Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-05-05

STRUGGLES OF CUBA.
The beautiful and Prolific Island
Always Subjected to Span
ish Misrule.

Cuba is the richest little nation in the
world in proportion to its size, and to be
on friendly terms with her is worth
millions to Uncle Sam. Years ago,
when the old encyclopedias were writ
ten, Cuba was set down as little ISL
and surprisingly rich in all tropical
products" In those days there was
little communication between the ports
and the interior of the island, and the
great, rich, fertile center was left to ma
tives, who cultivated the ground year
after year, ate the fruits, died and were
buried in the midst of tropical plenty.
They had no idea of the riches that lay
IN the great groves, which it was their
pride to cultivate. Their only idea of
wealth was that of possession, and as
they planted trees and raised cattle
their wealth began and ended. They
knew nothing of the immense value of
the copper, coal and bitumen mines
there, and the valuable stones so freely
unearthed in Cuba were to them only
ornaments to be worn by their women.
The marvellous exports of sugar cane
and tobacco were things of myth and
fancy meant only for the brain of few
ambitious ones, who suggested their
possibilities.
Now and then in the old days of Cuba
some explorer would penetrate the in
terror and, with a promoter following
ON his heels, would suggest that the ISL
and be thrown open to cultivation and
export But at this the poor down
trodden natives only smiled and shook
their heads, for they knew we'll that it
would bring nothing to them.
For Cuba in those days lay under
pail. A great black mantle, as dark as
death and as cruel as the grave, was
spread over it. In the city of Havana
that lovely, palace-like town by the sea-
coast-there dwelt a governor-general,
Il stern man sent from Spain, who de-
manded of the natives yearly return;
and to him must be paid money, money
and nothing but money every day in the
year.
Well-educated Cubans knew that in
1882 a Spaniard named Columbus had
come over in the name of Queen Isabella
and had touched the island of Cuba with
his. sworG. in the name of the queen
of Spain | take possession" he said as
he smote the fertile land with his sharp
blade. and for 400 years they had felt
the sting Of the blow and had smarted
under il.
Without representation in Spain,
without even a Cuban in Madrid, the
stern city over the sea, without one
counselor ir the queens cabinet to tell
of their struggles, they were compelled
10 work year after year, to dig the soil,
to plant the seed. to raise the crops, to
gather the fruits, to ship to market and
t. pay tribute in whatever and every
form they could. without anything in
return to compensate them.
Down from Key West and from st.
Augustine and Tampa, Punta Gorda,
Jacksonville and other happy cities of
Florida there came seamen on vessels
who stopped over in the ports and Wis
tied with the Cubans, These told grand
stories of the United States rule.
The Cubans listened in silence for
many years, until in 1850, after a hard |
year, they began to get very discomfort
ed, and in the years of lS50-5l they got |
the American seamen to help them fight |
for their independence. They wanted |
to have one little corner of the island |
which they could rule and where they |
could grow rich, but the Spanish crown |
laughed at them and sent over great ,
ships to fire upon them until those who |
wanted to be free were killed and the |
rest were subdued and ready to work on
in silence for another generation.
In September, 1868, the whole island |
broke out in revolt and the people de-
cIared their independence. They formed
national junta and appointed Don
Manuel Cespesdes their commander in
chief. For two years they waged a
guerrilla warfare, hoping to drive out
from the island the wicked Spanish |
rulers, but they could not do it, Spain
sent new men faster than they could
Kill off the old ones, and again Cuba SET
tied down to oppression.
In 1895 Cuba broke out again. This
time with the most vigorous effort of
her history. She organ led a national
Junta, with its headquarters in the most
powerful city in the -*qrld. and from
New York the Cuban warfare was car.
ried on. Within three years Cubs
showed that she could govern herself
wisely and well.-Chicago Chronicle.
Chinese yiceroy.