New-York tribune., 1896-09-27
escaped into the neIghbOring province of New

escaped into the neghborng province Of New
Granada.
In September, 1872. Bolivar fed to New -Grana-
da. In October he re-entered Venezuela with 800
men, declaring war to the knife against Spain.
Victory followed victory. In August. 1913, he re-
entered Caracas In triumph. Then came reverses.
and he had to fee to Jamaica. For some years
more the struggle went on. until 1921. when New
Granada and Venezuela were united as an inde-
pendent Republic under the name of Colombia.
the last of the Spanish troops being driven out in
1874 Ecuador was added To the republic in
1S22. Peru formed another State in 1870. under
the name of Bolivia, Peru itself-and Chill also,
thanks to the genius of notwithstanding in
dependent in 1894. Mexico threw off the yoke of
Spain in 1921, and Guatemala-then including
all Central America-n 1872. Nor did the prov
inces on the Plate River lag behind. Paraguay,
indeed. was first of all to win her independence. in
1914 Uruguay followed in the same year. and the
Argentine Confederation, after a ten years war.
in 1894. Brazil had been lost to Spain in the Sc
cession of Portugal, and Florida ceded to the
United States in 1919. Thus. in the first quarter
of this century. the entire Spanish Empire in the
Western Hemisphere, save only the islands Of
Cuba and Porto Rico forever lost to the de-
cning monarchy.
CUBA AND PORTO RICO
Ine last OF SPAIN : nOlulnSS IN America was the
first, the first but one. that she acquired. CO.
lumbus sighted land on September - 1872. and
actually landed on October l.. Then on October
2S. he sighted Cuba. which he supposed to be the
eastern shore of Asia This" he wrote in his
journal of that day. lis the most beautiful land
ever beheld by human eyes" Beautiful it was
and occupied by a peaceful. amiable folk. These
the Spaniards presently eXtermnated with all
possible accessories Of tOrture-a half-million
hut, hale
gold in the island. Cuba was neglected
and ignored for many years. But the Spanish
colonized it, and ultimately found that its sugar
plantations and tobacco fields were more prOfita-
bic than gold mines For two centuries it has
proved the most valuable of all Spain's possess
sions-in fact. the chief support Of that bankrupt
nation.
But Cuba grew restless under the punderng
and laundering of Spain. and early in this con-
tury began 10 grope about for path to freedom
Rebellion after rebellion arose, only to be quelled
ruthessly. passage in an English paper in Au-
gust. 1S25. says: Cuba is the Turkey of trans
atlantic politics. tottering to its fall. and kept
from falling only by the struggles of those who
contend for the right OF catching her in her de-
scent" That was seVenty-One years ago. The
Cuban Captain-General's proclamation in $50
commenting on an attempted revolt against the
despotism Of Ferdinand VII who abolished the
Constitution and restored the lnquistion, de-
clares: This happy land the abode of peace,
plenty and loyalty presents TO the world a strik-
ing contrast; enjoying. under the mild govern
ment Of her King all the blessings which spring
from security of property the uninterrupted
progress of the arts. education and science. while
revolutions. factions. discord and anarchy have
established their empire in the rebelliOus prov
inces Some of them have been msled
by fallacous theories ignorant Of the irresistible
arguments based upon simple comparison be-
tween the state Of the Ever-Faithful Isle of Cuba
and the deplorable state Of the Continent
Madmen All men of sense in this island are
faithful to the King. our Master whose
heart never throbs with pleasure except when
contemplating you cOntented and happy
There were a score of TebelliOns in Cuba be-
fore the Ten Years War, which is still fresh in
memory. And now another and more determined