The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-04-08
The Island OF Cuba.

The Island OF Cuba.
The trend of events sometimes
conspire to direct the attention OF
the world to particular point on
its surface, and that is now true OF
the island of Cuba. The interest of
the American public is acutely
drawn in that direction. Startling
events have recently transpired in
Cuba of great momen! to this couL-
try, and it may be the scene OF iu
ture happenings of deeper interest
still.
Cuba, "The Gem of the Antilles, !"
the largest island of the West India
group, one of the spots upon the
earth most blessed by nature ana
most outraged by man, is about to
end its long history under the tyran-
nical domination of Spain and be
gin a new political career, and pos
sibly a new civilization.
Cuba is the name by which the
aborigines called the island. The
name stuck, though Columbus
called it Juanna, in honor of Prince
John, the heir of his royal patrons.
After the death of Ferdinand the
name was changed to Fernandina,
but the native name clung to it in
spite of royal decree, ana as Cuba 1t
has continued to lie known.
Spanish possession of Cuba has
been from the beginning blight
and a curse. Avarice and
cruelty, the two dominant traits of
the Spanish character, have been
exhibited in very marked degree
in Spanish dealing with the island
The conquest was twenty years al
ter the discovery by Columbus in
1892, and the brutal conduct of the
invaders was the keynote of subse-
quent Spanish government. Diego
Valasquez with 300 troopers, over
ran the island, meeting little oppo-
sitioL from the mild tempered and
peacefully inclined Indians, who
called themselves Taines, the
good. Hatney, the native chief,
was taken a prisoner by the inva-
ders and burned at the stake.
The next act Of the Spaniards
was to enslave the ralives, three
hundred being allowed by law to
each man who undertook to estab-
lish sugar plantation. So cruel
and severe was this slavery that in
forty years very few Of once large
population were left. As early as
1884 the Spanish officials in Cuba
applied to the Emperor Charles for
81, 200 negroes, that they might be-
come Injured to labor before the In
dians ceased to exist.
In their early occupations of
Cuba, as in other portions Of Amer
lea, the Spaniards were frantic in
their search for gold, and consider
able quantities of the precious met
al were sent from the island to
Spain.
The native Indian population was
practically exterminated in fifty
years, and people of Spanish de-
scent born upon the island became,
in time, subject to oppressive ty-
ranny by the home government,
which has been continued until now.
For many years no one was allowed
to immigratc to Cuba except the in
habitants of the province Of CASTLE.
The trade of the island was restrict
ed to certain Spanish ports, and its
people subjected to the most tyran-
nous exactions, until now, only
native Spaniards hold office in Cuba.
How different might have been
the fate of Cuba, had it fallen into
other hands than those of the Span
lard was illustrated in 1862, when
the island was for short time
held by the British. Lord Alber
marie captured Havana that year
and made Cuba an English posses
sion. Though the English occu
pancy Of the island lasted only un-
til July Of the followingyesr, during
that brief time 900 laden vessels
entered the harbor Of Havana, more
than all the previous entries since
the discovery, period Of 200 years
Their, was revolt against Spanish
authority in Cuba as early as l7l7.
Another broke out in 1923 and
twelve Of the leaders were hanged
by orders Of the captain general
But when the other Spanish colo
nies Of America rebelled agains,
Spain Cuba r, mained steadfast, and
resisted overtures from Genera
Boliver to join the revolt. The Gu