Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-11-05
A CUBAN GOVERNOR.
TACON A BENEVOLENT SORT
OF TYRANT.
He Administered the Island Well. Put
Down Oppression, Released the Tn
justly Imprisoned, and Was Accessible
to All.

to AL
In the current Century there is an
article on Life and Society in Old
Cuba" made up of extracts from the
Journal of Jonathan S. jenkins, an AM
sriean painter of miniatures, written
in 1853. Mr.. jenkins says: Prior TO
the administration of Gen. Tacon in
Cuba twho assumed Office as captain
general in 1S34l, particularly during
the rule Of Vivas, society had become
so disorganized that neither life. prop
erty nor social rights could be said TO
have any protection. Truly might
was right" and this was the only law.
The robber, the pirate, and the assas-
sin were recognized institutions. and
none dare oppose them To right such
disjointed times required unfinching
courage, stern justice. and a rule ap-
preaching oppression. All these yir-
tues were found in Gen. Tacon, as the
sequel will show. One of Taeon's first
public cares. after his appointment, was
10 visit the state prisons. He interro-
gated every prisoner as to the cause
OF his confinement and the length of
time he had been there. He found that
some Of them had been imprisoned
over twenty years, and their bodies
wasted with wretchedness and their
minds crushed by despair Having no
friends TO be interested in their fate,
they had been forgotten by the world.
This was favorite means with the
wealthy to nd themselves OF debtor
or rival One of these prisoners
stated that he had been majordomo on
the estate Of the Count Of Philameno.
who was then auditor of war under
Iacon- The count owed him six thou
sand dollars for services, and to avoid
making the payment had him impris-
oned IN the castle. Tacon was morri-
ned and surprised and cautioned the
man to be sure and tell him the truth,
Tor he was determined to investigate
the matter thoroughly. The prisoner
insisted that what he said was true.
Ihereupon Tacon had the Count of
Phllameno summoned to meet the
prisoner before him the next day. AS
the captain-general had before this re-
fused persistently to receive the visits
or the presents of the nobility, the
count was flattered by the summons,
and came at the time appointed, very
much dressed up, as if upon a visit of
ceremony. The prisoner was there
when he arrived, and he started at
meeting his victim face to face. Ia
con, with stern and searching look,
asked the count, do you know that
mani" pointing to the prisoner.
Yes; think he was once my major
domo, he replied, with an anxious
look.
You had him imprisoned. did your"
said Tacon, not taking his eyes of
him.
Yes. l did"
And the cause?" was quickly asked.
Because he insulted me. and | am
gentleman, and must be protected"
replied the count, recovering his cour-
age.
That is not the true cause. You
owed this man six thousand dollars
Tor honest services, and had him i'm
prisoned to avoid payment. This debt
must be paid instantly" and with his
pen Tacon calculated the amount of
the debt with compound interest. This
debt must be paid forthwith"
The count, evidently surprised and
again fearful, replied:
Your excellency, will return home
and settle with him.
No, SIR" firmly responded Gen. Ia
con- Here is pen. Write to your
secretary to bring the money here.
this matter must be disposed of before
We separate"
Ine count did as he was ordered and
the secretary brought the money. The
maJordomo was paid and released. and
then the noble was permitted to return
home, humbled, but filed with the Bit
terest enmity to Tacon and his Justice.
This affair was noised abroad and Gre
ated great sensation among the no.
bility, who had heretofore enjoyed per-
1ect IMMUNITY in their wrongs to the
humble classes. Tacon was warned
OF the danger he incurred In thus an
tagonizing them, as they had often
f'O~N'NN hhc VI HIS DTcQeCcS-
sors for this very reason. He then
announced that supreme power had
been conferred on him as the only
condition upon which he would accent
the office OF captain-general OF Cuba,
and this announcement brought aston
ishment and CONSERVATION to the up-
per classes. The Count of Philameno
was not co7tent to acquiesce in the
Just sentence of Tacon, but manifested
his hatred on different occasions. This
caused Tacon to issue an order that
the count must not hereafter pass the
threshold Of his own house. but must
exercise the duties OF his Office as au-
ditor OF war in his residence" This
was rigidly enforced, and he remained
. close prisoner under this order I'M
til his death, about two years later.
Tacon sought in every way to encour-
age the people to make their wrongs
known to him, and to this end he re-
moved all the restraints and ceremo-
MES with which rulers are usually
surrounded and made himself acces