The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-07
BALsrEAp,s STORY OF CUBA"


about Cuba generally Endorses the Idea
that the end of Spanish misrule IN the
island is not far off. For humanity
sake. to say nothing of the relief from
impending ruin Of Cuban commerce,
all must earnestly desire to see the
close OF contest which is a disgrace
TO civilization. If the claims or the
Old World institutions in the New
World are to be appraised by SPAN 5
administration of her dependency III
the West Indies, then the sooner we
have done. and forever, with them the
better. The Spanish force IN the
island as has been pointed out, IS now
greater than that with which the opce
dominant power in Europe used to hold
all Spanish America, and yet what Is
it effecting. what has it accomplished?
mo such failure of an army TO do its
work has been reported in modern
times"
The answer to the question, with
much else of high moment appertain-
ing to the past and present hisory or
Cuba. may be learned from he inter
esting volume from Mr.. Murat Hal
stead facile and instructive pen,
which has just appeared from the
Werner Co. Press The work is q
most timely as well as valuable con-
tribution to the literature of the sub
iect by a well-equipped writer, who
has had the advantage of dealing with
the topic and of studying the CUBAN
situation on the spot Mr.. Halstead
spent some time in the island, with
opportunities to become informed that
were excellent and extraordinary, and
the fact may be recited as Of some IN
terest as an incident Of the newspaper
enterprise that invadeS all lands where
the evoluti0nS of humanity have spe-
cfsl interest. The world has grown
so small. and facilities for ransporta-
ton and inquiry and usually for trans
mission, are so great that no Island OF
the sea is too barren or 50 remote as
to escape the pens and pencils OF the
current historian. Murat H3lstead IS
widely known as an alert, highly-in-
| formed and experienced newspaper
man. and most interesting are the facts
he has cleaned and thoughtful the COM
ments he presents.
'yrhe Story of Cuba" is told in
series of lucid and graphically written
/ CHAPTERS. thirty in number. which re
cite not only the stirring incidents IN
! the present struggle of the colony Tor
| Independence, with sketches OF the
chief captains of the war on both sides.
/ but an account of the races on the
| island and much historical. statistical
and descriptive matter that. puts the
| reader in possession of just such IN
| formation as will enable him TO under
stand the scope and character OF the
conflict, and the possibilities for the
island under an entirely RECONSTRUCTED
and more suspicious regime MI
HalStead is doubtless wise in dlVinlng
the sequel to the unhappy strife In the
| iIl-starred though beautiful and re-
sourceful colony must ere long De
/ Spain's surrender of the jewel or the
Greater Antilles. The logic Of span
ish history" he writes, lis the loss OF
Cuha. The same causes That cost
Spain Mexico and Peru, and Chill, ana
Bolivia, Central America, Nenezueia'
| and the rest. means also that the long
/ struggle of the Cubans for liberty VIII
Close in triumph. With Cuba ; des-
+iny in the hands of her own people
She will obey the irresistible aftrsic-
ton Of our Union to be one OF the
United States"
/ The book-~The Story Of Cuba; Her
! Struggles for Liberty The cause
Crisis and Destiny Of the Pearl 81 the
Antilles is not only very Instructive
and readable, but is rendered atlrae-
i've by its graphic illustrations OF nu-
merous typical photographic reprodue-
I tons and original drawings.