The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-04-21


occasional flushing of coyey Of fly
ing fish varied the monotony of oul
sail back to Santiago.
April i. 1899.
While in the midst of this letter
was called off to transact some bnsi.
ness and did not have an opportunity
to finish it until tonight.
Since writing the first part of this
letter the glorious news has reached
us that the regiment is to be returned
to the states within the next thirty
days. Heaven knows we received this
news with inexpressible delight. The
thought Of going home to mingle
again with those we love, to hear the
kind words of welcome, to see the
genial faces of our friends and all the
sweet and holy attractions of home,
makes me impatient for the day 10
come when shall be able to turn my
face towards dear old Mississippi and
to the land Of Cuba bid an everlasting
farewell.
Changing the subject rather alb
ruptly A few days ago, while dis
cussing the peculiarities of the Cuban
mind and the characteristics of these
climate-cursed individuals with Major
Runcic, very cultured and scholarly
gentleman, a lawyer from San Fran
cisco, who IS here as legal adviser to
General Wood, he asked me If | had
ever seen any of the writings of Saco,
a Cuban author Of nearly fifty years
ago. told him that / had not lie
said to me then that he had an extract
from his writings, a copy Of which
he would give to me, saying at the
same time that the prediction made
by this author with reference to the
future Of Cuba was one Of the most
remarkable he had ever seen In the
literature or history of any country.
He gave me these extracts, which !
have read and herewith send you for
publication. Truly. this man was
gifted with foresight which Is abso-
lutely remarkable. He, indeed,
Dipped into the future far as human
eye could see, saw the visions Of the
world and all the wonders that be :"
FORECAST OF THE IMMORTAL SACO IN
THE YEAR 1859.
The tyranny OF our mother country,
most pronounced at the present day,
will result, in no very long time, in driv.
ing the Cubans to take up arms to expel
her; but I, seeing the peril Of my coun.
try, must hold myself guilty if fail to
point it out or to do my utmost to avert
it, War will come here, but the entire
island will not respond. hold 1t HI
certain that Havana will remain almost
Indifferent, ANA her III, nbors will be
as indifferent as herself that while. in
the insurgent districts, commerce will
be annihilated, the plantations will be
destroyed, the smaller towns will be
burned and assassinations will be com
mitted under the name Of executions,
property will be confscated, whole fam
lilies will emigrate, while everywhere
in those districts there will be mourn.
ing and desolation and terror. the cities
and towns of the western provinces will
grow in commerce and wealth, contrib
nting greatly to the support Of the army
in the rebellious region at the same
time the army, sacrificing itself for the
will perish because the revolu-
tion will be regarded abroad as a fail.
ure, no assistance will be forthcoming
from the outside. and nakedness, hunger
and disease will induce the weaker and
more designing TO ask and to accept
from the mother country whatever terms
she may offer.
The result Of the second war will be
lie same but in the third, perhaps be.
;ause supported and assisted. the Cnbans
will triumph in the Palmyra Of the
new world. l approve Of the revolu
ion, but that Is not why / tell you that
t will end in this way. When en-
gage In y revolution it will not be TO
'uin or discredit my native land, but to