The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-26

Guy can oppose to q foreign attack de-
Ponds entirely on the character, patriotism
an d unity of the population inside it's
gates. The guns and the forts are nothing
without the men, and the men that man
age the guns and garrison the forts must
be backed by the enthusiasm and deter
mlnation of all the Inhabitants.
such was the case in 1862, when Havana
resisted during two months the British:
and the heroic death of Don Louis de
velazco, the governor of Moro Castle,
commanded the respect of even the enemy
A day of suspensions of hositilies was ao-
corded by the English until the body of
that brave soldier had been buried, and
military honors wers paid to 1t by both
armies. Havana was then really the ''ever
faithful city, as the Spanish King named
1T in reward for it's uncompromising
loyalty. Men, women, and children stood
until the last Tor the flag of Spain. Even
after the Spanish guns Ind been silenced
and the city had been taken by force.
they did not yield to the invader Neither
threats nor magnanimity could abate their
Spanish spirit Cuban bands on the out
skirts Of the city waged q savage guerilla
iifsfo Oh bnc OIlbldHs HS
town of Guanabacoa never yielded to the
enemy. Pope Antonio, countryman, led
a band of guerillas around that town and
wrought havoc among the troops of Lord
Albemarle. The British soldiers were
poisoned by the people. When the Cubans
could fight no more they resorted to as
sassination. The unconqusrable hostility
f 81 the people was one Of the first reasons
Ina5 nnaliy compelled England, in 1868,
TO turn over Cuba to the Spanish King
again IN exchange for Florida.
NOW ali the conditions are quite the re-
verse. After Spain lost it's vast possess
Ions In South America she began to rule
CUBA with an iron hand. The brave and
loyal Cuban militia that fought SO hero
ioally againt the foreign invaders were
gradually dispersed: Spanish soldiers and
Spanish officers took their place. Early
in the century Cuba began to long for
freedom. The old love for Spain turned to
deep hatred for the mother country. The
Spaniard was no more considered by the
Cuban as countryman, but as an
enemy. The Captains-General represent
ed thereafter oppression, wrong and in.
justice. Cuban martyrs were beheaded.
garroted, or sent to the gallows. After a
long series of conspiracies Lopez raised
in 1850, for the first time the lone star
flag, invaded the island twice, and finally
was overpowered, caught and executed in
AA0N0ANs kOAhOo Ubt0A wal bCuVCCA SuUA
and Spain has gone on. The revolution
of 1883 lasted ten years. After the truce
of Zanjon tho Cuban flag was lowered
only temporarily. 1t was raised again
in 1895, never to be conquered by the
Spanish troops. Not a single Cuban, no
matter how peaceable he may be by tenn.
permanent, can be called friend Of Spain
Cubans hate the Spanish rule. and they
all admire and love the United States
A few days ago, when news OF the mes
sage of President Mckinley was received
in Havana, tho Cuban non-com Blatant
population began its exodus to the United
States. Captain General Blanco uttered
then with deep emotion these graphic
1T il a bitter lesson for us. What can
we expect from people that on the eve
Of war with the foreigner flee to the
very land Of tho enemyS"
And he was right. A large majority OF
the population of Havana is now hostile
to Spain, in spite Of the public demon
strations OF patriotism made there during
the last few days. The 10000 or 10000
Spanish volunteers, grocers and retail
merchants, nearly all Of them single men
and young, who went to Cuba ns emil |
grants, lead those patriotic parades and
the rest follow them, not out of enthusi-
asln, but from fear of being suspected as
0D6lIloS Vi 0PdlA dllQ u6ShBSludIcu OF Dut
The small group of Cubans called Au.
Economists are among this class. The fail
ure of the last Cuban revolution from
1858 to 1878, and the constant policy of
non-interference and of enforcement of
neutrality laws, followed for 80 many
years by the Washington Administration,
convinced them that it was folly to be-
lieve that the patriots would ever win
alone against the superior Spanish power
or that the United States would ever lend
a helping hand to them. They tried to
obtain by peaceful means what tie
patriots demanded by force. Believing
also that their aspirations could not 80
realized, they have accepted everything
offered to theni, no matter how meagre
or farcical. But that they are haters of
Spain, and that they do not inspire con-
fidence even in the most libsral Spaniards
IL in Cuba well-known fact All their
pro-Spanish demonstrations they have ex-
aggravated in order to win confidence
which they do not deserve. Traitors to
both sides, to that of their real sentiments
and to that of their apparent inclinatfons,
the, to them, unexpected intervention Of
the United States in Cuba has been
hard blow. If thsy could now help them
selves by taking the winners side they
would do SO gladly.
Another important type of the Havana
population hostile to Spain is the sympa-
thizer with the revolution, or laborante.
who. apart from fighting, has done and
is ready to do everything that may harm
the cause OF Spain. The laborante is the
most able of conspirators. Of him and
his kind is composed the secret Revolu-
tionary Junta in Havana, that is still
rninding the Spanish Government inside
the city and waiting for a sight of the
American battleships
The negroes who number some $4,000
are very much divided. The majority of
them are against the Spaniards.
1t is needless to say that the reconcen-
trades are also against the Spaniards and
in favor of the United States.
But the most serious enemies, though
not the most numerous, of the Spanish
Government in Havana are Spaniards
themselves landowners or rich merchants
who favor immediate annexation to the
United States as the only solution of the
Cuban problem.
Leaving aside few thousand foreigners
the male population of Havana may be
estimated at 100,0 GOO OF this number not