The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-08
THE STRUGGLE IN CUBA.
Review of the Events For the
Last Three Years on the Island of
Cuuu

IN hcNic" Oh tnc EYcHtS For tho
Last Three Years on the Island of
Cuba
Atlanta Constitution.
On February 24th last the Cuban
struggle reached its third anniversary
In numbers, of course, the insurgent
ranks are somewhat reduced, but in
fearless determination they are still
characterized by the same iulleXible
spirit which they carried into the field
three years ago, and from one end of
the island to the other the fires ofinde-
pend, nee still burn.
For the past few days the interest OF
the American public has been centered
upon the problems growing out OF tho
destruction Of our battlcship Maine:
but while the special commission is
faithfully endeavoring to ascertain the
cause OF this horrible disaster it NAV
not be amlss at this time to review
briefly the principal developments of
the Cuban war since the breaking out
OF hostilities. In making this review
IL Is not necessary to Inquire into the
causes OF the war, for these are sufli-
clently well known already. Or
Febrda, 24th, 1895, the Cubans raised
the standard OF revolt in the provinces
OF Santiago and Mantanzas and notified
the home authorities that they would
submit no longer to the CALLING yoke
.! spanish despotism. In spite OF the
vigorous efforts Of the home author
tiles to put down the insurgents the
revolutionary movement grew apace.
Some OF the most influential citizens Of
the island, including Gomez, Masso,
Sael, Marti, Clsneros and others,
arrayed themselves under the insur-
gent banner. When the patriot forces
were ready for organiz ,tion General
Maxine Gomez was placed in COM
mand and hostilies commenced in
good earnest In vain Captain Gen
era CALICO sought To quel the in
surrectl0n. Every inducement WAS
offered to the insurgents, but without
avail. Within two months from the
tlme OF The Cuban outbreak it became
evident TO Spain that she was ia great
danger or losing her colonial posses
sion and that in order to save il she
must exert her best efforts. Accord
ingiy, in April, 1895, Captain General
Martlnez Campos TOOK charge OF all .irs
on the Island, displacing Captain Cen
eral CaIleJo But In spite Of the prestige
"hich Ihls renowned Spanish uilicer
brought into the field, he failed utter-
~ to subdue the insurgcnt forces. One
CUBAN victory followed close upon
anolher until finally at the end of the
hrst year OF hostlltJies Spain realized
that In order TO put down the uprising
she must change her plan of canpaiyn,
Ihereupon Captain General Cumuos
was recalled home aud Captain Cen
eral Weyler appointed 70 succeed him.
with the brutal and ferocious tactics
"hlch captain General Weyier put
into effect on his arrival in Cuba the
civilized world is familiar; but, in
spite of the savage in humanity OF these
tactlcs, the Spanish butcher made
ilttle Improvement on the record OF
his predecessor. He found that the
spirit Oh independence pcrvadcd every
NOOK and corner Of the island, and that
even the utmost resources of his
cruelty were po%erless tC SUPPRESS il.
VI course with the death Of the brave
lnsurgent leader, General Maceo, who
sustained to General Com, 4 much of
the same relation which General
Stonewall jackson sustained TO Cen
eral Lee In our own late war, the
cause Ot Cuban independence wayercd
temporarily, nut ere another month
had elapsed it blosSomrd out again
with renewed strength and vigor. Tn
to August, 1896, Spain had sent over
TO CUBA not less than l2U. 600 men,
"hlle the strength Of the Cuban forces
barely aggregated more than 40 600
'iOh' l IL u Sof ScSI 30 uneven IL Is little
short OF marvellous that the Cubans
have managed to exist; and vet, in
spite of overwhelming odds, they have
glorlfied 'he flag of free Cuba with
victories innumerablc. At this time
there is no thought OF giving up the
struggle until Spain stands ready to
acknowledge the independence of the
island
Barely more than six months have
elapsed since Captain General Weyler
was superseded in the command oi IKE
Spanish forces in Cuba by Captain
General Blanco, and tnc latter h AS not
yet had time enough to materially
modify the plans Of the former; but
there is little ground to believe That
he will succeed in ACCOMPLISHING what
his predecessors have utterly failed TO
accomplish. Cuba is destined to be
free. If Spain is not already convinc-
ed OF this fact she must be utterly
blind, not only to the unduuntcd spirit
OF the insurgent forces, but TO The
limited extent Of her own meager re.
sources. With the beginning of this
fourth year OF the Cuban struggle the
outlook for the insurgents is brighter
than ever.