The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-25
downright. 1898. by the Author. ]

copyright, $685. by the Author.1
b Cuba 1t is a name that now is ia
|.miliar to every household in all the
<ciyilized earth. The suffering of its
people, the dying groans of its tortured
patriots, have formed the minor key of
sorrow in the worlds grand song of
progress. And yet, in spite Of the fact
that it has long held the interest and
Sympathy of fair minded people, no
d land is SO little known and so greatly
nnderestimated. The traveller who
2glimpses for the first time her marvel
bus shores is overcome with astonish-
|ment at the panorama of immense pos
*sibility that lies shimmering before
him, for even now, her richest vest
ments shredded, her body bleeding un.
der the violent hands of an unnatural
parent, Cuba remains the indestructible
Pearl of the Antilles, with such wealth
bin her soil and under it as no earthly
power can take away.
As everybody knows, the develop
4ment of Cuba had been from its earliest
occupancy retarded and at times prac-
tically stopped by the rule of Spain.
Soon after the foot of Columbus touched
her virgin soil the dark cloud of oppres-
sion began to hover over her, and it was
\ only by the sheer force of her innate
worth, coupled with the necessities of
her inhabitants, that her glorious prod
&ucts became, even to limited extent,
available.
When in 1911 Columbus sent his son
Diego with a number of colonists, to
Cuba, the big island was speedily set
tiled, and measurements Of its proper
lions were made by party Of official
'agramensores (surveyors), and these
measurements were of such accuracy
that they remain as standards today.
The length of the island was found to
IDe IN round numbers 600 miles, its
width at its narrowest point 81 miles
and at its widest point III miles.
This gives to the long, shark shaped
Island an area of approximately 43, 900
square miles, or nearly the size of the
|state of Pennsylvania.
In view of the necessity of the extern
|slve exploration which was incident to
'nls comprehensive survey it seems
passing strange that no more Of Cuba's
|ilchness was discovered and utilized for
'ne development of the strength and
value OF the new colony. This derelic-
sion' however, was probably not the
|iauit OF the really vigorous and progress
I've adherents of the son of the great
|uiscoverer. Indeed from careful stndy
|oi history, though exact dates are not to
oe obtained, it would seem that it was
soon after its colonization that the
greed OF tie mother country began 10
|o.ippie the enterprise and mar the des-
my OF the new government that was
FORMING on this new soil.
Cuba's Great Grievance.
Inc grievance of Cuba, which has
TASTED all these years, dates from this
|eariy period. 1t was in its nature and
operation the parallel of the one which
drought about the bloody but glorious
.ii'n OF our own independence-that is
|,o say, taxation without representation.
Sa' .nere was vast difference in the
|','uation OF the Cubans. While our Rev.
.u'ohist fathers were vastly inferior to
no enemy in point of numbers, their
r,oporuon to the whole number of fight
IngNshmen who could be landed on
|tur snores was not of such smallness as
w. preclude all hope, whereas the mere
handful of Cubans were so overwbelm-
| tLsy oVermatched by the armed force
o nue spain could muster as to be practi-
|stration. '"0 "-''
ana SO there have been insurrection
NV. msnrrection and defeat after de-
80 ~ ana the consequent horrible butch
us OF retribution, until Cuba, the
o"u'ilul, the rich, the wonderful, has
EvL VII ii'tie more than bloody abattoir
bnt V ae the lives and hopes of weak
bean 1iarvelously courageous people have
M periodically sacrificed.
konis ' 'ne immortal longing for liberty
Ds ~ not be crushed out of the breast
I'M tue ,ue sons Of these patriots, and they,
Rn. Urn .u have made the same struggle.
beoa. sne results Of these heroic efforts
bo sa'ne In time Of more and more inn
kna 'a , to the people Of Cuba and less
'oSs satisfactory to the administra-