THE SPANIARDS IN CUBA. BY ANTONIO GONZALO PEREZ, LL.D., HAVANA UNIVERSITY. MUCH has been said and written regarding the present war in Cuba, but little of the causes that led up to it. Consequently a large proportion of the public, not being fully conversant with the facts, are inclined to think that the lamentable destruction of life and property which has laid waste the "Pearl of the Antilles" is due more to the aggressive spirit of the Cubans than to cruel hardships long endured by them. and real grievances against Spain. Nothing, however, can be further from the truth than such an opinion. Far from being naturally aggressive or warlike, the exceeding mildness of disposition of the Cubans has been recognized by their enemies themselves. The Spaniards have more than once openly declared in Parliament that no people in the world could be governed with such facility. And so general was this conviction, not only among Spanish politicians, but also their proudest officers, that the Captain-General, José de la Concha, Marquis of Penâ Plata, when reporting to the Central Government on Cuban affairs, wrote that so easy was the task of governing Cubans that he thought it might be accomplished by the aid of a few packs of cards and some fighting-cocks. This report, putting aside its evident tone of exaggeration and the contempt of Cubans implied therein, may be accepted as a proof of the docile character of the inhabitants of the island. How great must not therefore have been the provocations which caused so comparatively pacific a race to enter upon a struggle so prolonged and seemingly so desperate! There is nothing astonishing in the mild and perhaps indolent character of the Cubans. Born in a tropical region, richly dowered by Nature with her choicest and most luxuriant gifts, they could scarcely be otherwise. The geographical situation of a country cannot but influence to a large extent the character of its inhabitants. This may explain the natural tendency of the Cubans toward the methods of evolution rather than revolution. Moreover, the Cuban population has always been exempted from military service, not certainly as an act of generosity on the part of the mother country, but as an act of distrust. The peaceful disposition of the natives of Cuba, however, was never accounted anything excellent by the Spanish Government. On the contrary, their mild qualities have proved, if not the actual cause, yet a very strong incentive to the Spanish to carry on their system of tyranny and destruction. The total extermination (in less than a century) of the once numerous, harmless, and hospitable Indian race that inhabited the island when discovered, and the present policy of extermination of the defenceless peasants (Reconcentrados) are illustrations of the so-called chivalry of Spain. Her barbarous methods of government have no parallel in history. The cruel and brutal treatment accorded to Cubans by Spain cannot certainly be matched, even in the Turkish Empire in its treatment of Armenians. No means more perfidious and savage could have been devised by any nation. to compel a people to take arms in defence of their lives and liberties. The causes of the present revolution, as of the last, known as "The Ten Years' War," are numerous and of different kinds. ferent kinds. To attempt to describe them minutely (in the course of one article) would be impossible, even to an abler pen than mine. Therefore I must content myself with enumerating only the most remarkable. Of the political grievances of the Cubans it may be said that they are as old as the very sovereignty of Spain over Cuba, dating back to her first occupation of the island, although they were not generally felt or expressed until the present century, and more especially since the administration of CaptainGeneral D. Miguel Facon. This general was a butcher of the type of Weyler, and to him must be attributed the merit of having stirred, for the first time, the unswerving spirit of rebellion and independence that now animates every Cuban heart. Spain's treatment of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of Cuba, who died in a Spanish prison loaded with chains for the crime of having made a gift to that country of a new world, was of bad omen to the beautiful island. From that time until to-day hundreds of innocent Cubans have shared his fate, have perished in Spanish dungeons or been assassinated at home. Before the independence of South America was established, Spain attached no great importance to the island of Cuba, at least so far as its administration was concerned. Preoccupied as she then was with the extraction of the gold of the Incas, she neglected everything in her inextinguishable thirst for the precious yellow metal. This gold, acquired by the most reprehensible means, represented her national life and her religion. Agriculture and the national industries were abandoned. The people were always looking toward the sea for the galleons laden with American gold with which to buy the very necessaries of existence. Meanwhile, Cuba was considered by the mother country merely as a Presidiothat is to say, as a place for the reception of criminals. No trade was allowed between Cuba and other countries, and the importation of anything foreign in the island was absolutely forbidden. But a great event was soon to take place, the influence of which upon the Cubans has been very marked in every way. I refer to the occupation of Havana by the English on account of her war with Spain in the year 1762. England, following her usual wise commercial policy again in this instance, opened up the port of Havana. to the world-wide trade from which it had been hitherto excluded. This new departure gave a tremendous impetus to the wonderful resources of the island. The commercial relations resulting therefrom brought new life to Cuba in every way-material, intellectual, and moral. When the city of Havana was given back to Spain in exchange for Florida, in 1763, the old and barbarous methods were again put into practice. Foreign trade was once more prohibited from all ports of the island, and still more stringent measures were adopted by the Captains-General in order to isolate the Cubans and prevent them from joining the concert of civilized nations. The inhabitants were kept in dark ignorance as a means of avoiding all disaffection toward the mother country, always a foe to every kind of progress. This being the case, it follows that the history of Spain is but a repetition of mistakes and disasters. It was through tyranny and corruption that she lost those immense tracts of country which form to-day the different Republics of Central and South America. Their emancipation was a terrible blow to Spanish power, and was destined to exercise a great and, for a time, somewhat fatal influence on the future of Cuba. These recurrent misfortunes, entirely due to her maladministration, caused Spain to behave in a still more distrustful and harsh manner toward the last of her possessions in America. So that the Pearl of the Antilles, the most precious of them all, became the propitiatory victim of her stubborn ignorance, fanaticism, and oppression. The slightest sign of progress in the island in any form whatsoever was regarded by Spain with the utmost dread. She accordingly did her best to draw closer the net of her atrocious system of injustice, and stifle all moral, political, and social aspirations in their inception. Her hereditary hatred to modern ideas was deeply imbued in every Spaniard, owing to the instinctive knowledge that such ideas, like electric currents constantly being transmitted to every corner of the globe, would convey to the oppressed the spark of rebellion. With the purpose of preventing the spirit of independence and emancipation from infecting the minds of her en slaved subjects, Spain built around Cuba a political and financial wall a thousand times higher and thicker than the old and famous wall of China. The ports of the island were strictly closed against all trade with the outer world, always of course excepting Spain. Cubans could receive thence only the baleful breath of the Inquisition and hear but the pitiful cry of the thousands of The Captain-General was considered as commander of a fortress in time of war. King Ferdinand the Seventh enacted ordinances granting the CaptainsGeneral of Cuba powers and faculties comparable only to those enjoyed by the most despotic Oriental satraps; and these powers, strange as it may seem, are still in vigor at the time of writing. Armed with these powers, the CaptainGeneral can suspend all laws enacted by the Central Government and promulgated in the island, the constitution of the nation included. He can also suspend the working of any new law that he may consider dangerous to the cause of Spain; and he can declare the colony in a state of war-in other words, under martial law. His own personal judgment is alone sufficient to enable him to exercise these prerogatives. Consequently, the lives of Cubans, their honor and property, are at the mercy of the Governor, who is invariably a rude and ignorant soldier. The Governor in theory is responsible for his acts to the Central Government, but in reality is held quite irresponsible. No Captain-General has ever been submitted to trial, probably because, in the opinion of the Metropolitan Government, they have all proved honest, humane, and wise rulers. No freedom of conscience either was or is allowed in Cuba, the Governors being the Vice-Royal Patrons of the Church; and the priests, officials of the Administration. Every publication must be submitted to censorship before being placed in circulation, any infraction of this ordinance being severely punished. The mission of the press is therefore reduced to chanting the ancient glories of Sagunto and Numancia, which the Spaniards are supposed to have conquered, notwithstanding the fact that these cities were destroyed by the Romans and Carthaginians long before the Christian era, when the very name of Spain was non-existent; or more recently to printing false reports of her triumphs over the insurgents. Until the last war (1868), the schoolbooks were carefully examined in order that all allusion to modern ideas might be eliminated, even the very words "liberty" and "independence" being struck out. So late as the last Conservative Ministry, a decree was promulgated commanding the Rector of Havana University and the Directors of the Superior Colleges of the island to send to Madrid every year a list of all text-books adopted in such public institutions, in order to make sure that nothing was contained in them telling against the official religion or Spanish sovereignty. Trials for what would be considered here purely fanciful offences against the Church, the Government, and what is called the State classes-viz., the Clergy, the Military and Civil officials, take place very frequently in the courts. of the island, and many writers have been thrown into jail for such offences. The author of this article was once threatened with arrest by a Spanish judge in Havana city for having published a treatise on Natural Rights, which treatise, according to the fanatical opinion of the said judge, contained doctrines dangerous and opposed to the dogmas of the Church. Liberty of association and assemblage is unknown in Cuba, and freedom of speech is absolutely prohibited. Not even a family party or ball can be held without the permission of the Chief of Police, and the interested persons must apply for a license within the previous forty-eight hours. The lack of such license is punished with fine and imprisonment, and the entertainment suspended. To carry any kind of weapon, even the native arm known as the machete," used in farm work, is forbidden. Every one is obliged to possess and carry on his person a document, called a " cedula personal," in which is enumerated every physical detail of the owner; as, for instance, the complexion, height, age, shape of the nose, if a mustache or beard be worn, whether married or single, and any other signs or peculiarities that might be of value in case of the need of identification. This document must be exhibited whenever the owner intends to appear in a public office for business purposes, or requires any official paper, such as a power of attorney, a warrant, to establish a suit, etc.; also whenever an official or a policeman requests its production. It is also necessary to carry this document when travelling from one place to another. It is good only for one year, and costs from 25 to 100 dollars, according to the position of the owner, his profession or business. Any person under suspicion may be arrested without a warrant, held in prison without trial, and even without stating to him the grounds for his arrest. This kind of arrest is called "Detention Gubernativa" (arrest by order of the Government). Personal safety and liberty are therefore things to be enjoyed only in dreams. The Cubans are regarded and treated by the Spaniards as an inferior race. As a result, the most annoying and vexatious methods are resorted to by the latter in their dealings with them. During the term of office of the Captain-General D. Miguel Facon, many Cubans were compelled to work on public buildings and promenades, and to assist in the construction of fortresses, prisons, and palaces, without payment and without any discrimination between rich and poor; the purpose being to remind them of their enslaved condition and the power and superiority of the Spaniards. Those who were so unfortunate as to arouse any ill-feeling on the part of this despot, consciously or unconsciously, by commission or omission, were severely punished, and more than one was publicly whipped in Havana city by his command. At that time-as to-day, although in a more disguised form the inhabitants of the island, the natives, were obliged to perform acts of submission and servility if they would enjoy the favor of the authorities. Yet, as the natural course of progress cannot be stayed by the vexatious restrictions of tyrants, Cuba, in spite of the barbarous treatment dealt out to her by Spain, was growing daily richer and more civilized. Modern ideas were wafted over the island from one end to the other. These ideas, rapidly assimilated by the quick tropical minds of the people, created new desires and aspirations. The evidences of a superior culture soon became apparent. As the seed of certain plants carried by birds from far countries and dropped upon a congenial soil will originate a new and luxuriant vegetation, to the astonishment of the owner thereof, so did the growing custom of wealthy Cubans, who early in this century began to visit foreign lands as pleasure-seekers, returning with a store of new impressions, import into Cuba the seeds of that liberty-loving spirit which, nurtured by the blood of martyrs, was to manifest itself in so gallant a fashion in after years. These modern ideas, fervently guarded in the sanctuary of every Cuban family as their most precious acquisition, were slowly and skilfully communicated to the inhabitants of every corner of the island. Such men as the Count of Poyos Dulces, Varela, Saco, Luz y Caballero, Heredia, etc., devoted their lives to the advancement and regeneration of the colony. To them is due in great measure the rapid progress which could now be noted in every direction, so far outstripping the mother country indeed that in Cuba was built the first railroad in the Spanish dominions. Their valuable efforts on behalf of civilization, however, far from being acceptable to the Spanish Government, made them conspicuous targets for the shafts of tyranny and persecution. They were compelled to live in exile, some in England and France, others in the United States. The greater degree of liberty and personal dignity which they respired in the very air of those countries could but tend to strengthen their ideas and shape their aspirations relative to the future of Cuba. The struggling spirit of independence be came ever more clearly defined and more generally felt. Of the Cubans persecuted by Spain on account of their opinions at this period (1840-1850) the most illustrious were Saco, Heredia, and Luz y Caballero. This last was, perhaps, the most popular in the island, owing to his denunciation of the Government and to his teachings of political emancipation. He was the idol of the people. The appellation of "El Maestro" bestowed upon him by his fellow-citizens will show the general love and reverence felt for him, which feeling has descended from generation to generation until today. The hatred of the Spanish to Luz y Caballero knew no bounds, and even to-day the mere mention of his name will arouse in them some expression of this dislike. Saco was a writer, and his "Historia de la Esclavitud en Cuba" is an excellent work. When in the British Isles, he was the guest of his illustrious contemporary, Sir Walter Scott. Heredia was a great poet, and his magnificent "Oda al Niagara" will suffice to place his name among the most remarkable poets of this century. The infamous policy of General Facon, already referred to, in creating at line of division between Cuban and Spaniard, resulted in the line becoming an abyss as the years rolled by. Encouraged by the Government, the latter, closely united, succeeded in forming a dominant class, who, actuated solely by the desire for gain, devised the most diabolical schemes in order to appropriate to themselves the immense wealth in the legitimate possession of the Cubans. These schemes were coldly and deliberately put into execution from time to time. In the year 1844, in connivance with the Government, they suppressed a supposititious conspiracy called the "Slaves' Conspiracy, which as a matter of fact was never in existence, except on paper, and is only another instance of Spanish treachery. It was simply a pretext to terrorize the unfortunate natives. For the averred purpose of discovering and punishing the said conspirators, according to some writers about 50,000 persons were destroyed, mainly negroes and mulattos, both slaves and Freemen, after the most horrible tortures had been inflicted upon them. Thousands died on a ladder, this kind of execution. being called "la muerte á la escalera." It consisted of stretching the defenceless accused entirely naked upon a ladder, face downward; then, after being secured with cords, he was whipped on the back with a lash called 66 cuaeta,' made of three or more strips of dry leather tightly interwoven. This torture was inflicted in order to wrest a confession of guilt from the wretched prisoners, or the denunciation of imaginary suspected accomplices, in the majority of cases until merciful death put an end to their sufferings. Neither men nor women, old nor young, were spared by these barbarians." Torture, in an infinite variety of forms, although not authorized by law to-day, is the foundation of the criminal proceedings in Spanish courts of justice, so called, and is a true outcome of the spirit of the Inquisition, so deeply rooted on Spanish soil. No judge, nor official of any kind or degree, can admit the possibility of discovering a crime without the aid of torture. That the suspected man is commonly quite innocent makes no difference. Too many duly authenticated instances of these indefensible methods occurred during the war in the Philippines and in our own wars, and have been too often published in the daily papers in every quarter of the globe, not to prove the truth of my assertion. The cruelty of the Spaniards is a fact universally acknowledged, not only in their colonial wars, but also in their revolutions at home; for was not England obliged to intervene during the Carlist War in Spain, that the lives of prisoners might be respected? Here is an illustration nearer home of the same tendency. In the first of the two Cuban wars was enacted one of those atrocious deeds, the like of which has never been witnessed elsewhere than in encounters between the most savage African tribes, to wit: After the recapture of Estellacité by the troops of the Queen, the aged mother of the Carlist General Cabrera was taken prisoner, and, by the order of Dr. Isabel, who represented the Liberal party, was tied to the tail of a horse and flogged over the streets until she died. Among the numerous victims sacrificed by the Government in connection with the imaginary conspiracy above mentioned was one of the most brilliant poets that Cuba has produced. I refer to the immortal Placido. The unfortunate man was accused by his enemies of having participated in the aforesaid non-existent revolutionary movement. In vain were his strong and sincere protestations to the contrary, the intervention of his many friends, and the failure of his farcical trial. Nothing could move the Captain-General to show clemency in this case. Placido, |