New-York tribune., 1912-02-18

- cause of Cuban liberty: at any rate
| was Unexpectedly projected into the
situation when it filled with disaster
and Encouragement, and the future OF the ts3.
Pearl Of Antilles seemed darker than any
of the black days that had gone before.
Cuba owes her freedom more TO Jose '~
Marti than TO any other man; for it was
his brain that conceived and planned the
War of independence, and, after he had
given his life for his country it was the
organization he had built up in years OF 49,
labor that furnished the means with which
to carry the conflict.
Driven from his island home at the end
of the Ten Years War, he took refuge in .
New York, and Immediately began to plan
and work out a new movement. His chief a
adviser and one of the few men who pos
sessed his full confidence during the long
wears of his unSelfSh labor was his old
friend Horatio S. Rubens, who subse-
quenty became general counsel for the 49,
revoutionsts. Marti's indomitable spirit
took no notice of things that would have dis
hcartcned any but extraordinary man.
Though he lacked for a time the support
Of even his COuntTymCn, a result OF
their successive reverses, he kept at work 49,
until he had created a far reaching and eX- -
ceedingy effective organization. Cuban s
clubs were secretly established in New
York Chicago, Charleston, New Orleans, =.
Tampa Jacksonville Key West, and every ,s~
other city where there was a Cuban colony. -
The members Of these clubs, which were
composed chiefly of cigarmakcrs, regularly
contributed ten per cent of their wages TO
the revolutionary fund. With the money
thus provided Mart bought arms and am
nunOn which were smuggled into Cuba in small guam
titles and hidden away until he ready to strike, and
had perfected his plans in other ways. Though filled
with the fire and fervor Of the inspired patriot he was
in no way impatient: 50 long he making progress
he was satisfied, and he worked slowly and system
atically
FINALLY all was in readiness, and arrangements
L were made for the launching Of the revolution IN
January, 1895, when three vessels, which mad been
chartered for the expedition loaded with arms, were to
sail from Fcrnandina Florida. One was to 60 to Santo
Domingo and pick up General Maxine Gomez, the
Commander in Chief and his staff; while another went
to Costa Rica for Lieutenant General Antonio Macco,
who was 20 be second in command, and his party he
third ship with NIarti board to proceed to Key
West where it TO be joined by large party OF
Cuban cXcs. The three vessels were TO make landing
simultaneously at the eastern end OF the island where
MART had moved so secretly that he supposed
outside his organization had any nElng Of his plans;
but there was a leak somewhere, through which the
project became known at Washington. When the first
ship put out from Fcrnandina seized by revenue
cutter and the other vessels prevented from sail
ing. Undauntcd by this disaster, Alaru went to Santo
Domingo on a liner and persuaded Gomez TO 90 ahead
with the plan. MaCeO summoned IRON costa Itlca
and the delayed expedition, much smaller IN numbers
than it was intended to be, but with no less courage,
landed from little fishing SlOOp near the CITY OF SaIl-
tagO close to the point at which the first large body OF
American troops were landed three years later TO com
plctc the conquest Of Spain in Cuba.
The rcbcllOus natives anXlOusly awaiting the
call to arms, and the revolutionary forces were quickly
Organized first in Santiago Province, and then IN Cana
grcv and Santa Clara Marti lived long enough to
the movement he had nauguratcd well under way; but
it was the greatest tragedy Of the war that he dd not
s,,r,vo to witness the realization Of his lcS dream.
Knowing nothing of fear and disdainfu Of caution he
constantly exposed himself to danger in spite Of all that
Gomez and his officers could DO to restrain him When
far in advance Of the main body Of troops he was Killed
Inv small force of Spaniarls at Dos Rios, in Santiago
Province, on May 15 1895 As in the case Of Maceo,
who was killed near Havana eighteen months later, his
death was almost accidental, and 1t was sometime be-