Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
SAC0, CUBAN PROPHET
Wonderful Foresight Shown Fifty
Years Ago.
PREDICTED REVOLT OF THE PEOPLE
ForetoId Result of American War
With Spain
VIEWS ON ANNEX ALTON
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HAVANA, January .. 1901
These are days of visions, prophecies and
memories. They all relate to the future re-
public of CUBA. The prophecy or vision of
Saco is likely to be recalled many times in
the debates of the convention. He made
what might be called in prosaic language
a twentieth century forecast. Reading in
the present day what Saco said fifty years
back is not without profit
Antonio Saco was one of the great think
ers of Cuba. He was born in Santiago and
his memory is still revered there, though
little knowledge is shown of his life and
work. His works were published in Mad
rid, Paris and New York as we'll as in
Havana Part of his life was spent in
exile. Much that is valuable in his writings
In the present day is contained in lost
pamphlets or books out of print and very
rare. one precious volume collection of
his writings is in existence in Santiago 1t
was placed temporarily in the possession of
Maj Jas. f.. Runcie, who was permitted to
have transcript made of some Of the
more notable utteranceS of the Cuban sage
and statesman. l borrowed this transcript
and after reading it could understand why
the immortal Saco Is going to be quoted
freely In the Cuban constitution conven-
ton.
The Cuban transcriber has made this
note describing his own sentiments: "Saco
sublime. indubitably, when you wrote and
transmltted TO eternity such prophetic ut
terances your imagination kindled by
the flame of the Supreme Creator" One
sentiment to which he gave expression was
heard many times in after years, but rare
ly with the same drectness with which he
stated it, Either Spain must concede to
Cuba political rights or Cuba is lost to
SPAIN. That is all ancient history now.
Three Revolutions Predicted.
One Illustration of Saco's clearness of
vision was seen in 1852, when, writing to a
friend, he declared that the tyranny Of
Spain would cause the Cubans to take up
arms, but that they would not succeed in
their first revolt, because Havana and the
western part of the island would remain in
different and would prosper because of the
insurrection in the oriente or eastern part
Sacos prophecy was in the process of lit
eral fuli.lment twenty years later, when
the ten years war was devastating the
provinces of Santiago and Puerto Principe
and when the CubanS were unable to secure
recognition abroad or resources There was
second revolt, known as the little war,
which also failed and then the last insur-
rection, which, through the Intervention of
the United States, ended the power of
Spain. Saco had prophesied that there
would be three revolutions before the Gu
bans triumphed Saco himself was opposed
to the revolutionary movements. Half a
century ago, when his fame was at it's
height, he was conducting campaign
against slavery, against revolution, against
Spanish disagreement and against annex
alton to the United States.
1t is the Views of Saco regarding the
future relation of Cuba toward the United
States that make his history and his
prophecies of interest at the present time.
He wrote during the period when the move
ma in 't,ft tad tntf -,,I b.
nexation Of Cuba as a slave state was
becoming an outSpoken policy rather than
tendency on the part of one section Of
the American people. 1t was the period of
filibustering expeditions. His views to
be read in the Light of those circumstances.
Texas he held up warning, and the
Mexican war he denounced as infamous,
while he warned Span;ards and CuDans
against the criminal ambition of an I'M
bridled democracy" He also combated the
Monroe doctrine and asserted the right Of
European Intervention. SacoS hope OF
avoiding the forcible annexation of Cuba
a slave state lay in the supposed In
terests Of England and France in prevent
ing it.
Spain and the United States.
The possible outcome of between
Spain and the United States as Saco saw
it fifty years since, today reads as if writ
ten four or five years ago. Spain" he
said, seated between the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean, mistress of the Atlantic in
the Canary Islands and of the Mediterranean
in the Balearics, with advantage position in
the Strait Of Gibraltar, and IN Asia occupy
ing the Philippine Islands, could launch a
vast number of privateers and cause enor-
nous damage 10 the commerce of me
United States. But if IN these seas by her
own power she could harass the United
States seriously, the states could seize on
the western coast of Africa the islands OF
Anobon and Fernando Pc, or at least tie
latter, which, because of extending to he
mouth of the Niger. in time might be Of
great Importance"
This did not come to pass because al the
end of the nineteenth century Spain rs a
naval and military power relatively was
weaker than at the middle of the century.
while the United States infinitely
stronger. Yet at the time when Spain was
hesitatng about signing the protocol the
American fleet under Admiral Watson was
on waiting orders prepared to SAL for tie
Canaries and the Mediterranean strongholds.
But here is where Saco's vision is shown
justified in the light of history now:
justified in History.
1.-The United States could carry hostilities
into the whole or part of Porto Rico, and
probably would occupy it: perhaps also she
would launch serious expeditions against
the Philippines from California. and in sc
far as relates to Cuba, which is the cardinal
point Of the question, and the conquest OF
which would be the origin and the end OF
the war, it Is necessary to recognize that
all the advantages are in favor of the
United States. Situated as it is in close
proximity to Cuba, with fleet far stronger
than that Of Spain, and with great re-
sources ready at hand to augment 1t, the
warships of Spain in presence Of forces i'm
mensely superior would be obliged to take
refuge in the ports of the island or to be
vanquished in a most unequal contest, in
spite of the valor of her sailors.
I'm both cases our enemy, being master
of those waters, could blockade and invade
Cuba, and let 1t not be said that this In
yasion would be on small scale merely
because the American army of today hardly
counts IL, 600 men, because the native and
European Adventures, who so abound IN
that country. and the people of the south
and west who are interested so deeply in
the conquest Of our Antilles, would swell
vastly the ranks of the invaders.
Dir Ia that the QnYernInenf of