The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-03-18
5elrft MisrellanlI.
THECUBAN REVOLUTION.

The ten-years' war in Cuba, which
lasted from 1868 to 1878, was closed
10y compromise which chiefly pro-
vided that the same reforms that had
been instituted in Porto Rico should
be extended to Cuba. These reforms,
some of which were afterwards appar-
emily instituted, were rendered impera-
tive to relieve the wrongs OF which the
Cubans complained. In fact the policy
pursued 10y Spain brought about,
though in a different way, the very
hardships which had before existed.
The island was allowed representation
in the Spanish Cortes, on the strength
of a royal decree issued June 9th, 1878,
at the conclusion Of the long struggle
for indeI endence. The decree provided
that Cuba should send one deputy for
every 10000 free inhabitants paying a
certain annual tax, but the entire tr,e
population was so impoverished by the
war, and the elections were SO con-
Quoted in the island, pursuant to a de-
cree of August 10Th, 1878, that few
representative Cubans, in sympathy
with the needs and aspirations of the
island, were ever sent to Spain, theri
places almost invariably being filled by
Spaniards having interests in Cuba.
The former excessive taxes were in no
wise remittcd, but rather increased, for
the revenues of the island were charged
with the entire expenses Of the ten
years war Besides this, the govern
ment offices were filled hy Spaniards,
to the exclusion of the Cubans, except
for the most unimportant POSITIONS,
and to obtain even these it was said to
be necessary to send money to high
officials in Madrid. Again, the islands
We're made the resort of young Span
iar;ls who left the mother country to
,in the militia in Cuba for the purpose
o. sccaring, 10y three years service
there, Immunity from conscription and
consequent five years service in the
S,.anisn army. This volunteer force,
numbering about 10000, was composed
of young SpaniardS. who in civil life
filled the salaried positions it was
claimed the young men of Cuba should
hold. These and other minor gricv
ancCs similar to those which were al
ways more or less potent factors in
Spanish colonial distu, Dances, aroused
the Cubans to the revolt which began
in February, 1898.
The leading spirit in the Revolution,
in its earliest days, was Jose Marti,
who was killed in skirmish in April,
1898. He had previously intrusted
the chief command of the Cuban Army.
Of Liberation to MaNimo Gomez, a vet
,ran of the ten-yrars' war, vino left his
home in San Domingo. came to Cuba
and began To organic" the scattered
Lands Of rcvolutionistS into an army.
GomcZs leading aides were CaliNto
Garcia and Antonio Macco, both Of
whom were also engaged in the ten
years struggle, and were Thoroughly ~
acquainted with the peculiar kind of
warfare which had enabled their forces
to hold out for so long time against
all the troops that Spain could send.
A few months later a provisional gov
ernment was announced, consisting of
G.n. Bartolomc Masso, President OF
the Republic of Cuba; Gen. Maxine
Gomez, ce-Prcsident and Minister of
War; Gen. Antonio Maceo, General-in-
Chief; SrnOr Gonzalez de Quesada
Secretary of Foreign Relations; ald
Marquis of Santa Lucia, Minister Of
the Interior The Spanish force i'm
mediately available to put down the
rebellion consisted Of 1900 regulars
and the volunteer militia, numbering