The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-28

If any parallel can be found in history TO
the infamies of Spanish rule in Cuba it
must be looked for in Spanish rule else
where. The only real prosperity the island
has ever known was during the thirteen
months 1t was held by the English. In
June, 1852, during a war between England
and Spain, an English fleet, the most for
mldable that had been seen in American
waters up to that time, appeared before
Havana and laid siege to the city After a
stubborn contest it was captured, and the
British occupied all that part of the island
BY methods peculiarly their own they gave
great impulse to the trade of the island
History says that during the thirteen
months they held Havana, from June, 1862,
TO July, 1868, over 900 loaded vessels entered
the port, more than all the previous entries
since the discovery of the island. With the
recession of the island to Spain the old
regime of Spanish tyranny, robbery and
misrule began again. During the seven
teehth and eighteenth centuries there were
several revolts. and during the present CEN
tury they have been still more frequent
Since 1901 Cuba has scarcely had ten con-
nominal peace have been years of oppression
and rapine, There have been formidable
instructions in 1884, in 1852, in 1854, in 1885,
and now another. That of 1868 resulted in
a ten years war, at the end of which Spain
promised many reforms, none of which was
ever made. AT the unsuccessful ending of
each of these Instructions many of the
tod Cd 70
galleys or banished from the island. The
ten-year war, 1868 to 1878, was prosecuted
by the Spanish forces with characteristic
cowardice and ferocity. In it's second year
General Valmaseda, commanding the Span
ish forces, issued a proclamation to the
inhabitants of the country in which he
said:
ward found beyond his farm will be shot
unless justification for his absence be
proven. Every hut that is found uninhab-
tied will be burned by the troops. Every
hamlet. where a white cloth, in the shape
of a flag. is not hoisted in token that it's
inhabitants desire peace, will be reduced
to ashes. The women, who are not found in
their respective dwellings,, or in those of
their relatives, will return to the towns of
Jigani or Bayamo. Those who fail to do so
will be taken by compulsion.
Ten days later General Quesada, COM
handing the insurgents, issued a proclama-
ton to his army, in which he said
The tyrant valmaseda rambles with the
lncendiaryS torch and the homicidal knife
over the fields of Cuba He has never done
otherwise. but now he adds to his crime
the still greater one of publishing 1T by a
proclama ton. which we can only describe
by pronouncing it to be a proclamation
worthy of the Spanish government. There
by, our property is menaced by fire and pill
lage. This is nothing. 1t threatens us with
death, and this is nothing. But even our
With Whites resort Tt to Violence % We have to
struggle with tyrants always such-the
very same ones of the Inquisition, OF the
America. In birth and in death they live
and succeed the Torquemadas, the Pizarros,
the Doves, the Morillos, the Tacons, the
Conchas and the Valmasedas.
On these lines this terrible war continued
for ten years, the United States govern
ment Withholding it's hand from interior
ence, shutting its eyes to the dreadful spec
tacle and it's ears to the appeals of the
insurgents for aid or encouragement. If the
United States had interviewed then, as it
was fully justified in doing, the present sit
uaticn would not exist. 1t was estimated at
the time that the ten years war cost both
sides 100000 lives and $7OOOOO,OOO. Dscon-
ever since, and the present war is really
resumption of that which ended in 1878.
In the light of these facts and of the
cumulative horrors of the present war, 1t
is no exaggeration to say that Spanish rule
in Cuba is organized hell, and from all that
is known Of Spanish character and methods
it will never be otherwise. If the present
war ends with the Spanish flag flying over
Cuba another resurrection will occur in
few years, and the catalogue of horrors will
be repeated. Fot fifty years the United
States government has been party to these
horrors 5y permitting and acquiescing in
them. 1t is true they were stopped effec-
tually ard forever by the expulsion of Spain
from Cuba. The best Cuban policy for this
goverin ent is the che that will accomplish
this result nest certainly and speedily.
UnD EARMERG