The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-05-05
II Looked liae rs1uboliou, bat II vas
ohlE the iortans oi war


FIAHihb NHAtstAtf hbu PHehhu TVS
nett sal wees Of Cuhaas uele well illu
tfated 10 story told t0stnslots aud rept,
vrulstlyes here ies DAYS ago by MF
Atkins, the big sngaf plsutet Of Hostod
Mt Alkins has 10 Cabs shsl ia ssld 10 b,
/ ibe largest sugar plant tion in the island
+ patlns the var he has beea ahlo 10 grow
hb crops sod 10 grlnd tho cane sud sell
biz product 10 tha market because be vss
able and willing to pay for 'ptoleclioo. '
sometimes from the government aud nj
other times from the Insurgents While
Spanish troops were guarding the estate
It happened that enc OF the soldiers vent
luto Mr.. Atkins garden aud helped him
self TO vegetables. sreatIy to the dissnst
Of the gardener, vhu was . native Cubsu,
one day the gardener demonstrated with
the soldier Tor his piliefing. where upon
the Spanish man OF arms told the
gardener 10 mind bis own business or It
would be the worse for him, Not dauut
ed by this threat, the gardener threatened
to report the piienng to Mr.. Atkins, Who
would IN turn call 1t to the attention OF
the csptOln Of the post. aud the soldier
would soon hnd himseli 10 trouble.
That evening the gardener bad occasion
to so into the sugar cane field on some
errand, and he never came back He wat
found with bullet through bis body. a.
IT lie Investigation disclosed that the pill
terng soldier had his revenge. Mr
Atkins did net like TO have snch coward
ly murder committed right at his door,
and hs insisted upon having punishment
OF the murderer. He sent for the captain
Of the company, but this oliiocr alter hear
ing the facts exclaimed;
Sarely, Mr. Atkios. yon do not expect
me 10 punish Spanish soldier for killing |
a Cuban. II we're to do that there
would soon be u revolt among my men |
They would not stand it,
Bat this was murder, cowardly, treaoh
srous murder, seil Mr. Atkins. The
Cuban gardener was Inoiensive, honest
md peso'ble. | insist that you punish
be soldier, II yOa are not willing to do
/ yourself, | will write to General PIN
nd have you remove your post to some
,ther place, as ! do not want men about
sho are willing to wink at uch cfimes
almost before my face and eyes
The officer did not like the prospect OF
)eiag sent away, as this was q soft billet,
With nothing to do and plenty OF good
hipgs to eat and drink, 80 he promised
0 think the ma ter over, and after NJ
lour or two he came back and saId
Mr, Atkins, You have always been kind
o me, and l am square man snd want
ou to know, it is my intention to treat
ou right in every particular. do not
ee how | can punish the soldier who shot
he Cuban without stirring mp trouble 10
1y command, but will tell you how vi
an fix IT. Tomorrow morning q detacb
lent from my company is TO go out on =
ally after some Cuban insurgents who are
rowling around here TIE soldier 10 t
uestion is detailed for service with thit i
sriy. He will start at daylight and ! b
sn promise you that he will never come !
ack. il
This Spanish officer was an educated Q
entlemsn. lie thought he was doing the a
ght thing. II WIS impossible for him b
, understand that the mere killing OF 81
ubsn could be marder. IL was just al il
nposslble for him 10 understand that n
hst MIR. Atkins wanted was Justice, after /.
trisl, public Justice, not simply tn, I.
cath OF the murderer, Being 80 const :,
tied the cflicer thought he was proposing o.
le easiest and speediest way ont OF the
lficulty, In order to please Mr. Atkint
3 was willing not to try the oulprt by Al
,urt martial, but TO send him forth or
8 duty as soldier and TO shoot him 10
10 back. The tili,er was unable TO 40,
ythlug wrong in this, aud he was N ucb
rprised aDd not little disappointed al st
r. Atkins rejection OF bis proposition Al
Spanish character sud Spanish treat Al
eut OF Cubans are shown 10 this story bt
d also IN the fact that when the detact h,
srt Of Spanish soldiers came back from
E ID boasiing that they have taded f.
lbau bo-pital and killed the sick and a.
,unded men lying in The rude buukt
d the nurses and doctors as we'll 90 in
'sniard ever suspects that there is auy 40
log horrible sbout 1t. Such butchery +,
counted all right. and there woul be IL
eat surprise II any one we're to sug gest ii
1t it wss cowsrjiy and inhuman. ii,
As matter Of fact. Spanish character p
a totally different thing from Anglo. ~
xon character The SJsnisrds are noe ~
able, obliging, polite, iriepdly, and 10
,ney msttets and business are aim osl a.,
iyerealIy conuted honest except when f,,
're is chspce 10 seal from the govern
Mt, The history Of Cuban government A.
) been history Of corruption, and II /,
nbtiul II the Cababs themselves, who a.,
ge received their eduoston from tue
anI.h, are capable Of administering 40
nest 2 vernme 10 ordinary trade
Spanlstds' sofd may be relied upor,
at ihe very fret opportunity they viii en-
81 ireu their osn government, atd n'
ID 'hlug ss respecting the rights DfB ne
i've Cub.u never enters their minds. s1I
haye seen private letter. written by 8
seli.Eoowu mao IN Iiaysns, which ssys "
/ tbs osptsln Of the Yzssys, wbisb %,
recently 10 ues York hatbot ftfsfss o.,
II. .glt st Havana shortly after his A. ffs