Evening journal., 1898-05-07
STRUGGLES OF CUBA.
Always Subjected 10 Span
ish NfisruIe.

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 a 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
tiyes, 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
aud tobacco were things of myth and
fancy, meant only for the brain of n 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 n 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 well 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-lilSe town by the sea
coast-there dwelt a governor-genera
stern man sent from Spain, who de-
manded of the natives a 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
1892 q Spaniard named Columbus had
come over in the name of Queen Isa bella
end had touched the island of Cuba with
his sword. I'm the name of the queen
of Spain take possession" he said as
lie smote the fertile land with his sharp
blade. And for 400 years they had felt
the sting of the blow and had smarted
under it.
Without representation in Spain,
without even Cuban in Madrid, the
stern city over the sea, without one
counselor in the queens cabinet to tell
Of their struggles, they were compelled
to work year after year, to dig the soil,
to plant the seed, to raise the crops, to
gather the fruits, 10 ship TO market and
to 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 hard
year, they began to get very discomfort
ed, and in the years of 1s5O-51 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-
rlared their independence. They formed
a national junta and appointed Dor
Manuel Cespesdes their commander in
chief. For two years they waged Z
guerrilla warfare, hoping to drive out
from the island the wicked Spanish
rulers, but they could not doit. spair
sent new men faster than they coulC
kin off the old ones, and again Cuba set
tied down to oppression.
In 1895 Cuba broke out again. Thi,
time with the most vigorous effort o
her history. She organized nationa
iunta, with its headquarters in the mos
powerful city in the world, and from
!, New York the Cuban warfare was car
ried on. Within three years Cub;
showed that she could govern hersel
/ wisely and well-ChicoUo Chronicle