Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-06-05
The LATEST REPUBLIC
Trials and Tribulations Of the
Island Of Cuba.
STORY OF ITS INVASION Bv SPAIN

1
From Its Discovers By Columbus Up
to the Present Time--What Ameri-
cans Have Done For the Good Of
| the Island.
The island of Cuba, which has just
| started out under Uncle SANS aus
pieces as the youngest American repub-
lie, is associated with the very begin
ming of American history, says the
Philadelphia Times Cuba was the
second island reached by Columbus on
his first transatlantic voyage in 1892,
| and it was named Fernandna in hon
| or of its discoveries royal patron. Not
until after the death of Colums us, who
died with the belief that it was part
of a great continent, was there an in
vasion of the island from the neighbor-
Ing Spanish colony of Hispanola, where
it was believed that there We're rich
mines in Cuba. The natives offered
little resistance to the armed force sent
to subdue them, and Don Diego Velas-
quez was appointed governor in 1911
During his rule Velasquez founded
many towns. introduced the systematic
cultivation of sugar cane and firmly
established the slavery of the aborigi-
mes. a system that was not abolished
until 1888, when the efforts of Padre
sal release of the natives
From 1911 to 1907 the island was in
termittently racked by violent dissen-
sions among the Spanish officials and
oyerrun by pirates of all nations. The
most memorable event of this period
was the departure from Havana of
fernando de Soto with a fleet brought
from Spain to accomplish the conquest
of Florida.
From 1907 to 1852 the island lay in
state of lethargy, but on June 6, 1852,
an event occurred which awoke Spain
to some realization of the worth of
Cuba. A large English squadron, with
10000 men, under the Duke of Abe
marie, suddenly appeared off Havana
and laid siege to the town, which was
taken after stout resistance by the out
numbered and surprised garrison From
this time until July. 1853, the English
held the north of Cuba, imported negro
labor, shipped in much European mer-
chandise and gave the first impetus
which pushed Cuba from her old leth-
argy toward the development of her
latent wealth. In 1853, by the treaty
of Paris, which ended the seven years
war, Spain received back the English
seizures in Cuba. BY 1901 there was
established a steady increase Of popu-
lation.
About this time there began a series
of instructions on the part Of the ma
tive Inhabitants, which showed their
desire for greater privileges and free
dom. In 1928 there was society call
ed Solos, headed by one Lemus. 1t
made plans for an uprising which was
never accomplished. In 1929 revolu-
tionary conspiracy Of the BLACK Ea-
gles,' involving many Mexicans, was
discovered and crushed In 1914 the
instruction of the blacks, who had the
intention Of killing all whites on the
island, was remarkable for its com
pleteness of plan. The rising in 1851 of
Narciso Lopez, with 300 men, was a
daring but short lived stroke for free
dom, and it was not until 1868, when
the ten years war for independence,
instigated by the outbreak of the revo-
luton in Spain, began, that the cortes
felt the full force Of an expensive,
draining struggle with stubborn peo-
pie fighting on from year to year. This
revolt closed in 1873, when promises,
tot 10,
cortes, which were never kept, were
made by Spain.
In 1895 the Cubans, tired Of the bro
ken promises of their governors and
their ministers in Spain, revolted again,
as President Palma, the then insurgent
representative, wrote to Washington,
''for the same reasons as those which
had forced them into their former
struggle" The history of that war
is fresh in the memory. The slow
struggle, carried along on the guerrilla
lines of past years.. stretched on to the
blowing up of the Maine III Havana
harbor in 1898, the Spanish-America
war, the final treaty of peace and the
military governorship conducted by the
United States just ended.
Since the evacuation of Cuba by
| Spain the administration of the is
land by American army officers has
| attained in comparatively short time
unusual results. The entire municipal
| government of the cities and towns
held by the Americans for three years
has been remodeled. Efficient police
and harbor forces have been trained
and established. Sanitation, which
was formerly in most primitive
state, has been modernized, and eco
nomic conditions, which We're desper
ate at the end Of the war, have been
relieved. Crime has been checked, the
death rate has been reduced, employ
ment on public works has aided the
poor, and by the mastering out of the
| Cuban army agriculture has received