Evening star., 1898-02-12
Description Of the Conditions in
Cuba.
WHY AUTONOMY Is OPPOSED
Revolt the Result Of Century of
Wrongs.
PROG RESS OF THE WAR
Copyright 1888. by Charles NJ Pepper.)
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
A A

HAVANA, February O. 1893.
A business man in one of the western
cities wants to know whether 1t isn't time
| for this Cuban nuisance to stop. He writes
me in a vein of expostulation vet with a
real desire to know why it doesn't stop.
| and with an apparent belief that If the in
surgents understood how impatient the
commercial interests of the United States
are becoming they would accept what Spain
offers them and quit. 1t is a hopeless tasl,
| to make the conservative business man un-
derstand foreign affairs but as my corre-
spcndent is only an ordinary business man
| there may be hope for him. And he Is an
parently type of many others who are
beginning to realize that their own wishes
do not control the situation, and to wonder
Why. If the prospect were for an early
settlement it would not be worth while to
go over well-trodden ground and to write
of things that have become wearisome
through writing of them so often. AS it is
shall try to be as brief as if this were a
commercial letter
A Century of Misgovernment.
To begin at the beginning the present
war is thirty years old. 1t is a real revolu-
ton which is supported by the mass of the
Cuban people. The revolution began in
1868. 1t was the outcome of a hundred
years of Spanish misgovernment 1t lasted
ten years, and that period came to be
known as the ten years war. The United
soa Seates concerned itself then with the Gu
ban question, and Gen. Grants administra-
ton was kept busy finding reasons for not
recognizing either belligerency or independ-
ence Seventy volumes Of public documents
III lhe archlVes at washington give the his
tory of the position taken by the United
states. While the objections to recognizing
either beligerency or Independence were os-
tensibly based on shadowy International law.
the ground privately taken was that such
acton would harm the Cubans because
they were not strong enough to sustain
themselves. In 1878 some of the leading in
surgent"c chiefs were persuaded to agree to
what what was called the compact of Zanjon.
They had been keeping up the fight for
eighteen months without arms. Under this
treaty, or compact, Spain promised liberal
ana extensive reforms by which Cubans
would have some share in the government
of Cuba. -
An era of Industrial and commercial nros-
perity followed the temporary restoration
OF peace 1t was the period between 1850
ana lS9o. when all the world was prosper
Gus, or felt prosperous. Spain quickly for
got her promises of reforms In the first
years her forgetfuIness was no. so mark
ed, but gradually the Inherent vices Cf her
corrupt and oppressive system showed
themselves. Hard times" which came to
Cuba as to the United States made the
mlsgovernment unbearable. In the early
part of 1895 it was felt that the interreg-
mum OF the revolution was drawing to an
end.
The Outbreak in 1895.
The insurrection broke out in February
of that year. The outbreak was prema-
ture The plans of the leaders were not
matured. The arms they had arranged to
bring to the island were not here. The
Spanish government had every chance to
crush incipient rebellion. 1t was unable to
do So That may fairly be accepted one
test of the hold the revolution has or the
mass of the Cuban people. Its roots we're
deep down and could not be pulled up.
They have sustained the struggle for lib
erty for three years by great hardship and
sacrifice. They will sustain it longer What
is more important is their ability to do So.
AT the start they trusted their cause to
military leaders who had been tried in the
ten years war Among these were Maxi
mo Gomez Maceo and Calixto Garcia.
Their trust has not been betrayed. Maceo'S S
genius for arms carried them through the
first and critical stages of the insurrecton.
Since his death Gomez and Garcia have
shown equal ability.
1t Is now three years since the outbreak.
A review of the events of that period is not
necessary to understand that Cuba is
neither conquered nor pacified. What the
impatient business men CT the United
States want to know is whether the island
is going to pacify itself through the medium
of autonomy. They may judge for them
selves from existing conditions. During the
first period of the revolution from 1865 to
1873 the fighting was not around Havana
or in the western part of the island. 1t was
limited to the central and eastern provinces.
This time it has spread over the whole is
land. Gomez decided on that plan.
The War i'm the West.
When the Spanish troops were strongest
with Maceo as his lieutenant, he swept
from the eastern end TO the western point
The Spaniards call that march 1.-The inva-
sion.' 1t was a remarkable military move
ment, and the results are still felt. Busi-
ness in Havana and elsewhere received a
shock which endures. The insurgents in
these provinces have hard time, harder
than their fellows in the east. The Spanish
troops are easily massed and when military
operations are active these insurgents are
harrassed constantly. But they perform
their part which is to. keep the provinces
from becoming pacified. A few thousand
of them are able to do that In half the is
land Many of them are not nice people
They do not have drawing room manners
In the field they are not, as rule, jovial
company. They are apt TO be sour and sui
len. Three years in the hills, away from
the refnements of ciVili1aton, has made
them so. Until recently they were ragged.
Nevertheless few of them would think of
giving up short of DEATH
One day l noticed among the list of pre-
sentaooeS the name Of a young Cuban
who belonged to a pronainent family.
knowing him to be an unco1hpromisng in
surgent, 1 asked a friend what it meant.
and expressed desire to see him. TT is
too late was the reply; 'he would not
know You. He is dying at his brothers
house Hearing of his condition. his rela-
ttves tried for weeks to get him to present
himself. They rad the promise from the
authorities that he shoald cesne home. But
he would not present iilmselEmtil his COM
mander not simply gave him permission,
but ordered him to do so.'
The Spirit of the People.
Probably the case Of this young Cuban
would not appeal to practical business men.
who would take the common sense view
that a man sick and dying ought to seek
the shelter of his home. without waiting
for anybody'S permission or order. But
when they know he Is the type Of many,
and that his spirit is the spirit that aEi-
mates the mass 81 the insurgents. they
may at least understand why 1t is so diff
ftcult for the Spanish authorities to pacify
the western provfsces and let the course
of trade and industry run On.
In rev places the government succeeds
In making an appearance OF pacification.
These are kept On exhlbition. like the sam