The Holt County sentinel., 1898-05-27
Cuba's History in a Nutshell.


Cuba was discovered by CHRISTOPHER
Columbus October %. 1892. He believed
that he had discovered the mainland of
India, but WAS persuaded by the
aoor'gines that he VAS on an island. On
his second visit To Cuba he again BE-
heyei that he was on the mainland, and
IT Is said that he died in this belief. This
firm conviction he committed to, writing
in order that postrr'ty might be inform
ed OFF it.
Columbus called the island Jusna, iu
honor Of the son aud heir Ut Ferdinand
and Isabella. When Ferdinand died it
was chHI ged tu Santiago Then some
pious Spaniard came along and called it
Ave Maria" Ii bore number OF
other names. until at last Cuba trium-
phed over all the rest. Columbus landed
| near the river Maximo and there found
a gentle, docile race OF American In
dans.
The first Cuban war occurred 10 years
after the discovery Of the island. Vslas-
quez came ever in l5ll with an army OF
;'DO men To paclfy the Cuban Indiana,
who were named the Ciboneyss. Vslas-
quez began the cruel methods ever since
practiced by tbs Spanlsrds in Cuba.
When he found that the gentle Indiana
would offer no resistance, he sent for
their chief and had him burned ct the
stake. by way OF intimidating the poor
fellows, who said not n word to such
treatment.
This deed OF horror Vslasquez follow
ed up by dividing the Indians among
his friends, who set up plantations on the
island and worked the natives a. slsvss
By the close Of the century the origi-
nal CubaDs had almost become extinct
from cruel treatment aud burdsnsoms
work. Negro slaves then took the place
OF the natives. and from them sprana
the stock Of the Maceos and Msssos OF
the present rebellion. In 1887 the King
Of SPAN acquired the right from Vslss-
qhez to name the governor Of the Cuban
island,or Captain General" as he was
called. Hernando lie Soto was named
by royal decree.
Santiago, city built by Vslasques.
was the capital until 1852, ,whe the seat Of
government was removed to Havana.
According to Spanish law only Castil-
ians we're permitted,by penalty OF death,
to settle in Cuba, aud for century the
population decreased rapidly and agri-
culture languished. The negro p0pu-
lation Of Cuba always rebellsd against
Spanish rule. The first rebellion began
IN III, and for nearly 100 years Spain
had its hands full to quell it. Even
then men were starved and hanged and
garroted and stabbed in the back, -
they were later under Weyler. Mean
while negro slavery progressed. The
trade in negroes was declared free, and
the black men were poured into the
country by the thousands and hundred
thousands. This importation Of black
labor continued for 25 years. Miscegsns-
tion set IN, and the Ksffirs and other
negroes were improved by mixture with
Mediterranean blood. This somewhat
freed them, but they wanted moro OF
liberty. From infancy the Cuban half
breed sucked the milk Of hatred against
despised Spanish rule. Liberty became
the holy cause for which ever Cuban
longed, prayed and suffered.
Cuba first attracted the attention Of
the United States IN lS4s. The slight
glance inspired the Cubans with hope,
and they began to look to America for
their ultimate delivery. Whether or
not Spain saw her downfall at the be-
ginning Of the present century can
never be confirmed, but her offer to the
United States In 1925 indicated as much.
For big commercial concessions they
were asked to guarantee to Spain the
continued possession of Cuba. Then
Polk proposed to buy Cuba from Spain
for slOO,OOOOOO. The offer was rejected.
Narcisso Lopez, the Cuban martyr Of
life and liberty, was burned at the stake
50years ago. with Velasquez history re-