The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-15
,CUBA'S SPANISH. RULERS.

SAINT Contrasts. -
Havana Correspondence y1f the New
York Evening Post: In tho grand salon
Of the palace in Havana were hung the
portraits CT the govc.norS Of Cuba since
the erd Of tn. seventeenth century.
The last portrait placed in the collec-
tIon was that OF General Rodriguez
Ara!s. who was encouragement In
1893. There was no more room for more
nortral;s in this salon, and some OF the
Scparatists, noting that circumstances.
said y hen General Weyler arrived In
The island In 1897: "Weyler will never
have his likeness In the palace. for he
will be the last captain-general to rule
here" II is thought that the collection
OF portraits taken from Havana Will
adorn the walls OF the ministry OF war.
The palace In Havana contained the
,ikenesses OF the generals Of Philip ".
Ferdinand VIZ, Charles III. and
Charles VI, with their white wigs and
uniforms In the French style. AT that
lime military men wore neither beard
NOR moustache. The subjects Of those
portralts have the mild and pacific air
Of ecclesiastlcs. The Inhabitants,
European and American, were loyal to
Spain. M. :,
The most noteworthy OF those rulers
was General Las Casas, who encour-
aged agricultural production. bringing
families from the Canary Islands, who
colonized the Vuelta Abujo, (now the
province OF Pinar del Rio). General
Las Casas In his picture looks like what
he was, n good man. possessed Of intel
lgence and refinement. ~
Two portraits dating back to the be-
ginning OF the century are those OF Apo
daca and Wives. Apodaca was gen.
eral In the navy and gave his name
10 promenade in Cadiz and to n street
in Havana He was very witty and
was n great friend Of Ferdinand VII.
Before he became governor OF CUBA he
was vlceroy OF Mexico, where he won
the battle OF I'll Vanadito. For this VIC
tory he was granted the title OF count
1t will be remembered that one OF the
warships withdrawn from Cuban
waters and sent to Spain, as a result
Of the evacuation OF the island, was
called FL Condo del Venndito.
No one would imagine from Apodaca's
likeness that he was a warrior, for he
has the meek and peaceful air Of a
ance far from warlike. Before occupy
ing the post Of governor general Of
Cuba he Yves minister from Spain at
Washington, and proved an able states
man. It was due to his GOODNESS and
skill that Spain did not lose the island
OF Cuba when Bolivar formed the prof.
ect OF freeing It. There were few troops
In the colony and the Spanish army
hardly existed. Wives governed with
moderation. so that there might be no
cause for discomfort on the Island. 1t
Is said that he Joined the anti-Spanlsh
secret societies under q feigEed name
in order to know what 'consplracies
we're being formed. He permitted and
even encouraged vice. so that the at
tention OF the people might'be diverted
from politics. and under his rule gam
bling was not interfered with by the
police.
Another placid countenahce is that
Of Ricaport. He was the last governor
in the reign Of Ferdinand VII. He was
witty. dlsliked work. and believed in the
policy OF laissez faire. Under his rule
there was no security FOR either life or
property in Havana The island had by
this time become rich, and the admin
istration corrupt. Judges accepted
brnes. The police we're In league with
thieves The situation at last grew so
intolerlble that some OF the Inhabitants
went to lay complain. before the
governor The latter asked them:
when do the robberies and assassina-
tons OF which you speak takeAplace?"
AT night "Where?"' IN the
streets" SO suspected. advise you,
II you don't want TO oe robbed or assas-
sinatsd. 10 do as I do. Never go out at
night"
Another governor OF that period (,he
regency OF Maria Christina. 1S33-'4O)
was the Prince o. Argiona. By his por-
tra', II Is 10 be seen that he was what
In Spain Is called general de Salon. In
tie history OF Cuba he has left no trace.
Tacon was Of another stamp. His
smooth-sharcn, fat face, his spectacles.
his wall-combed toupet, gives. him the
appearance of IL professor rather than a
captain. He had good deal OF strength
OF character however ana possessed
real gifts as n ruler. He had fought In
Colombia against the Separa.Ists, and
had suffered defeats. Hence he had no
love for the natives OF the Spanish cole
MES. whom he distrusted. He opposed
every plan for political reform. and de-
privel the Cubans of the higher classes,
VINO had hitherto been the counsellors
OF the captain-generals, of all their in
huence. To him is mainly due the dis
aHectlon towards the mother country
when caused the Instructions of 1868
and 1895. The Cubans and the Span
,arHs residing In Cuba, who bad before
hved together In harmony. became enc
niles during the rule of Tacon.
But II as politician he was injudi-
cious, as a ruler no one has sequaled
nm IN cuba. He purified the courts.
c9iiected the taxes with exactitude. paid
inc expenses OF the administration
Puhe'uaIly, constructed public build
ms pfomenadcs. roads, etc He
traced every crime to Its source. and
punished It's author. high or low.
Ho' tar from Tacors portrait in the
palace were the portraits of Valdes
GHI Donnel. The countenance of
nIiues Is that OF brave and generous
soldier. Like Tacon he had, fought
against the Scparatists in South Amer
I'D out without animosity. He re-
ssMcted and esteemed his ndversaries.
me following anecdote Is told OF him:
IN entering 4 town In Peru from
watch the separatist General Sucre had
ceUeated. q lady. who was Intensely
spanish in feeling, pointing to young
Muiatto. said IN Valdes, with an air OF
:sraus'action: There Is n good patriot.
me other day he threw stones at Su-
sonora. responded Valdes. "if any
one but a lady had told me this I should
orGer that man to be flogged As It IS, I
WI! content myself with saying that
me ooor did wrong; for. although Sucre
my country's enemy. he Is as much Il
general and 4 gentleman as I am"
r., Inc name Valdes nbounds In Cuba.
Inc general ordered that it should be
given to foundllhgs.
,.oDonnel. with his blue eyes. his
.'tsn color. hts light moustachc, his
n,aushty and patr!cian air, looks rather
Tx IKE 1 great lord OF the court OF the
quarts than n SDanieh rnnoral pf tho