The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
CUBA'S WAR FOR FREEDOM.
RESULTs OF THE THREE FEARS
OF FIG HTING Just ENDED.

VT WA
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Victories wou AGnisst tremendous odds-The
Great march or ZONES ana Mnoeo-WeJ-
ler,s NIsnstrous Crime Against Humanity
Oncr ana Raiiure or Autonomy In Cuba.
During the three years OF their war, from
Feb. "a, 1898, down 20 Thursday last, tho Gu
bans have endured moro sufferings and dis
played moro heroism han any other people
have ever done in a struggle for liberty. In the
face OF tremendous tho help OF
n friendly power abroad, without oven mill
tary training. their army being composed prin-
cipally Of enthusiastic volunteers, without n
regular supply Of arms and ammunition, with
very little money, and, what 10 n disadvantage
even graver, W it'll tho official hostility Of every
Government, including the nations nearest their
shores-they have nearly xtorminat 100000
Spanish soldiers, the most powerful European
army ever sent to tho American continent; and
neither FIRE nor sword nor bribes nor fair prom.
Uses OF better government have been powerful
enough TO make them agree to a peace not based
on their absolute freedom from the hated yoke
Of Spain.
II history does not afford n parallel Of tho
stern resolution displayed by tho Cubans to die
or to WI In a struggle with all tho odds against
them. neither docs It present n case Of stub
born resistance to justice and human rights,
and OF barbarous cruelty which equals the rec
ord Of Spain In Cuba. The eighty years of war
for libel alton carried on against Spain In the
Netherlands are not comparable with the strug
gle In Cuba. That was principally q war Of re-
ligion in the sixteenth century, a time of mon
arcbical oppression and religious fanaticism.
This is n war of determination. for no religious.
no political principle whatever, but only to re-
duce by force to the sway of a rapacious Gov
eminent an American colony that has every
right to be FREQ.
These three years of war to the death form
but q brief CHAPTER in the history Of Cuba's
struggles. Since carly IN this century their
noble aspirations for liberty.have cost theCubaDs
streams Of blood shed by the Spanish tyrant.
The list Of Cuban martyrs who died for their
cause on the scatfold or in exile long before tho
first military attempt against Spain. in lS49.
would I'LL many pages. In 1850 Gen. Narciso
Lopez, after some ephemeral victories. was final
ly defeated, caught. and garroted in Havana.
But, his example, no more than that of Pinto
and Estrampes, executed as he was In the CAPT
tai Of Cuba, was not lost to the patriots. On Oct.
10, 1868, after eighteen years of turbulence and
constant conspiracics, q formidable revolution
broke out in iara, which lasted ten years. IL
peace was signed In 1873. it was only for q
truce In the terrible contest. Spain was not go.
Ing to keep her promises of justice. and the Gu
bans would not accept tho everlasting rule OF
Spain. The year 1895 brought a new and for.
midable revolt. II during the three years of
war which have elapsed since then the Cubans
have not given evidence enougb;of their uncom.
PROMISING stand. the history Of their past upris.
ings will suffice to prove that peace and pros.
perity are impossible in the neighboring island
80 long as the flag Of Spain waves over MORO
Castle in Havana.
The present revolution was organized by
JOSE Marti, a Cuban exile in this country and a
man OF genius and courage. He organized
here what Is called the Cuban Revolution.
AIRY Party, an association of clubs of Gu
ban political exilcs. for the purpose of raising
money TO free their country. Poor as were
the majority Of the few Cubans who lived in
the United States before the beginning of tho
revolution, they listened to the eloquent appeals
of Marti and gave him all they had on earth
- liberate Cuba from Spain. Marti was ap-
pointed delegate OF tho party. and his faithful
friend, BENJAMIN J. Guerra. was made treasurer.
There was not much money then in the safes Of
the afterward famous Junta and their funds
wero soon exhausted by an unsuccessful attempt
TO start an expedition from tho South. But
Marti bad obtained the cooperation of Gen.
Maxine Gomez and Gen. Antonio Maceo, two
Veterans Of the last wal. He knew that the
discomfort against Spain was deep throughout
the island. He had important connections with
conspirstors In all the provinces. He gave
without hesitation the orders for the uprising
and went to Santo Domingo. to join Gen. Co.
moz and take with him the fold.
At that grave and decisive moment the total
funds Of the patriots amounted to not much
moro than $40. 900. 1t Ia wonderful that with
. sum. comparatively speaking, SO paltry for 80
great q purpose, a war should have been raised
which has cost Spain up to this time. besides
the sacrifice Of SO many Of her soldiers, $780,
100000 and has caused TO tho United states o
net loss In trade and business of $500, 0OO 900.
On May lv. 1888. Marti was killed in the en-
EaRenent at Dos Rios, but his work had already
been done. He had landed on April IL with
Gen. Gomez at Sabana la Mar. on the southern
coast OF CUBA, after Issuing at Monte Cristi q
revolutionary manifesto. and had had time be-
fore bis death to convoke the representatives of
all the Cuban provinces to q general assembly
TO elect q Provisional Government and frame q
constitution. II this was not done until later,
In september OF the same year, at the town of
Jimaguayu, 1t waS not the less true that from
Nhn HEAL