The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-17


CCDA's s1uRN1 cAnxEn.
The Pearl Of the Antilles, q Cuba il
poeticaliy known. has had Q very
checkefed career. Since IT, discovery
by Columbus In 1884. its people have
been in ferment Of revolt They have
been ouieted at times when the repres-
sion Was unusually severe. resulting In
the loss Of Thousands Of lives. bat there
has never been = time when 1t could be
considered N In . state Of contented
peacefulness.
The spaniards found the island
thickly populated by . docile race Of
Indians. who called themselves by the
general name Of Tainos, meaning the
good. The conousrors inaugurated
Christian government By burning at the
stake the chief whom they had cap
tured. The natives were soon brought
into complete subsection. but they dis
appeared 30 rapidly under the cruel
treatment they received. that In 1853
there were few left. The officials applied
70 the emperor for seven thousand ne
groes, that they might become Injured
to labor before the Indians ceased to
exist" The newcomers seemed not to
have been treated with much nnors mer-
cy. because within twenty years 1t had
become necessary to pass law impos-
ing penalty Of death on all who at
tempted to leave the island.
Havana Was twice destroyed by the
French during the sixteenth century,
and In l7l7 revolt broke out which has
been continued almost ever since.
There was one brief spell Of prosperity.
In 1862 Havana was taken by an Eng
lish feet and army under Lord Abe
marie: and although the English re-
tanned possession only until July OF the
following year. during that time over
nine hundred loaded vessels entered the
port Of Havana. more than all the pre-
vious entries since the discovery.
When the royal family Of Spain was
deposed by Napoleon the Cubans de-
clared for the throne. and proved their
loyalty not only by generous subscrip-
lions, but by voluntarily sending SOL
diers. They were promised, in return
for this fidelity, great Improvement. but
scarcely any OF the promises were full
filed. The island has been ruled by q
succession OF governors general, most
OF whom took the opportunity to make
fortunes for themselves. The govern
ment has been generally OF the most OPP
pressive character, and for many years
the captain general was empowered to
rule at all times as IL the island was
In state Of siege. The United States
first took direct interest In Cuba
shortly after the acquisition of Florida.
Fears were entertained that It might
fall into the hands OF the English or
French. and Spain and those nations
We're informed that such q disposition
OF it would never be consented to. In
1926 a proposition had been made by
Spain that in consideration OF certain
commercial concessions the United
States should guarantee to her
the possession Of Cuba; but 1t
was declined on the ground
that such a course was contrary
TO the established policy Of the United
States. When Florida was acquired.
however. President Polk authorized the
American minister to offer $lb0, 900. 600
for Cuba. but the proposition was re-
iected in the most peremptory man.
ner.
The frequent rebellions In Cuba
prompted France and Great Britain 10
interfere. In 1859 they invited Presi-
dent Fillmore 10 join them in a treaty
guaranteeing TO Spain the possession of
Cuba. but he refused. In 1854 Messrs.
Buchanan, Mason and sSoule, United
States ministers at London. Paris and
Madrid respectively. drew up state
nent known as the ostend manifesto,
In which they urged that Cuba ought
to belong 70 tie United States. Senator
slidell. Of Louisiana. urged In the
United states senate. in 1858, that SEQ
Cox. coo be placed In the hands Of the
president with a view 10 the acqulsl-
ton Of the island. but after debate IL
Nas Withdrawn.
Meantime the most awful atrocities
nave been perpetrated upon the unfor-
innate Inhabitants. who would resist
oppression only to be more n,erciless,y
oppressed In the campaign OF 1872 1t
was estimated tina, 1900 cubans had
Deem killed in battle. besides q. 500 pris-
oners who had been put to death. The
spanish losses were severe then. "a in
the present war. because out OF $4,000
soldiers sent there between 1865 and
49,. not more than is,ooo survived: but
most Of those had succumned to dis