The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-25
A SPANISH COLONY REvOLTs.
Spain Sends . Battalion Of Troops From Cadis
to Fernando Pc.

Tho largest and finest Of the volcanic Islands
IN tho Gulf Of Guinea IL Fernando Pc. whose
surface. mostly mountainous. has about hair
the urea Of our Long Island II Is the only
considerable island left TO Spain In the Atlantic
except the Canarirs II has onlyu few hundred
Spanish eolonists. but Is capable OF large devel-
opment All tho cultivated tropical plants
flourish In the rich lowlands. and those ~ the
temperate zone do finely on the middle slopes
OF the mountains Tho plantations OF cacao.
sugar and tobacco were mostly developed by
Cuban eNiles, few OF whom are now In the
island. rs thoy preferred to return TO their ma
two land when permitted 10 do ~.
To-day the Spaniards there arc in a state OF
revolt against the home Government, A de-
spa,ch from Madrid about four weeks ago an
nounced that a battalion Of soldiers had been
embarked from Cadiz for tho island upon the
announcement of Its Governor that troops were
urgently needed. The koforidl Zenschnt
gives the history OF tho trouble.
II saws that many Of the colonists had been
maltreatina their negro workmen, brought
from the neighboring coast OF British
Guinea, and the blacks appealed to Senior
Duenas, Governor Of the island. who. after in
vestigatlon, decided that the accused persons
were in the wrong and fined them S2S each.
Encouraged by the success OF their first appeal
tho natives complained to the Governor a SEQ
ond time, though they now had no serious grew
ancee. The Governor, however,, inclined to IA
vor them. advised them not to return to their
masters, He himself gave them work on tho
gunboats and pontoons at wages higher than
they had been receiving.
Then the other black workmen, encouraged
by the success OF their comrades, aba the
plantations and factories and asked the Gov
ernor to give them work. They would not is
ten to his advice TO return to their employers.
and SO the Governor prohted by the presence
OF an English steamship to send all the malcon-
tents bacl; 10 the Guinea coast.
The plantation owners and merchants who
wero thus deprived OF their laborers and other
employees addressed a protect TO the Governor
in most energetic language. They told him he
had used the uame and power OF Spain to In
Hict great injury upon them. He had acted
most u~njustly by his Interference with the I'm
ported laborers. upon whom they were wholly
dependent for field hands. They declared that
they had enough Of Spanish domination
Information also came TO the Governor that
the planters had held a meeting and had voted
10 appeal 20 one ~ the Powers. either England
or Germany, TO place the island and their inter-
ests under its protection. The meeting had
appointed n committee TO formulate and for
word this appeal.
Gov. Duonas at once arrested several Of the
men who were said TO be leaders in this move
mcnt and imprisoned them on a gunboat, A
few days later. however. he thought II discreet
10 release them. as the feeling against him and
the Spanish regime was very hiGh and he feared
fresh troubles. which, as he was very weak in a
military sense, he might be unable to over
come.
This ia the reason that troops have again been
sent 70 a Spanish colony. II IL we'll known that
GERMANY would be very happy TO take Fer
nando Pc under her wing. The German colon
ists ut the Cameroons, on the mainland. are
unanimously Of the opinion that II would be 70
their advantage TO annex the beautiful island
10 their colony.