The Washington herald., 1908-02-20

Cuba was the first possession Of Spain
in the New World. Spanish aid had
helped to make possible the discovery Of
the two great continents and their ad-
jacent islands. II is interesting TO read
from the pen OF Columbus himself his
Impressions Of the new-found world. He
thought al first it was China. but AT
last awoke to a realization that it was a
new-found land. In a letter. preserved
IN the LenOx Library. In New York. he
says:
AS soon as we had arrived at that
island, which ] have just now said was
called Jusna I proceeded along its coast
toward the west for some distance. r
found IT so large and without perceptible
end that ! believed II not to be an island.
but that continental country OF Cathay;
seeing. however no towns or cities situ-
ated on the seacoast. but only some vii
lagos and rude farms, with whose in
habitants ! was unable to converse be-
cause as soon as they saw lis they took
flight l proceeded further, thinking that
would discover some city or large resi-
dences."
Speaking OF the native indians. Colun,-
bus SAYS: They show greater love for
all others than themselves: they give
valuable things for triles being salts
fed even with a very small return. or
with nothing; however I forbade that
things so small and OF no value should
be given 10 them, such as pieces Of plates
dishes. and glass, likewise KEYS and shoe
straps although. If they were able TO
obtain these. i seemed 10 them like get
ting the most beautiful jewels in the
world. 1t happened. indeed that a Ger
sgf
shoe strap as much work Of gold as would
equal three golden coins; and likewise
other things for articles OF very little
value. especially for new silver coins. and
for some gold coins. and 10 obtain which
they gave whatever the seller desired. as
for instance an ounce and a half or two
ounces Of gold or thirty or forty mounds
Of cotton, with which they were already
acquainted. They also traded cotton and
gold for pieces OF bowls bottles. iugs and
jars. Ike persons without reason. which
! forbade because It was very wrong.
and / gave them many beautiful and
pleasing things that I had brought with
me, no value being taken IN exchange. in |
order that ] might the more easily make
them friendly 10 me. that they might be |
made worshipers of Christ. and that
they might be fun Of love toward our
King, Queen, and prince, and the whole
Spanish nation; also that they might be |
jealous 70 search out and collect and de-
liver 10 us those things of which they
had plenty and which we greatly needed. &" |
From the days of Columbus. Cuba has
been one OF the strategic points of the
Western hemisphere. 1t commands the !
American Mediterranean" almost as we'll |
as Gibraltar commands the European
Mediterranean. 1t controls the entrance |
10 the Gulf Of Mexico and commands the |
entrance to the Panama Canal. What |
wonder then is it that every principal na-
tion has at one time or another tried to |
get possession Of it. England did take |
Havana in 1892 and the Union Jack /
fiOated over MORO Castle for well nigh . /
year. The Dutch and French sought to /
take the island az different times, and II |
was while Spain was fighting Napoleon |
that Cuba declared war against MIN also, |
and by her great work in that war won |
the title of "the ever faithful Cuba. 1t /
IS a curious coincidence that Americans, |
among them Israel Putnam. helped 70 /
raise the British flag over Morro.
The United States had passed but lit /
tie beyond the pinafore age in statecraft /
when she set the world by the ears with
an announcement of her policy toward /
Cuba Briefly stated, il was that she |
would not tolerate Cuba's passing into
the possession Of any other country, and /