Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-26

Cuban debt began to grow apace also. 1t
was late in 1872 that the royal decree for
the relief o. the island by the issue of $6o.
600 interest bearing bonds was pronuI-
gated. After that came further DEGREES.
income tax impositiens and other new
sources of taxation. complaint. too. was
made of corruption in the army, and OF
the fearful extravaganza, or robbery, OF
those in pow r.
Reply Hpf the Colony.
When in 1873 the abdicaton Of King
Amadeus was announced and the republic
of Spain proclaimed, the colony made re-
ply. It's loyal inhabitants welcomed the
republic and would help 1t to maintain the
territorial integrity of Spain. After this
follow ed announcements from Madrid OF
the cabinets agreement of reforms for
Cuba, and of greater liberty on the island
Then followed Captain General Pteltln
proclamation of the elevated purpose of the
republic of Spain to put an end to the
partial insurrection.' Soon after this
came the appointment of Jovellar as cap
tain general, the acknowledgment of Span
ish defeats in the field, and the precaricus
condition of the island. There was also the
capture of the Nirginfus announced. and
in November public opinion was at fever
heat over this affair. and Captain General
Jovellar issued his proclamation telling the
excited inhabitants to "be calm Loyal
Spaniards in Cuba We're as ready for war
with the United States then Is they are
HOW III case DelllSeTeEcy Oh tne Hisai Soh -
should be recognized. During this period
word came from ManZanillo of the retire
ment of CesDedes from the presidency OIL
the Cuban republic, and the choice of Sal
vador CisLeros as his successor.
Extraordinary Powers.
The fall of CASTELAR, and the substitution
of a reactionary cabinet under Serrano,
word of which was received from Madrid
in January. 1874, produced no change in the
conditions on the island. The insurgents
continued very active, and their success
was reported west of the trocha. This was
the trOcha in the eastern part of the island,
which ran from Jacuro to Moroa,. and
which is at the present day maintained by
Gen. Weyler as a railroad trocha or base
of operations in trying to subdue the east
ern provinces of Puerto Principe and San
tago. In the spring of this year came Cap
tain General Concha, eel nombre de las
botas puestas' the man with his boots on),
Concha was intrusted with extraordinary
powers for the purpose of subduing the in
surrection, but his powers We're not as
great as those posse ssed by Weyler to-day.
The arrival of Concha caused much discus
sion. The moderate party wanted new
methods adopted. It complained that the
rebellion had maintained itself for five
years, and still lived, staining the soil
with blood. covering the island with ruins
ard strewing the land with ashes The
Insurgents. on their part, We're bitterly de-
let and the machete.'' About this time
there was much comment on Senator Matt
Carpenters motion to recognize the in
sGrgents as belligerents, and the stand of
President Grant against recognition was
commended by the loyal Spaniards.
Men and Money.
About this time, too, distressful cries
went up over the new levies of troops and
the endless call on Spain for reinforce
ments This continued for nearly a year,
during which there was much said about
Spain's heavy losses of men and money.
Estimates were made telling how after five
years of war, the soil of Cuba had drunk
up the blood of 100000 of the soldiers of the
peninsula, and cost 1t $15D,UJo,Uoo. The
rival of veteran soldiers from Spain was
also chronced while the Madrid papers
published tidings from the scene of the
perennial struggle" When in January.
1915, the short-iived republic of Spain gave
up its existence and Alfonso assembled the
throne, The loyalists in Cuba welcomed the
return of monarchical government and
promised. as they had promised the repub-
lie, to help maintain territorial integrity.
Later came the resignation Of Concha. and
the appointment of Falmaseda, who had
been in command of the island during the
first years of the instruction.
Bitter protests We're made because of the
arrears of pay due he soldiers. Valmas-
eda SignaliZed his resumption of power by
active operations against The insurgents in
the field, but the insurgents were equally
active. Spain complained that the insur-
rection had become nothing but brigdnd
age. but continued to pour troops into the
island. In course +cf a. year Gen. Jovcllar
was again in command and he, too prom
Used a vigorous prosecution and a speedy
close of the insurrection. The ministry of
Spain promised that no new taxes should
be imposed on Cuba, much as the CaEovas
ministry had recently promised. At this
time 10000 soldiers had been drawn from
SPAIN while $4,000 volunteers had been
equipped on the island, and the demand
for more troops was still going up.
The End In Sight.
In an interval of two years there was lit
tie change, and it is possible to pass rap
idly over this period until the first month
of 1878 Then there were reports that at
ter ten years warfare the end was really
coming. The Cuban republic was not to be
established, but system of government
was to be er forced which would be a guar
aEtee against Spanish oppression, and
would give the colony genuine home rule.
M!egotlations were going on between the
and General Martinez Campos taking a
leading part in these negotiations. One
Gay IN FEBRUARY Havana newspaper
came out with dispatch headed Peace
Prospects The dispatch was from Santa
Clara, which was then the center of opera
tons. 1t said. in substance, that the prcsi-
dent or the Cuban republic Maxine Co
mez, the chamber and the government
were working for peace, and hostiltties
would he suspended all over the island.
Later came the treaty of Zanjon, and
oblivion of the past alike to Cubans and
Spaniards. Great concessions were to be
granted Cuba, and it was to enjoy valuable
political privileges in its organic and adj
ministrative system. One insurgent leader
held out. He was Maceo- Maceo would
not consent to the peace, but he was will
ing to leave the island. This he did by a
vessel under what amounted to a safe
conduct from General Campos
/ have sketched these events in outline
as they happened from 1868 to 1878. Often
it is as if writing of the present condi-
lions. The surroundings are the same. the
discussion is the same many of the leading
characters are the same, and the problems
presented are the same The chief differ
ence l have noted in the beginning of this
article. This is that at no time during the
devastating ten years war did Cuba reach
such condition of savagery in the war
fare, of famine, of disease and death as
now exists on the island, after two years
of insurrection and of Spain's strenuous
efforts to put down the Instruction
CHARLES PEPPER.
Wanted Something That Would Stand.
A Georgia murderer, having been SEN
fenced four times, wrote the following let
ter to the Judge: when I come up for