The sun., 1898-02-24
Cuba's 1870.

To-day is the third anniversary of Cuba's
struggle for independence, begun on the
oath of February, 1895. 1t finds the patriot
cause, in spite not only of Spain's predictions
but Of her prodigous efforts, strong and
buoyant with a well-founded confidence Of
speedy triumph. The question to be put
to-day is not how long the Cuban republic
will last, but how long Spain can continue
her costly efforts to suppress it.
The first year of the struggle was the
most critical. The appeal Of the revolu-
tIonary party, headed by the lamented JOSH
MARTI, was welcomed in several of the
provinces, to which war material had been
successfully carried, but the Spanish au-
thorities got wind of the contemplated ris.
ings, and in Puerto Principe seized arms
and ammunition. A few days after the
famous Feb. "a Captain-General CALLEJA
declared the provinces of Matanzas and
Santiago to be in a state of siege.
The movement spread. MAKING GOMEZ,
by the vote of the leading officers of the
former revolutionary war, was chosen
Commander-inC Chief. BARToLoME MAsSo,
RAnI, and other well.known citizens cast
in their lots with the patriot cause, while
the two MACEos and other veteran leaders
landed in Santiago. where the people
fiocked to their standards.
Spain quickly rose to the emergency, and
within two months after Feb. pa CALLEJA
was succeeded as Captain. General by the
renowned MARTINEZ CAMPos, who pro-
fessed his ability to end the rebellion be-
fore the end of the autumn. The fights
of Los Negros, FL Guanabano, Jara-
huca, Juraguanas, FL Cacao. and Ell
Jobito taught him that his task was
no trifiing one. while in July, when
commanding in person, he was de.
feated by MACEo and RABI at Bayamo.
Meanwhile GOMEZ and MARTI had set out
for Puerto Principe, and in their first Sc
we're conflict the heroic MARTI was killed
GOMEZ pressed on, and in the province of
Puerto Principe was Joined by SALVADOR
OIsNERos BETANCoURr. Next GOMEZ,
marching into the provinces of Santa Clara
and MatanZas, carried out his policy of de.
stroyinR the sugar crop, and thereby stop.
ping the revenue which Spain derived from
It. Other battles and skirmishes followed,
and before the first year was over Spain
recognized that she had to deal with most
formidable revolt.
MARTINEZ CAMPos was displaced by WEY-
LER as Captain General and troops were
poured into Cuba in enormous numbers
Rigorous, vindictive, and In some cases bar
barous edicts were issued. The royal troops
We'd with the rebels in ravaging the island;
trade was restricted; plantations were
stripped Of their laborers, and a policy of
concentrating the country people in and
around the towns was carried out with un.
,rith No 4
tion. in consequence, that have been simply
appalling.
Fighting went on in many places. MA
GEO made brilliant campaign In Pinar
del Rio, and gained victory after victory in
career of extraordinary audacity, crowned
by his death. ARANGUREN, also n martyr
to the cause, with other dashing leaders,
repeatedly raided into the environs of Ha.
vana. The west, the centre, and the east
OF tho island witnessed Cuban prowess
against an enormous disparity of force, and
while the east was the most quiet 1t was
largely in patriot hands.
The second anniversary of the revolution
found 1t even more hopeful than the first,
because it had held its own against forces
30 enormous and so evidently representing
the utmost that Spain could bring to bear.
The situation in Cuba had its reflex inhu.
ence on Spain, at length, in the coming OF
the Sagasta Ministry, under which WEY.
LER' whose successive campaigns had been
palpable failures, was replaced by BLANco,
while autonomy was offered to the patriots
instead of independence.
IL Is in the midst of BLAHCo's campaign
that her third anniversary now dawns upon
Cuba, with DrosDects briphter tban evor
Tho failure OF the autonomy plan is con.
ceded, and certainly in the field BLANco
has done not whit better than his prede-
cessors- Indeed, the leading feature of his
ePsFeslonss Gen. PAspo's sKpsditlOa ~