The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-07
Sad Story OF The
Island OF Cuba


NJ. a. Lane, III lliltS-llcIdlu
~ UBA was discovered by Christopher
II u Columbus on Oct. 2S, 1892 Had il
II n not been for the episode of Ferdi-
WI nand and Isabella in the life of the
great Italian navigator the rule of
Spain had not perhaps cursed the whole
southern American continent for CEN
turies and Cuba hau not now been fight
ing for freedom Columbus believed that
he had discovered the main land of India,
but was persuaded by the abOriginals
that he was on an island. When he re-
turned to Cuba he again made up his
mind that it was the oriental mainland,
and it is said he died in that belief. So
firmly was he seated in this opinion that
he committed it to writing in order that
posterity might know of his convG ion.
But in this detail the immortal discoverer
was in error
There is something noble. unyielding
and stubborn about Cuba. The Spaniards
have never been able TO conquer even the
name. Columbus called the island Ju-
ana for the honor of the son and heir of
Ferdinand and Isabella. This name was
aftcrward changed into Fernandina.
when the king died it was again changed
this time to Santiago. Some pious Spani-
ard later altered it to Ave Maria. 1t was
known by other names and a learned
essay on its proper nomenclature might
be written. But Cuba" triumphed, and
Cuba is not Spanish. The patriots will
have at least that JUNCTION when they are
free. They can retain their name un-
changed in the comfortable thought
that there is not even a suggestion of
Spanish about it. When Columbus land
ed, as it is believed, near the River Max
imo, Cuba, so called by its native inhab-
itants. was peopled by gentle, docile
race Of American Indians. They were
part of the great tribe called "the good"
and they were good indeed. Children Of
the forest and the sun, they did not
know what savages they had welcomed
when they extended their hospitality to
the gaily-bedecked Spaniards.
O.
The first Cuban war occurred nineteen
years after the discovery OF the island
by Columbus. That human beast, Velas-
quez, with an army of 500 men, started
out i'm 1911 to "paclfy" the Ciboneves
as the Cuban Indians were called. Velas-
quez, by all accounts, belonged to the
genus WCyler. The peaceful and kind
Indians were as sheep under the cut
throat hands of their conquerors. They
did not seek to repel the invaders, But
the motto of Spain, suggested by its ma
tional colors, is Through blood and
death to golden victory" Victory, un-
accompanied by blood and death was not
sweet to Nelasquez. And when the chief
Of the Cuhans was caught (he was called
llatuey) Nelasquoz tied him to a stake.
started a fire about his body and burned
the life out of the poor creature, as a
warning" to his people.
o..
This noble conquest was fifty followed
up by Nolasquez, who promptly under
took to Civilize the island by dividing the
Indians among his friends. The original
Cubans were made slaves, and Cuba be-
gan TO blossom with plantations. Within
forty years the island was producing
magnificent crops. but these crops were
fattened by the lives OF the slaves Be-
fore half century had passed the or
iginal Cubans had been beaten and
worked to extinction. Negro slaves took
the place of the native slaves, and in
this fact lay the germ of ultimate lib
erty, for from that stock sprang the glor-
ious family of Maceo and the liberty-ov-
ing, Spaniard-hating family of Masso,
one of whose sons is now the president
Of the infant republic,
O.
With the extinction of the Ciboneyes
agriculture declined and remained I'm
desuetude for a long time, or at least
until the negro slave trade became eff
ticient. Nelasquez built cities, improved
the government In 1887 the king OF Spain
acquired the right to appoint the gov.
ernor, and the first captain general" by
royal decree was fernando de Soto. San
tago had been the capital, but in 1855.
the seat OF government was removed Ia
Havana The popnlation diminished. and