Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-13
Trouble in Cuban Paradise
Island Has Been Scene of Dissens;on, Strife Disorder
and Violence Since Columbus
Discovered 1t in 1892.

Trouble IN Paradise" is phrase
which may be applied with singular
aptneSs to the beautiful Island of Cuba
From the day when Columbus and his
companions first set eyes upon its
loneliness, October %, 1892, up to the
present moment, it has been scene OF
dissension and strife, disorder and
violence. It's mountains and wales, its
rich forests and fertile fields, its towns
and cities have been a scenic back
ground for one long tragi-comedy
whose final denouement no individual
yet may foretell.
In brief outline, the record runs a.
follows:
15Os-sebastian de ocampo circum-
navigated the island. The discoverer
had supposed it to be part OF the main
land of Asia.
1511-Diego velazquez began the con-
quest Of the Indian abor1gines.
1515-Santiago de Cuba and the
original Havana founded.
1517-1520-The island drained o.
horses money and men in aid OF Cortes
expedition to Mexico and De Sotos ex-
petition to Florida. Thousands OF
Indians died In slavery.
Slavery introduced.
1523-Negro slaves from Africa in
troduced.
154tRemnant of the Indian people
proclaimed emancipated.
A modern historian says: "The ad-
ministration in the sixteenth century
was loose and violent The local au-
thorities were divided among themselves
by bitter feuds; brigandage, muttntes
and internal struggles disturbed the
peace"
Buccaneers were the plague Of the
age. The new" Havana was sacked
and burned by pirates in 1923 and
again in 1856. Sea rovers from England,
France and Holland, the maritime
gangsters Of the period, continued to
ravage the coasts for $50 years. Cuban
towns were walled and fortified like
medieval settlements, but the defenses
only too often were taken without much
difficulty.
1628.Dutch fleet attacked Havana.
1669-The pirate Morgan took Ha-
vana.
1762-Lord Albemarle. with English
and American Colonial troops, captured
Havana.
Restored TO Spain.
1763-The island was restored to
Spain under the treaty OF Paris.
179O-1796-The Cuban people pros
pered under the benign leadership OF
Gov. Luis de las Casas. But prosper
fly brought long years Of suffering to
the ever faithful island and the moth
er country as well" THE result" says
Marion Wilcox, was inevitable. When
the long-sought treasures Of Cuba were
at last brought forth. not from the gold
sought to make the treasure all her
own. as she had monoplized the pre-
cious metals three centuries before.
With a few exceptions, the high Span
ish officials sent to Cuba we're simply
belated conquistadores, lacking the per
sonal valor, but possessing the acquisl-
tive talent of the adventures who first
exploited Mexico and Peru" Another
writer declares: THE sharp division
between creoles and peninsulars, be-
tween those born In Cuba and those
born in Spain, the question Of annexa-
ton to the United States or possibly
to some other power, the plotting for
independence all go back to the early
years Of he eighteenth century"
180a-Cuba declared war on Napo-
leon.
1s20-i83O-Conspiracies were rife.
1.-THE decree of 1925 placed the lives
and fortunes of all Cubans at the dis
posal of the captains general. Plots
Instructions, filibustering expeditions
from the United States, called forth BY
oppressive measures. and in turn fur
nishing a poor Justification OF repres-
sive measures, are the main incidents
of the story"
1829-Important but vain rising
aoninSt misrllle
184+Negro instruction. "A bloody
persecution of the slaves" followed
Observation-Disclosures expeditions
of Narcisso Lopez condemned by
President Taylor. The unfortunate
leader was captured, tried and garroted
at Havana, September /, 1851. Many
Americans shot after surrendering.
1855-Another revolt. The Encyclo-
pedia Britannica says: Domestic
discomfort had become acute by 1880
and from then on to 1868 there was
conflict between liberal and reaction
airy sentiment, centering about the as
serted connivance Of the captains gen.
eral in the Illegal slave trade
the notorious and prodigal wasteful-
ness of the government and the selfish
exploitation of the colony by Spaniards
and the Spanish government" Three
thousand persons tortured, imprisoned
exlled or executed, 1848-1855.
War Costs $500 900, 900.
1s68-187s-Ten Years War. Spain
sent 257 1000 men against the insurgents
and lost 100000 of them. according te
Official reports. The cost Of the war
excluding the value Of property de.
stroyed, was 0,0O0,000"
1871-Rein of terror. Massacres
January to November.
1873-Virginius, American steamer
captured by Spanish gunboat Tornado
Six British and thirty American mem.
bers of expedition shot without civi
trial.
1878-Treay of Zanjon restored the
old oppressive conditions" Cuba "a
desert" Cost of decade Of strife a..
sessed against the population, rich anc
poor.
187s-New insurrection. Rebels De.
faatad Of plareta