The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-03

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CT every nationality under the sun are d.
rected. These are:
Havana. Mantanxas. Porto Rico and the
Philippines.
/. The public Is thoroughly posted as to
the Cuban citadel which eventually will
become the capital OF republic. won
through centunes Of nearly endless strife
in behalf Of that boon which the American
people % highly prize and hold In Jealous
care as a priceless heritage-liberty.
2. The Philippine islands constitute an
aggregate Of between fourteen and fifteen
hundred islands with population OF about
II. 00. coo. These islands were discovered
by Magellan twenty-one years after Co
iumbus discovered the American consin-
ent. Geographically located. they are
bounded on the west and northwest by the
China sea and the Indo-C Chinese peninsula
on the east by the Pacific ocean. on the
north by islands stretching toward For
mosa. eE.s' % -.:a wfs. by the Celebes sea-
The country Is generally hfily and noun
famous. the abiding place OF the volcano
and the camping ground Of the earthquake,
whefe the destroyer attains full vigor
History relates that the greatest one of
these, so far as recorded. occurred In 1850.
when the destruction OF life and capital
was immense. The islands are blessed with
gold, iron. coal and lead mines. The prod
ucfs OF an exceedingly fertile soil embrace
ground nuts. peas, white potatoes and
some wheat. The plants OF commercial
Importance include tobacco manila hemp,
sugar cane. cocoa and coffee.
Like every land tainted by Spanish rule,
the philippines have been IN revolt a. va
rfous times against Spanish oppression and
injustice, In the matter OK enerous taxa
ton, wruns from an unwilling people to
support q horde OF lazy profiigates vomited
on the peopls by the Spanish crown. Like
Cuba the Philippines are subject to a gov
ernor-general, whose will Is the supreme
law OF the land 1t was here that weyler.
Bianco and other human brutes first
shocked the civilized world with atrocities
too horrible to be within the pale OF de-
scription.
The United States has been anxious to
get a footholG on the Philippines, to estab-
fish coaling station no less than TO deal
Spain deadly blow in that direction.
s. Matanzas. next to Havana, the priacf-
pal Cuban city. has already had a TASTE OF
Yankee gunpowder. The alleged impreg-
nable Notifications were destroyed almost
in the twinkiing Of an eye by three Ameri-
can ironclads. No attempt was made 20
take possession OF the city. because We FIRE
not quite prepared to invade the isiana.
The United States wants Matanzas. lI.i al
the proper moment will walk in arr taxa
1t. 1t will make an admirable basis for ~
tive operations against Havana. 1t is only
hfty-two miles east OF Havana, and ia
connected with that city by railroad. OF
the six provinces composing Cuba, 1t IL
said that the insurgents control Santiago
de Cuba, Puerto Principe. a part OF Santa
Clara. part of Matanzas, and a part OF
Pinar del Rio. while the province of Ha-
vana is largely X not entirely In possess
sion OF the Spanish. The bulk OF the Cuban
forces is supposed to be IN Pinar del Rio
isSa of II
IL there be such tinge In the Spanish
makeup as shame. surely there should be
some evidences of II when one reflects that
during the last three years over 200 900
well-eduipped soldiers. under what Spain
call her ablest generals. have been
kept at bay by the little Cuban army OF
patriots, not now over 10000 men. With
Gomez threatening Havana in the West,
our army in the east. and the navy on the
south, 1t won't be necessary to fire gun
to capture the capital. In fact. we have
no interest In destroying Havana. and Co
mez will wish to preserve 1t intact as the
capital Of the new republic he and his men
have fought so long and valiantly 10 es-
tablish on the ruins OF despotism.
Matanzas was founded in 1893 by inlmi-
grafton from the Canary islands. Ordinar-
lily the city has population OF a, 000 The
city occupies fine site at the head OF Ma
tanzas bay. Two suburbs. known as Pu-
from the city by the San Juan and Var
nuri rivers. 1t contains large number Of
handsome public and private buildings.
MatanzaS has always ranked next to Ha-
yana I'm commercial Importance, the ex-
ports having been extremely large In 1916
great confagration partially destroyed
the city.
T. Porto Rico, the fourth, but not the
least. Of those enumerated as attracting
the attention of the civilized world, was
discovered by Columbus In 1883. and sub
sequentiy occupied by that noted Spanish
butcher Ponce de Leon. In few years he
murdered all of the native Indians. esti-
mated at from 600, 900 TO SOC, 00a men, women
and children. Porto Rico is one OF the
smallest OF the great Antilles group. 1t has
a population varIously estimated at be-
tween 600o, oe0 and 900, about equally
divided between the white and black races.
1t covers In area In the neighborhood OF
$500 square miles. the principal ports being
San Juan, Arecibo, Aguadilla, Mayagnes.
Ponca, Guayarilla, Hunacao and Fajardo.
A range OF mountains extends throughout
the islands from which descend many
small streams. some Of which are nayiga-
BILE few miles inland by small vessels.
In the interior OF Porto Rico are extern
sive plains and there are level tracts from
FIVE to ten miles wide on the coast. The
soil is exceedingly fertile. The climate is
OF the Antilles. Hurricanes are Of frequent
occurrence. Those OF 1912 and 1875 were
very destructive. The island possesses
very many natural productions. Many va
rieties Of cabinet and dye woods. and
ebony, ignum vitae. mahogany logwood,
cedar and plants valuable In the arts and
pharmacy. abound. Tropical fruits grow
In rich prosusion and 10 perfection.
Agricultural products cover sugar cane,
coffee. tobacco. cotton. rice and maize The
amount OF sugar obtained from giveE
area Is greater than any other West India
island. In minerals gold. copper, iron and
coal abound while quantities OF salt are
found in the lakes. The chief exports are
sugar. molasses. coffee tobacco. cotton, CO
Goa cattle and hides.
The United States wants Porto Rico as
coaiing station In the present emergency,
or. to, invert the proposition. TO prevent the
Spaniards from using the island for such
purposes. TIE coal question Is n serious
ore for the enemy TO solve. Coal is ahso-
lutely necessary to naval operations. With
Cuba cut off. the Philippines and Porto
Rico in the same category. the Spanish
colonies are entirely at the mercy of our
war vessels. since Spain would have 10 do
To- -~~8fa