The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-07

lf ls an enormous and pledEurabie SUFprls'
20 find that there are officers under th'
single star flag who could compete m in
leHeet with many Of our moss cultivated
gentlemen. OF these the most romantic
figure b. probably Carlos Manuel %
Cespedes. party leader m Jhe Cuban as
ssmbIy. and one OF the most conspicuoC.
DO the Islands politics.
II a crowd OF enthusiastic men Is seer
IN any Of the hotel Hobbies. 1t can n
pretty safely estimated that Col. de Css
pedes s. its center.
u g. always pathetic 70 see any on'
handicapped by a parents reputation, e.
TeciaI]y when inspired by an ambition e
emulate g. IN this young Cunan's case
however there Is little to reeret On thi'
score. as while only tWenty-seFen. he BIAS
attained to one OF the most Influential
positions in the whole island. When ask
81 II he IS married, NO ne answered
81 have not had time 10 think # b.. tuha
has taken all" with Il blush tAat Dear'
witness he Is not striving tor a theAT.'
denial And II Is probably true that SCI
dom is one 80 bound Up an his country :
future. even from the moment Of birth.
To his father was due the origin OF tn'
War Of $50. Tie elder taspldDs, "A law
Yer Of the same name a. the younger. was
al that time the pOsses5or of one o. tn
largest sugar plantations ln Cupa. on tn'
10th Of October o. that memorable veal
he freed his slaves. enrolled them in thC
army Of Cuba, and with 80 other gentle
men and thirty-siX firearms, began DIS
campaign against Spain. IN week thC
island WAS in an upr0ar. and Cespedes
was achieving success lie took several
cities, and was soon proclaimed President
Of the republic OF Cuba LibTe, and bis
brother-in-law, Manuel de Quesada, Gen
eral-ln-chief
His wife Anna De Quesada. the aunt OF
Gonsaiez de Quesada, who has been 50
prominent in the American side OF the
late war. was meanwhile captured by the
Spaniards and brought to Havana. Not
withstanding the enmity felt for all things
Spanish, no complaint is made OF their
treatment Of her In fact she was per-
mitted TO depart in peace. 10 take up her
abode with her mother in New York City.
Began in New York.
Here occurs one of the manv connecting
links between the history Of CuDans and
the States. For it was in New York City,
al Twenty-eighth street and Fifth avenue,
that the present leader of island politics
was born. with his twin sister. Gloria,
now living in conjugal felicity in Paris,
with Charles de Luna, Of New York Ii
is a remarkable coincidence that he vas
born on the 18th OF August. twenty seven
years TO the day before the signing OF
the treaty of peace in Paris. that gave
his fatEerland the liberty from Spain, for
which so many ardent souls had fought
and given their lives.
Carlos Manuel, j.. was educated in the
United States, until fourteen, when he
went to Europe, to be finished off in Ger
many and France. How his fathers eff
forts against Spain eliminated the world
row knows Martinez Campos himself
said that the war was lost for Cuba by
Ccspeles' death. Garcia Gomez, Maceo,
all OF whom were his subordinates, sank
again into quiet hatred. The stiffness
that forebodes a storm is frequent IN
English verse This appears to be the
only peace that ever settles upon Cuba's
shores.
Young de Cespedes was in Paris when
this last war began and Immediately
seized the opportunity for which his life
AaH been preparation. He went imme-
oldteiy 10 New York. where manifesto
IONS OF JOY were offered him by the
Cuban representatives. II was not long
before he found he had enemies with
whom 10 cope. Objections were raised
by SPaniards at a Cuban's reception in
New York with reclamation. He dis
covered II would be criminal TO carry
succor TO his struggling country.
The Cuban character is a daring one; in
pAis individual II is combined with intel
lect. FilibLstering was guarded against
at every port. but by correct inference
young CeSpedes decided that no one would
suspect man of the audacity of start
Ing an expedition OF relief from New
York harbOr itself. Three or four tug
boats We're kept constantly at work load
ing up with the needful supplies. Ar
nngements were completed with the Lion.
a Delaware River boat, 10 take the load
10 Cuba.
When the preparations were completed
the men were quietly gathered and the
tugs steamed out 10 meet the Lion. With
what anxious hearts they waited can b.
ameslned; but the Lion did not arrive.
Young Cespades after a disheartening
wall returned TO one OF the lower
Wharves Of New York. The next day
passed in anxiety and trepidstion When
darkness settled the tugs, with their un-
suspected loads, yentured forth.
\ Cuban Expedition.
The maddening expectation and disap-
pointment OF The preceding night had
repetition. Sick at heart, but stil valiant.
che young Cuban took his expedition 10
Brooklyn, and then achieved 4 successful!
ARRANGEMENT with the now welI-known
Iaurada> The next morning with un-
FEspicioUs opennesS. the Laurada WAS
loaded with apparently late cargo. The
men were safely stored OF board. and its
first expedition for the relief of Cuba
WIS begun.
As they approached their destination
TWO Spanish wsrships lowered about in
some wouderment. one finally went TO
Baracca. and ghe other vanished toward
Santiago. The moment they were cut OF
s.eht the landing was made. IN the prov
inc@ OF Barscoa league from poju,
Mslsi On the 9Th Of October. 1885 young
Carlos Manuel DE CespeHas first made his
footprints on the fatherlaud. for which
his father had sled his blood ard he WIS
10 wage many battles
The moment the landing had been safe
~ accomplished The Warship returned
from IFS sail toward Santiago. The fiji
clustering company was exped.tiously
lined on the elm, prepared 10 pour sum
mary vengeance on those approaching It's
ambush. But The Spanish vessel fortu-
na.e'y Tor her, as each man thought. con-
tented itself with watching twenty min
-'rs and then steamed away.
lt Was not long before the Standards
mad TWO columns of men searching for
This expedition. but the hlibustars suc-
osssiuily eluded them IN the mountainous
pathways until ,he very day they reached
Jose Maceo, the brother of Antonio. To-
rviher they were able 10 rout their pur-
STEERS Leaving some Of his men with
dacoo after this battle, young Cespedes
lourneyed into the province Of Puerto
Principe where be met the Marquis Of
santa Lucia. who was then the President
o. the Cuban republic.
rom tHis time on the descendant OF the
iTst President held many distinguished
positions For Two years h was Gov
erHDr OF the province Of Santiago de
cuba, until elected 10 the Assembly OF
l5ar With Meudez Capote. now Secretary
az Stale, and Freire Andrade now Presi-
cent OF the Cuban Assembly, he formed