The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-04-08
SPAIN LEAVES AMERICA.
AFTER FOUR CENTURIES SHE FOR.
FEiTS COLUMBUS GAINS.

FEfTS COLUMBUS GAINS.
The Flag OF CASTLE and Leon Haulel
Down From the Last American Pos
session-Once FIoated Over Most o
the Western Hemisphere.
More than four centuries of Span
ish rule in both the Americas ended
when the American flag was hoisted
over Havana, Cuba.
The Spanish flag is swept from the
western continent, north and south.
The Stars and Stripes now flies in its
place wherever the flag of some re-
public or one of the humane European
monarchies did not already fly.
Spanish rule in America began in
1892, when Christopher Columbus, an
italian, discovered San Salvador ISL
and. One voyage followed another
all South America and good share of
North America, to say nothing of Gen.
trail America, were once claimed by
Spain. Columbus died in chains, but
Spain was only too eager to profit by
his discoveries, and ships and men
followed wherever he had set his foot.
Cuba was discovered October 81,
1892. and named Juana by Columbus
himself. This name didn't suit, nor
did several others. The natives called
the beautiful island Cuba, and that
name finally became its legal title.
Pinzon explored, thinking the ISL
and to be part of India, but soon
found out that it was an entirely new
land. He found the Cubans a mild,
Woodworking race. 1t was easy to
fasten on the Spanish yoke. With but
Q slight interruption it has endured
ever since, the British capturing the
island in 1852 with great loss and re-
storing it in 1853 under a treaty of
peace.
The island was so fertile and its
climate so salubrious that it was soon
we'll populated, despite the reverend
ing cruelties and impositions prac-
ticed by the Spaniards. The revenue
was enormous-$25, 900, 900 a year
and Spain took it all. Spanish SOL
diers took care of the inhabitants
when they protested.
They ruled all the neighboring ISL
ands, too, and put their unfortunate
inhabitants under the same cruel
yoke-imprisoning, executing, tortur.
ing them upon the slightest pretext,
and allowing slavery to flourish.
Cuba is now free.
So are all its 1,750,0 900 people.
Porto Rico is also free. 1t
passed under Spanish rule soon
after Cuba, but never even had the
single year of humane British rule
that Cuba enjoyed. 1t is known as
the healthiest of the Antilles, and
but for Spanish oppression would
have been the garden spot of the
world. It's 800, 900 inhabitants will
hereafter see nothing but the Star
and Stripes from the fagstaffs.
Jamaica was the first of the Spanish
possessions to get rid of the Spanish
yoke. The British captured it in
1856 and have held it ever since. As
a result Jamaica has outstripped all
the West Indies. It is beautiful
island, rich in mineral wealth and
fertile.
When Cortes invaded South Amer
lea in 1921 he laid claim to all South
America, Central America and North
America. SSpain claimed all the Pacific
Coast from Cape Horn to Alaska, Fall
the Atlantic Coast from Cape Horn to
Georgia, Central America and South
America, as well as Mexico. No other
European nation could we'll dispute
that claim, and Spain promised to be
the greatest nation on earth. Now
not foot of earth on either side of
the continent owns the Spanish flag.
After Jamaica, Florida was the first
North American province to be free.
The United States bought Florida
from Spain in 1921. In 1922 it be-
came a territory and few years later
D State.
In 1910 began the revolt in South
America which ended in Spsin's being
forced out from every possession in
that continent, though it took quar-
ter of a century to do it. Spanish
cruelties and impositions had been too
terrible. One State after another re-
volted.
The great Bolivar led the revolt. In
nine years he drove Spain out of what
Is now Colombia. Venezuela and
Ecuador. Freedom got such a hold
that other oppressed provinces took
heart. Peru and Bolivia fought for
and gained their independence in
1926, after suffering Spanish rule for
more than three centuries. Argentine,
Uruguay, Paraguay and.Chile all cast
off the yoke in bloodshed. Spain was
cast out of South America forever.
Mexico and Central America re-
solved to be free or die 1921. 1t took
these Spain-ridden countries till 1885
to be free.
Then the United States absorbed
Texas and took California and all the
rest of the Pacific Coast. Spanish in
Huence was still further confined.
When the late war with Spain was
declared the Spaniards ruled less
than 5000, 600 people in the Western
Hemisphere, and but two large ISL
ands, Cuba and Porto Rico. Mexico
was gone, Central America, all South
America and Jamaica.
Now these last two remaining ISL
ands have become free, and the Span
iards have betaken themselves back
to Europe, whence they camel