He also introduced the culture of indigo, removed as far as his powers permitted the old trammels, which an iniquitous system had placed upon trade, and made noble efforts to bring about the emancipation of the enslaved Indian natives.
His attitude toward the newly established republic of the United States was most generous, and this helped largely to develop the industry of the island.
By his judicious administration, the tranquillity of Cuba remained undisturbed during the time of the rebellion in Hayti, and this in face of the fact that strenuous efforts were made by the French, to form a conspiracy and bring about an uprising among the free people of color in Cuba.
Another thing that will redound forever to the credit of Las Casas and which should make his memory beloved by all Americans—it was through his efforts that the body of Columbus was removed from Hayti where it had been entombed and deposited in its present resting-place in the Cathedral of Havana.
In 1796, Las Casas was succeeded by another just and philanthropic governor, the Count of Santa Clara. The latter greatly improved the fortifications which then guarded the island and constructed a large number of others, among them the Bateria de Santa Clara, just outside Havana, and named in his honor.
It was undoubtedly due in a very great measure to the kindly policies of these two noble and far seeing men that Cuba at that time became confirmed in her allegiance to the mother country; and had they been followed by men of equal calibre of both mind and heart, it is more than probable that the history of Cuba would have been devoid of stirring events. For, as the old saying has it: "Happy nations have no history."
In 1795 a number of French emigrants arrived from San Domingo, and proved a valuable acquisition.
In 1802, a disastrous fire occurred in a suburb of Havana, called Jesu Maria, and over eleven thousand four hundred people were rendered destitute and homeless.
About this time, the star of Napoleon Bonaparte, the greatest of heroes or the greatest of adventurers, according to the point of view, was in the ascendant. Almost without exception there was not a country in Europe that had not felt the weight of his heavy hand, and, to all intents and purposes, he was the master of the continent.
Spain was by no means to escape his greed for conquest and power.