The times., 1898-04-18
AN OLD. OLD STORY.
Spanish MisruIe In the Island Is
Traditional.


the question, the people of the United
States are excited to the fever point over
the condition of the unfortunates of Cuba,
and this agitation brings to mind the fact
that similar demonstrations in this coun-
try against Spanish misrule on the
stricken island have been of frequent
occurrence during the century. Directly
after the close of our own Civil War the
attention which this question received
throughout America was second only in
Importance and intensity to that which
now agitates the public mind This is re-
fiected in the columns of the newspaper.
of that period and frequently in the mag
azines.
The first volume of Lippincott's Maga-
zine was issued in 1868 and in the April
number of that volume. just exactly
thirty years ago, there was published a
long and interesting review entitled La
Reina De Las Antillas" 4" in which the con-
ditions. social. commercial and political.
on the island were described at length
The writer, who had travelled through
Cuba. returned full OF sympathy for the
unfortunate condition of it's inhabitants
How strange that after the lapse of thirty
years precisely the same things may be
written as were told of thenl And what a
commentary upon the total incapabiIity
OF Spain to properly govern the island.
Some excerpts from this review of thir-
ty years ago may prove interesting to the
reader of the present day. in conjunction
with the latest news of the day. Speak
ing of the desire for free gov
ernment, the writer in Lippincott's of
April, 1868, said:
When we come to understand the gov
ernment and administration of Cuba we
can readily appreciate the intense desire
pervading every Cuban breast for free
government. Starting upon the basis Of
the intense hatred existing between the
native Cubans and their Spanish rulers
(and that such a feeling does exist
throughout every part of the island / was
made aware). it is easy 10 see, taken in
conjunction with their harsh government,
why the natives are always ready for re-
volt; and hardly year passes, quiet
though il may be kept by the Spanish au-
thorities, that some attempt is not made.
| though in a disconnected way, at insur-
rection.
NO greater offense can be given to a
Cuban than to speak of or address him as
| Spaniard. whom they unhesitatingly
call thief (picaro): while, vice versa, the
Spaniard of CASTLE speaks in the most
ing to them indiscriminately the word
coward.
1T is hard at first to understand why
all Cubans speak in such affectfonate
terms of the United States and the
Americans. One does not hear them
speak OF Spain as the mother country,
| neither do you hear them allude to any
other European country in terms of af-
fection or respect; but when a Cuban
| speaks of hope in connection with his
isle, of pleasure trip, of ambitious
projects, his eyes glisten and his face
| lights up when he points to 'El Norte'
| tthe NortD, and he grasps with vigor
the hand of an American. as though he
We're in perfect sympathy with US
| In describing the causes of the general
dissatisfaction among the Cubans, the
writer said in part:
! THE island is demoralized and cursed
( by the system Of lotteries sustained by
1 the government and from which it de-
rives large revenue. but which makes
I every man, woman and child a gambler,
/ destroying their energy and sappinS their
I morals. A standing army of nearly
/ thirty thousand men. in which no Creole
/ Cuban is allowed to serve. is kept con-
stantly upon the island, and maintained
entirely from its revenues. Regiments of
colored troops are organized, and threats
have been made hitherto that. in case
| of any serious instruction the blacks
should be freed and turned upon the
whites.
''Neighboring families are obliged to
give notice TO the celador. or alderman Of
the district, of the increase or diminution
/ of the family, of the advent of a new in
mate or a guest, of a change of living.
| and of whatever reunion or party they
! may celebrate in their own house or that
of a neighbor. An inhabitant cannot go
from one part of the island TO another
without a pass or a license, nor leave
| the island without passport; neither
can a mans residence be changed from
| one place to another without permission
| of the authorities. The press has not
until lately been free from the strictest
censorship and even now perfect liberty
in this rspeet is not enjoyed
| petitions signed by more than three
neighbors are looked upon as seditionary,
| and the signers fined or imprisoned. No
buildings alterations or Improvements
are allowed to be made without the con-
sent of the authorities; and this is often
a mere matter OF favor or pay, and in
every case is attended with many diff
culties.
.sIt oftens happens that if the govern
ment wishes to erect new buildings bar
racks. etc, notice is given TO the wealthy
that subscriptions will be received; 1t IS
needless to add that the hint is gener-
ally taken"
OF the commercial conditions OF Cuba
| the traveller had this to say:
1.-The slave trade of Cuba has long been
| abolished, and the supply of labor in that
| respect is not up to the demand. Coolies
have been introduced and the plan has
worked we'll; but not crougn of these
have been imported, and the cargoes are
Immediately taken when landed. What,
| then, is to become of the great labor in
terests of the island? Do the planters
| want slavery? Do they expect they can
| retain it?
MY answer to this is: Thy do not.
but they do want compensation for
! their slaves and a system of free labor
| that will enable them to work their val
| liable estates. Even now, as 1 write,
| comes the news that the Spanish gov
| ms nf