Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-07

must admit that the vengeance of Provi-
dence, foreseen by Las Casas, has already
in measure been visited upon his devoted
country. AS to Cuba, Las Casas was with
the Spanish troops that early ravaged that
island. Some of the revolving scenes which
he witnessed with his own eyes are strik-
tngly suggestive of the peculiar Spanish
methods and policy in vogue on that island
today. Las Casas says:
THE Spanish passed into the Island of
Cuba In the year 1911. There were former
ly fine and flourishing provinces to be seen,
nlled with vast numbers Of people, who
met with no milder or kinder treatment
from the Spaniards than the rest On the
contrary the Spaniards seemed to have
redoubled their cruelty upon these people.
"One day there came to us a great hum
Der or the inhabitants Of famous city,
situated about ten leagues from the place
where we lodged, to commitment us and
trlng US all sorts of provisions and re-
freshments. which they presented with
great marks of joy. caressing us with the
most ooliginG manner But that evil spirit
that possessed the Span.ards put them
into such sudden fury against them fhe
nativeO that they fell upon them the ma
tlVes) and massacred above three thousand
or them, both men and women, upon the
spot, without having received the least Of
tense or provocation from them. l was an
eyewitness of this barbari:y."
Six Thousand Children.
After enumerating other instances of
Spanish cruelty that came under his per-
sonal observation in Cuba Las Casas con-
tinues:
'The Indians of Havane GIavana prov
ince), seeing themselves reduced to a state
of severe slavery, and knowing no remedy
left began to seek refuge in the deserts
and mountains to secure themselves If pos
s!ble, from death. Some strangled them
selves in despair; parents hanged them
selves, together with their children, to put
md Hi.
with my own eyes above 5000 children die
In the space of three four months, their
parents being forced to abandon them. be-
ing condemned to the mines. After this the
SpanlardS took up a resolution to pursue
those Indians that were retired into the
mountains, and massacred multitudes of
them. so that this island was depopulated
and laid waste in very little time 1t Is
most lamentable spectacle to see so fine
a country thus miserably ruined and I'M
peOpled."
Between the year 1511, whom the Spaniards
entered Cuba, and the wear 1912 when Las
Casas wrote his narration there elapsed
as VIII be observed only thirty-one years
yet, from his account. this period sufficed
the Spaniards to depopulate the island.
determination in Haytf.
Under the head of "Hispaniola" HaytD
Las Casas says: "At this island the Span
iards arrived in their first voyages, and
here at once began to prosecute and MUIR
der the Indians, taking away their wives
and children, and using them, or rather
abusing them, al their pleasure. The Span
iards, who were mounted on fine horses and
armed with lances and swords, looked with
the utmost contempt upon enemies SO mean
ly equipped. and committed the most hor-
rible slaughters with impunity They passed
through the several cities and towns, spar
ing neither age nor sex, but killed women
ana children, rs well as men. They
ia Of
together upon their lances They cut off
the hands of those they saved alive, and
sent them away in that miserable condition
bidding them carry the news of their
calamlties TO those who We're retired in the
mountains They obliged these poor crea-
lures to carry burdens of four-score or
hundred pounds weight for a hundred or
two hundred leagues and that they tbau
serves might travel the more a ease, they
would make these Indians carry them in
chalrs ana morse filters on their shoulders
Spanish Approval
Las Casas charges that the Spanish gov
eminent utterly failed to suppress and pun
ish the atrocities of the ''conquista dores" it
sent out, just as 1t fails today to suppress
the atrocities Of Weyler and his subordiaates
in Cuba. Speaking particularly of the then
kingdom Of Venezuela, Las Casas declares
that all the violences there committed
We're plainly approved by the procureur of
! ne acts and proceedings made in these af-
lars are yet preserved Ipon record vet
DOL one OF these tyrants was ever put to
death FOR the injuries offered the poor In
dlans so that all the process that was made
against them proved of very little purpose
Inose ministers of justice that ave
been sent into the Indies have regarded
nothing but their own interest ana studied
how to enrich themselves. The roval
council has been sufficiently Informed of all
these disorders and cruelties, but they are
pleased to conniVe at them" How like the
spanish government of today,
In iucatan Las Casas states that all of
the native inhabitants spared from the
sword We're taken into slavery and "ex-
changed for wine oil, vinegar salt pork
horses and other Recessarcs. They che
SpaniarGs) would give 30 or 100 of the hand
soonest young girls for a measure of wine
oil or vinegar. and would sell 100 or 200
lusty, Well-made young Men at the same
rate. They snapped the princes son for
cheese, and a hundred persons of erninence
for horse"
Las Casas estimates that the Spaniards
killed over 100000 people by fire and
sword in New Spain" (MeXico) and > GOO
Woo in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and
Costa RIGA in less than ten years Down on
the lsthmus, he says, vast number of In
dams were worn out with carrying the
tackle of the Spanish ships from the rorth
to the south sea, $50 leagues distant. To
increase their misery, families were divided:
their daughters We're taken from them tn
stNe " the sedmen ana soldiers, to Eatisfy
thelr lust and appease their murmurinp
How many parents have the Spaniards he.
reaved of their children How MANY aduI
ter!es and other Infamous practices have
they peen the causes the actors and accom-
plices! How many people have bean on
shaved! What fountains of tears thay have
opened! What rivers of blood have thew
poured OUT" '
VENETIAN GLASS