The Washington herald., 1909-01-14


ninistrstion Of governmental affairs in
Cuba, and for the second time this tod
ding republic VIII Try to 20 its way
alone January 3 IS the DAY which
Cubaus hold sacred TO the memory OF
Jose MART, the apostle OF Cuban free
dom. Its selection for the day OF the in
auguration Of the new government Is
regarded by hopeful C1bans as q good
omen, as an augury Of continued and
prosperous independence
But while the United States is with
drawing, 1t Is with the clear understand
ing that another intervention viii follow
another failure 70 preserve the peace OF
The island. The Cuban government must
make itself effective, ca the United States
viii again assume the burden. That IN
derstanding means simply that Cuba has
not yet attained the ful measure OF
freedom. But IT in no way detracts from
the lusteT Of the glory OF that long and
bloody struggle made by the patriots for
Cuba Libre.
The United States has been associated
with the cause OF the Cuban patriots
was passing under the rod OF Napoleon,
q committee Of the leading citizens Of
Cuba came TO Washington proposing an
nexatiOn. President Jefferson had al
ready stretched the Constitution until 1t
cracked by the purchase OF louisiana,
and he declined the proposition From
that day until this there has rarely been
g session OF Congress al Washington
that has not heard some discussion Of the
proposition 10 annex Cuba A greater
number OF people believe in 1t now than
ever before, not because they are sd
voca1es Of annexation. but because they
believe annexation Is the only possible
means OF settling a vexing problem.
American fIibusters were IN partner
ship with Cuban patriots from the early
days Of the Union until Spain was driven
from the western hemisphere For many
decades the struggles IN Cuba we're
sporadic. and their only effect was %
cause the purblind Spanish government
10 adopt harshe- and more restrictive
measures 10 crush The spirit Of liberty
The revolutionary spirit feeds on Oppres-
sion. and the CUbans knew what the
Spaniards did not. that the time for the
great and final struggle could not be
long delayed
The ten years war. which began in
1883 and ended in 1873. vas waged by
people OF the eastern end Of the island.
and did not affect the richer provinces Of
the west Il succeeded. largely on ac-
count Of the revolutionary politics at
Madrid. in forcing the government 10
grant many concessions For the first
lime the Cubans were given representa-
ton in the Spanish COTtes. and CUbans
were permitted 10 hold Office in the local
government The liberal concessions
looked well On paper. but the Cubaus
soon found that they were on paper only
The leaders Of the ten years war were
in exile. some IN Spain. some in SantO
Domingo. some in Costa Rica. and some
in the United States. They did not
cease TO dream Of Cuba Libre," and
they resolved that the next revolution
should be successful The conservatives
were contenting themselves with agiJat-
ing the demand FOR autonomy. But out
among the plain people. in secret meet
ings and by all sorts OF methods. the
apostle OF freedom. Jose MART, was
preaching the doctrines Of liberty.
Finally the time came 70 strike. Jose
Marti offered the command Of the revoiu-
tionary army 70 Maxine Gomez who was
in Santo Domingo, and a high place was
given to Antonio BIaceO. who was in Cen
tral America. In the United States the
Cuban Junta was hard at work raising
funds and fitting out flIbustering expe-
ditions. Thomas Estrada Palma vas in
New York. and GonzaIo de Quesada was
in Washington. and each was doing most
effective work. Palma lived 10 be the
first president Of the recognized republic,
was himself OveTthrown by a revolution,
and died IN poverty and obscurity. Que
sada is still the Cuban Minister at Wash
ington.
Within a few weeks after the war was
started Marti gave up his life for the
cause Gomez and Maceo worked to-
gether. They evolved and carried into /
effect a general plan of military operations I
which would have reflected credit upon I
any commander under like circumstances. /
They carried the war from the eastern 1
provinces straight through the island 4
10 the westernmost tip Of land. Maceo.k
western invasion" was devastating. but 4
Il was war. That gallant mulatto also 1
died in the cause. but he is not forgotten /
in Cuba, where the anniversary Of his 4
death is q national holiday. nor in /
Spain. where officers proudly wear the 1
medals that prove they faced Maoeo on +
the battlefield
Spain did not recognize the beIligerent 4
rights Of the Cuban patriots. Men sus-
peCtsd Of conspiracy with the insurrec-
tionists were sent 10 the penal colonies
of Africa without the sembIance OF a 1
trial Prisoners taken in the fed y-ere
shot without mercy The bulIet-scarred
walls of Laurel Ditch in the great for
tress Of Cabanas bear mute testimony
to the souls Of Cuban patriots who went
to their ignominious death shouting "Yi-
va Cuba LibreT'
Their the captain general. who had
earned his name OF Butcher Weyler
twenty years earlier in the ten years
war. established the famous reconcen-
tradO camps The nOn-cOmbstants. most
y women and children, and a few old
men. we're gathered into prison camps. !
This is a recognized and legitimate prin-
,iple OF war. but it is also required thai
he prisoners be fed Neyler never is
,ued ratiOns. The prisoners found food
within the enclosure II they could.
starved If they could not. or were shot
l0wn by the Spanish sOldiery II they
.tf-mpted 70 go outside the lines
When the situation reached this state
spain had 100. 90 regulars in Cuba The
-ev0lutionists had perhaps 15.G00- But the
Jubans were fighting with the torch and
nachete. they had the advantage Of the
raft Of the forest and the fact that they
Eere fighting for their homes. It be-
,ame evident that Weyler could not pac-
y the island and he was replaced by
8lanco- That officer pretended TO ale
rate the sUfferings OF the reconcentra-
ioes and he did stop the military mur-
iers at the Laurel Ditch.
All this time the DeonIe Of the United