Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
REWARDS FOR POLITICAL SERVICES
This Fact Lessened'sthe Influence
of Those Honored.
SOME NOTABLE INSTANCES

are genuine grandees of Spain The dis
tinction between the Spanish title and the
Cuban patent Of nobility has ALWAYS been
carefully maintained. The Spaniards af-
fected to despise the Cuban counts and
marquises, and the Cubans themselves
were disposed to make them ridiculous
Nevertheless, soma of these titles which
were held in old Cuban families were re-
spected, not because of the patent of noble
birth which they wers supposed to desig-
nate. but because of the patriotism of the
men who bore them. In the ten years war
there were Cuban counts and maruuises
among the revolutionists, and in tn, late
insurre2tion the same was true One of
the most Jealous Of the insurgents was the
Marquis Santa Lucia, who rendered great
aid to Gomez, which was Acknowledged by
that grim old commander.
Rewards for Political Service.
One reason why the Cubans cared little
for the titles in themselves was the ten
dency of the Spanish government to bestow
them in reward for the political services
of distinguished Cubans. To the patriotic
Cuban political services to Spain could
only be at the expense of their own island
Rafael Montoro was one of the notable men
OF Cuba as a scholar, orator and litterate,Ir
He had shared the aspirations of his peo-
pie for free government, and was one of
the historic autonomists. In an evil day
the CanoVas ministry made Mr. Montoro a
marquis. 1t followed upon his espousal of
the reforms which were proposed by Ca
novas in lieu of autonomy. From that day
the influence of Marquis Montoro was prar-
tically nothing. His friends declared that
the title had been bestowed upon him I'M
sought, and that he despised it. Neverthe-
less he was called the Marquis Montoro
and as such was known in Cuban politics
W hen the autonomist cabinet was formed
last January and the Sagasta ministry
made him secretary of the treasury. it was
discovered in Madrid that whether under a
conservative OF liberal ministry MARQUIS
Montoro was far less influential than Senior
Montoro had been While he is respected
for his private virtues. and while the Gu
bans speak kindly. of him. Secretary Mon
toro has not regairfed their confidence. 1t
is possible that whsn the new government
is formed Of and and al sitlesssare lost, he may
for which his talents fit Tim.
neutrality-suspicious.
Marquis de ApeZteguia is another Cuban
who has had a similar experience He was
Cuban marquis simply when a year ago
the queen regent made him a Spanish gran
dee. Marquis Apezteguia, though a Gu
ban, was the head of the conservative
party, which was made up largely of ultra
loyal Spaniards. 1t was hoped that the
special honors conferred upon him by the
queen would increase his prestige among
the Spanish classes and would enable him
TO influence the cons ervatives toward the
adoption of the policy of autonomy but
when he returned from Madrid the MARQUIS
Ap9zteguia found that the Spanish classes
We're less susceptible to the dignity and
honors of the crown than had been sup
posed. The conservatives would have Moth
ing TO do with autonomy, whether brought
them by a newly created grandee or of
fered them by the captain general TIL.
al itS
pudlated the policy. Marquis ApeZteguia
Is president of the Sugar Planters Associa-
ton He has extensive interests in Cuba
and it is presumed that he will elect to re-
n ain there, when his title of marquis and
his dignity as u grandee of Spain become
nothing more than "reminiscences of a CO.
lonial epoch that has gone forever.
The Mayor of Havana
Inc present mayor of Havana has also
title before his name. He is the Mar
quis de Esteaban. His family is an old
and honored one. He had not taken the
leading part in politics, but he enjoyed the
respect of all classes. The mayor of Hava-
ma, even under autonomy, was not elected
by popular vote. He was designated by
Captain General Blanco. Marquis de Es-
teaban succeeded a conservative MAYOR
who had been a drayman. Many squibs were
published when the drayman mayor was re-
paced by the courtly representative of one
of the old Cuban families. However, this
mad no influence in reconciling the Cubans
IN Havana to autonomy. Marquis de E,s-
teaban is a large property owner and on
that account 1t is not doubted that he will
remain and sacrifice his title to the new
regime. A few days ago the Havana dis
patches reported that he was in confer
ence with General Rodriguez and others
who had been prominent in the insurrec-
ton and who would be influential under the
changed conditions,
The Captains General.
Under the old order the government blue
book used to state that the nobility in
Cuba did not constitute an element of
power. This was true. because all the
power was concentrated in the captains
general. OF the 124 captains general who
span the period from the appointment of
Columbus voyage companion, Don Dilgo
VelaSQuez, who was named in 1911 down
TO Don Ramon Blanco, Marquis of Pena
Piata, large proportion have held titles
OF spanish grandees as dukes. counts and
marquises. General Weyler was Marquis
OF Teneriffe. Some of the captains gen.
eral nave earned their patents of nobility
by services to the crown while holding that
position. Captain General Concha was
made Marquis of Havana in the fifties for
his services in crushing incipient revolu-
items. Among the nobility in the old days
the division was two-fold The "digni-
ties or worthless and the titled of Cas-
tile" OF the dignities which were not
military there We're seven gentlemen of
the Grand Royal Cross and the distinguish
ed Spanish order of Carlos III, and thirty
five of the Royal American Order of Isabel
la the Catholic OF the order of Carlos III
without wearing crosses there were nine
and of the same class OF the Order of Isa-
bella there were sixty-three. OF the ''Cabal-
leros de Real" or royal gentlemen, in the
ros de Real" or royal gentlemen, in the
order of Carlos III there,w forty-three.
and in that of Isabella THE Catholic one
hundred There were Also four noble
danes of Maria Tulsa. lnThere were also
a few minor dignities.
The CnstilIan,1 Titles.
The Castilian titles included marqusates
with grandeeship Of Spain, and marqui-
safes without grandeeship There were
also counts who were grandees and counts
who were not grandeeso. The marquisate
which carried with itfthe rank of grandee
of Spain was that of San Felipe and San
tiago, created in 1713.s The plain marqui-
safes included Villaba, created in 1862,
down to that of Havana, created half
century ago. Among the titles still borne
are those of the Marquises of the Royal
Proclamation, the Royal Succor, Clear
Waters. House of Fidelity and Royal
Treasury. The first of the order of counts
was that of Bayona, created in 1722. The
Count OReilly patent was of later date.