The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-04-08

~ the ioNdi ldllily VI 'pdih "i'u
leposed by Napoleon, and in 1910
Jose II Aleman, an emissary of
Joseph Bonaparte, was hanged in
Havana. Ii was because of this
that Cuba was given the sobriquet,
"the ever faithful isle.
In 1865 proposition was made
by Spain that in consideration of
certain commercial concessions the
United States should guarantee to
her the possession of Cuba, but the
proposition was declined on the
ground that such a course was con
trary to the established policy of the
United States. But the American
government. expressed its willing
ness that Cuba should remain
Spanish colony, averring, however,
that it should never pass into other
foreign hands. In 1852 the United
States refused to join with France
and Great Britain in treaty guar
anteeing Spain the possession Of
Cuba.
The first serious revolt in Cuba
within the present century was in
augurated by Narcisco Lopez. He
escaped with some ofhis companions
to the United States, where he or
ganized a fiibusterirfg expedition.
He sailed from New Orleans with
500 men, accompanied by the gal.
liant Col. Crittenden, of Kentucky.
Lopez expected the Cuban people to
join his standard, but was disap-
pointed. Critteuden was shot in
Havana and Lopez and a number
of his followers perished by the
garrcte.
There we're threatened revolutions
in 1912 and again in 1854, and
many executions of conspirators
followed. Since that time the party
of independence has always existed
on the island. The Ten years war
broke out i'm 1867, and the present
insurrection was begun three years
ago.
In 1S4S President Polk authorized
the American minister at Madrid to
offer 800, 100000 for the purchase
of Cuba, but the proposition was
rejected peremptorily and with
show of Indignation.
In August, 1854, Messrs. Buchan-
an, Mason and Soule, United States
ministers at London, Paris and
Madrid, respectively, held a con-
ference at Ostend and Aix-la-Cha-
pelle, and drew up statement popu-
larly known as the Ostend mani
festo. In this document they urged
that Cuba ought to belong to the
United States; that Spain would
find its sale to be highly advantage
Gus, and that in certain contingen-
cies, such as the emancipation of
the slaves by Spain, the United
States should take possession Of the
island by force. Mr.. Slidell, of
Louisiana, made a proposition in the
senate in 1889 to purchase Cuba,
but it was withdrawn without COM
ing to vote.
No other part of the world has
soil more productive than that Of
Cuba. The sour orange, lemons
and pineapples and bananas are in
digenous, and were found growing
there in wild luxuriance when the
island was discovered by Columbus.
The sweet potato is another native
of the island, with which all the
world has been greatly blessed.
Sugar cane can be grown with great
er profit in Cuba than anywhere
else and on the south coast Of the
western end that peculiar quality
of tobacco known as Havana tobac-
co is grown that can never have a
possible equal from any other quar-
ter. Coffee and various other tropi-
cal products are produced there.
The mineral wealth of Cuba is
considerable. Both silver and gold
are found there; copper abounds;
there are large quantities Of very
superior quality of iron ore, and an
of beautiful marble.
Cuba has great abundance and
variety Of valuable woods.
The climate Of Cuba is by no
means so sultry as is generally sup
posed. Notwithstanding its loca-
ton in the tropics, the extreme OF
heat there is not so great as in New
York city. The average tempera-
ture Of Havana is II degrees; max
ium, 80 degrees; minimum, so de-
grees.
The question Of the healthfulness
Of the climate is pooted. 1t is GER
tain that many Of the natives live to
extreme old age-more than in this
country. The yellow fever plague
was not known there in early days,
and it is believed by many that ii
might be eradicated by careful sani-
tary regulations.
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