
ago. The act aroused storm of indig-
nation in the United States and nearly
resulted in war 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, 900.
During the first three years of tho
war Spain spent over $40, 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
is now taxed beyond endurance and
practically without representation. 1t is
said that Spain's 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
country. 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 eyer
since he was boy of To- He has been
twice banished from Cuba and impris-
| 0ned in SnaiO hut each ti1na made hic
escape