The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-18
cI8A's INDEPENDENCE DAY.
.,ccEsTIoN THAT CALHOUN's
A,o,cTION WILL BE FULFILLED.

,..,+ted to the UniOn-A Review
n. First Movement in That Di-
.,,on-LOpez's Visit to This
l,urtry-The First Cuban Junta in
Vork-The Expedition Which
. oreanfzed-Its Bad Luck-A Sec
"a Expedition Organized at Sa-
nnuh-Arms and Ammunition mt
s,+iIIa River-Gen. Gonzales Set
nd in south Carolina.
Columbia. S. c., May 17.-Quite unin-
s. ..+onally the day chosen by the
#9.osident of the United States as Gu
- Independence Day is an impor-
,+ anniversary in the history of that
,-,a,d's struggle for freedom from
Gin On May 20, 1850, the Cuban flag
aootAd over a Cuban city. For one day
=. mas held there by dauntless Ameri-
q rs against the onslaughts of the
q s,onish regulars. At day dawn that
1orning the blood of Cubans and
81 ,merieans flowed together on Cuban
"A for Cuban Libre." Fifty-two
..rs to the day that liberty will be
q.
Of then be realized because of the
I've question involved, but it was ac-
.omnlished when the Union was united
y Continent, so far as freeing the ISL
Nd from Spain was concerned. And
nose who think they know the people
4 cuba best believe John Q. CalhounS
srediction will yet be fulfilled, and that
~ Cuba's initiative at no very distant
sov Speaking to Gen. Ambrosio Jose
eonzales, who was representing the pa
riots in this country in 1S49, Mr.. Cal
& noun used these words:
"you have my best wishes, but what
.vsr the result, as the pear when ripe
tans bv the law of gravity into the
Ian of the husbandman, so will Cuba
Eventually drop into the lap of the
#Union.
@hition for freedom, looked to the United
Estates Fifty-odd years ago she begged
tor annexation. Her people realize that
hut for the interposition of this coun-
NV the condition to be attained next
B TIiesday may we'll have not been
reached for another half century OF
struggling. They are unquestionably
a grateful: they have suffered much in
81 their struggle for freedom ana know
81 now IN prize it. But if dissatisfaction
arises with the experiment they are
Z about to begin. they will accept state
hood in the Union as a quick and easy
= solution.
s. A review of the events incident of
the first move by patriots of Cuba for
n annexation to the United States is APP
#propriate at this time. In 1916 many
Al If the wealthiest Cubans were con-
#spiring to free the island from Spain
8They were Joined by Narcisso Lopez,
Ia retired Spanish major general, VINO
had held high offices both in Spain ana
#Cuba. His connection with the con-
spiracy becoming known, Lopez fled
H. the United States. About the same
time the secret Cuban junta in Ha-
#vana sent Ambrosio Jose Gonzales,
then Is years of age, to this country
with authority to engage the services
of Gen. Worth, then returning from
the Mexican war, in raising an army
of 5000 soldiers to fight for Cuba Con-
zales was authorized to offer $1,000 600
s to Gen. Worth. He reached New Or
2leans about Aug. s, 1S4S, and as Gen
8Worth had passed, he followed, over
talking the American officer at New
port, R l. The offer from Cuba was
#accepted. Cen Worth took the Gu
ban commissioner to his home in Hud-
#son. N Y. A few days later they pro-
#ceeded to New York and from there
to Washington, where Gen. Lopez and
S other Cubans conferred with them.
q These plans were upset, however, by
Ian order sending Gen. Worth to COM
& mand the Department of Texas, where
= he soon after died.
The scheme to enlist the services of
Gen. Worth failing, the Cuban capital
lists withdrew their guarantee of funds.
& However the patriots believed if they
md a of Americans the
island, the natives would flock to their
standard, and the United States would
not restrain help being sent from these
s shores. Ladies sold their jewels and
raised a fund, with which the steamers
3 Sea Gull and New Orleans were char
& tered in New York. These were to car
Try an expedition which was assembled
on Round Island. Miss, under Col.
b White. But Spanish spies were active
and Round Island was soon blockaded
#by Commander Randolph of the sloop-
e. of-war Albany, and the chartered ships
b were held.
The first Cuban junta in New York
was organized in 1S49. Lopez was
B president The other members We're
Gonzales, Sanchez, Yznaga, Macias and
& Nillaverde. The military commission in
Havana at once passed the death SEN
& tence upon them. Upon the invitation
of Gen. John Henderson of New Or
& leans and Col Theodore O'Hara of
s Kentucky, Gen. Gonzales, now acting
& as chief of staff for Gen. Lopez, visited
a Kentucky and New Orleans, and issued
q commissions to OHara of Kentucky,
s Col Bunch and Lieut.. Col Smith of
4 Mississippi and Col Robert Wheat of
Louisiana to raise skeleton regiments.
N Col Wheat in order to take part in
the expedition, armed and equipped his
men and furnished their transportation
by chartering the brig Susan Loud.
81 The Cuban iunta issued bonds in New
ID orleans and with the money raised pur-
81 chased a little steamer, Creole, ana
chartered a sailing transport. There
We're about 500 men in the expedition.
Ihey rendezvoused on the little islands
Oh Contoy and Mugeres on the Yucatan
81 coast where they drilled. When ready
10 start for Cuba about forty men
would not go further. They were given
VI permission to return in one of the sail
ing vessels. The Creole proceeded to
me Cuban coast, and the deserters were
picked up by a Spanish war vessel and
IIaahen prisoners to. Spain. Minister
ldfNnger had difficulty in saving the
ives of these prisoners and getting
i'em returned to the United States.
On the night of May 10, the Creole
pul INTO Cardenas. The steamer ran
aHIound when near the wharf, and as
S.e result of the delay thus caused, the
II HpdtIlSh garrison was aroused. The
SsV!ect Of the Cubans was to take Car
sssuas' proceed by rail to Matanzas and
~ ~ prise and capture that town, when
r country would rise in their support.
IN Spanlard garrison fired on the