Entered at Stationers Hall
London, England.
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
| CONTENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| PAGE | ||
| [CHAPTER I—] | [1] | |
| Conditions at the Beginning of the Era of Revolution—Cuba'sCommercial Backwardness—Resources Unappreciated—Statisticsof Imports and Exports—The Sugar Trade—Burdensome Taxesand Tariffs—Restrictions on Personal Liberty—Obstacles toTravel—Titles of Nobility—The Intendent and His Powers—Authorityand Functions of the Captain-General—District Governments—MunicipalOrganization—The Courts—Control of theNavy—Censorship of the Press—Adversion to Foreigners, Particularlyto Americans. | ||
| [CHAPTER II—] | [23] | |
| Narciso Lopez and His Career—His Valor in the VenezuelanWars—A Soldier of Spain—Some Daring Exploits—With theSpanish Army in Cuba—His Distinguished Career in Spain—ALeader Against the Carlists—General and Senator—ImportantOffice in Cuba—Alienation from Spain—First Plans for CubanRevolution. | ||
| [CHAPTER III—] | [37] | |
| Betrayal of Lopez's First Revolutionary Venture—His Flightto New York—Cuban Juntas in the United States—Lopez's Negotiationswith Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee—UnofficialAmerican Aid—Strained American Relations with Spain—OfficialWarnings Against Filibustering—An Elaborate ExpeditionPrepared by Lopez in the United States for the Freeing of Cuba—HisProclamation to His Followers—The Voyage to Cuba. | ||
| [CHAPTER IV—] | [49] | |
| The Landing of Lopez at Cardenas—The Flag of Cuba Librefor the First Time Unfurled on Cuban Soil—Parleying and Fightingat Cardenas—Spanish Treachery—Failure of the Cuban Peopleto Rally to the Support of Lopez—Retreat and Reembarcationof the Expedition—Mutiny of the Crew—Landing at KeyWest—Spanish Wrath Against the United States—Arrest of Lopezand His Comrades—Their Release. | ||
| [CHAPTER V—] | [62] | |
| Administration of Concha and His Recall—Second Expeditionof Lopez Recruited in the United States—Men and Money Providedin the South—Betrayal of the Scheme—Proclamation ofthe Captain-General—Disturbances in Cuba—Third Expeditionof Lopez Organized—Aguero's Attempt at Revolution at PuertoPrincipe—His Proclamation—Initial Victories Over the Spaniards—AFatal Mistake—Suppression of the Revolution by OverwhelmingNumbers—Execution of the Leaders—Suppression ofOther Uprisings. | ||
| [CHAPTER VI—] | [91] | |
| Another Expedition Organized by Lopez—Its Roster—Departurefrom New Orleans—Colonel Crittenden—Arrival at Key West—TheLanding in Cuba—Lack of Cuban Support—Fatal Divisionof Forces—Desperate Fighting with Spaniards—Crittenden'sMistake—Capture of the Revolutionists by the Spaniards—Indignitiesand Tortures—Fifty-Two Put to Death—Heroism of Crittenden—IllFortune of Lopez—Betrayal and Capture of Lopezand His Comrades—His Death on the Scaffold. | ||
| [CHAPTER VII—] | [116] | |
| Failure and Success of Lopez—Irrepressible Determination ofCuba to Be Free—Crisis in the Affairs of Spain—AnimosityBetween Creoles and Spaniards—Expressions of Cuban Sentimentand Determination—Profound Impression Produced in theUnited States—Opposing Views of Pro-Slavery and Anti-SlaveryMen—Attitude of Great Britain and France—Anti-Spanish Outbreakin New Orleans—Webster's Diplomacy—England andFrance Warned Not to Meddle in Cuba—Spain's Appeal to EnglandAgainst America—Tripartite Pact Refused. | ||
| [CHAPTER VIII—] | [132] | |
| American Overtures for the Purchase of Cuba—Some EarlyDiplomacy—Change of Policy Under President Polk—Spain'sRefusal to Consider Sale—Pierre Soule's Extraordinary Negotiations—TheBlack Warrior Controversy—Soule's Humiliation—TheOstend Manifesto—Marcy's Shrewd Disposition of It—Buchanan'sFutile Persistence. | ||
| [CHAPTER IX—] | [145] | |
| Revolution in Peninsular Spain—General Prim's Proclamations—GeneralResponse Throughout the Kingdom—Serrano's EntryInto Madrid—Flight of the Queen—Republican GovernmentEstablished—Downfall of Maximilian in Mexico—Change inAmerican Attitude Toward Cuba Because of the Civil War andAbolition of Slavery—Organization of the Spanish "Volunteers"in Cuba—The Moret Anti-Slavery Law—Cuban Interest in theSpanish Revolution. | ||
| [CHAPTER X—] | [155] | |
| Cuban Independence Proclaimed at the Outbreak of the TenYears' War—Provisional Government Organized—Carlos ManuelCespedes—Proclamation of Emancipation—Representative GovernmentFormed—Cespedes's Address—The First Cuban Constitution—TheHouse of Representatives—Presidential Proclamation—Proclamationof General Quesada—Proclamation of CountValmaseda—Request for Recognition—The "Juntas of the Laborers"—CubanGovernment and Laws—Organization of theCuban Army. | ||
| [CHAPTER XI—] | [180] | |
| Beginning of Hostilities—Comparative Strengths of the Cubanand Spanish Armies—The Spanish Navy—Pacific Measures FirstTried by Captain-General Dulce—Their Rejection by the Cubans—TheFirst Engagements—Cuban Victories—Destruction ofBayamo—Revolts in Many Places—Murder of Cespedes's Messengerby Volunteers—Guerilla Warfare—Havana in a State ofSiege—Progress of the Insurrection Throughout the Island—Dulce'sChange of Policy—Sympathy and Aid for the Revolutionfrom the United States. | ||
| [CHAPTER XII—] | [200] | |
| An Appeal to the United States for Recognition—PresidentGrant Overruled by His Secretary of State—Americans Stirredby News of Spanish Cruelties—Cuban Disappointment at Non-Recognition—Progressof the War—Spanish Reenforcements—Liberationof Slaves—Spanish Successes—Controversies with theUnited States—Destruction of Property—Arrival of General Jordanwith Supplies—Dulce Forced Out of Office by the Volunteers—Accessionof Rodas and His Decrees—The "Butcher ofCadiz"—American Protests Against Interference with Commerce—Proposalsof Mediation—More Aid from the United States. | ||
| [CHAPTER XIII—] | [225] | |
| Great Increase of Revolutionary Strength—Spain's EnormousForce—The Case of Napoleon Arango—His ExtraordinaryManifesto—An Elaborate Appeal for Betrayal of the Revolution—DesigningDecrees of Rodas—Emancipation Decree of theSpanish Government—Its Practical Effects—Atrocities Practisedby the Spanish—Downfall of Rodas and Appointment of Valmasedaas Captain-General—Spanish Overtures to the UnitedStates—Murder of Zenea by the Volunteers—Address byCespedes—Treacheryin the Ranks. | ||
| [CHAPTER XIV—] | [259] | |
| Counter-Revolution in Spain—Amadeus Made King—IncreasedMalignity of the Volunteers—The Massacre of the Cuban Students—Deathof General Quesada—Reorganization of the CubanArmy—Campaign of Maximo Gomez—Progress of the War withVarying Fortunes—Calixto Garcia at Jiguani—Gradual Reductionof Cuban Strength—Valmaseda's Savage Threats. | ||
| [CHAPTER XV—] | [271] | |
| Spain's Desperate Efforts to Suppress the Revolution—StubbornResistance of the Cubans—Valmaseda Opposed and Overthrownby the Volunteers—Accession of Jovellar—Increasing Interestin Cuban Affairs in the United States—Spain a Republic Again—Retirementof Cespedes—The Seizure of the Virginius—Massacreof Many of Her Passengers and Crew—Strenuous Intervention—Settlementof the Affair—"The Book of Blood"—SpanishConfessions of Brutality. | ||
| [CHAPTER XVI—] | [289] | |
| Renewed Cuban Successes—The Island in a State of Siege—ConchaAgain Captain-General—Record of the Cost of the War—TheUnited States Threatens Intervention—Spanish Anger—AProtest to England Against America—American Peace Proposals—Strengthof the Spanish Army—A War of Extermination—MartinezCampos Becomes Captain-General—His ConciliatoryDecrees—Surrender of Cuban Leaders—The Treaty of Zanjon—Endof the War—Campos's Explanation of His Course. | ||
| [CHAPTER XVII—] | [305] | |
| Results of the Ten Years' War—Political Parties in Cuba—TheLiberals, Who Were Conservative—The Union Constitutionalists—AThird Party Platform—Cubans in the Cortes—Failureto Fulfill the Treaty of Zanjon—The Little War—CalixtoGarcia's Campaign—Cuban Fugitives Protected by England—Revoltof 1885—Custom House Frauds at Havana—A Reign ofLawlessness—Tariff Troubles—The Roster of Rulers. | ||
| [CHAPTER XVIII—] | [315] | |
| The Intellectual and Spiritual Development of Cuba—SomeFamous Cuban Authors—José Maria Heredia—Felix Varela yMorales—José de la Luz y Caballero, "The Father of the CubanRevolution"—Domingo del Monte and the "Friends of Peace"—JoséAntonio Saco—Joaquin Lorenzo Luaces—Dona LuisaPerez—Dona Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda—Nicolas Azcarate—JuanClemente Zenea—Rafael Merchan—The Distinguished IntellectualStatus of Cuba Among the Nations. | ||
| [INDEX] for Volumes 1 thru 4 | ||
| ILLUSTRATIONS | |
|---|---|
| FULL PAGE PLATES | |
| José Cipriano de la Luz y Caballero | [Frontispiece] |
| FACINGPAGE | |
| The Old Presidential Palace | [14] |
| Falls of the Hanebanilla | [110] |
| Carlos Manuel de Cespedes | [158] |
| Ignacio Agramonte | [258] |
| Calixto Garcia | [268] |
| A Santiago Sunset | [280] |
| José Silverio Jorrin | [308] |
| José Maria Heredia | [318] |
| Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda | [332] |
| TEXT EMBELLISHMENTS | |
| PAGE | |
| Narciso Lopez | [23] |
| Ramon Pinto | [62] |
| Manuel Quesada | [167] |
| Francisco V. Aguilera | [173] |
| Bernabe de Varona | [178] |
| Miguel de Aldama | [204] |
| Domingo Goicouria | [234] |
| Nicolas Azcarate | [251] |
| Juan Clemente Zenea | [252] |
| Salvador Cisneros Betancourt | [276] |
| Felipe Poey | [315] |
| Antonio Bachiller | [317] |
| Felix Varela | [320] |
| José Agustin Caballero | [321] |
| Domingo del Monte | [323] |
| José Jacinto Milanes | [324] |
| José Manuel Mestre | [326] |
| Luisa Perez de Zambrana | [328] |
| Joaquin Lorenzo Luaces | [330] |
| Enrique Piñeyro | [334] |
THE HISTORY OF CUBA
CHAPTER I
THE revolutionary era in Cuban history had its rise amid circumstances of both political and commercial dissatisfaction and protest, and it is by no means impossible nor even improbable that the latter form of discontent was the more potent of the two. The commercial and industrial development of the island, despite its almost incredibly opulent resources, had been very slow, because handicapped by selfish and sordid misgovernment. The typical attitude of the Peninsular government and its agents in Cuba had been to use and to exploit the island for the sole benefit of Spain, and not to permit other nations to enter in competition. Other countries, in fact, so great was the secrecy maintained with regard to Cuba, knew but little of the vast wealth contained in this small space of land. Consequently the island was developed in accordance with the wishes, needs, and potentialities of Spain and with one other point of view. Cuba was never exploited by Spain for all its worth, and indeed there seems to be doubt as to whether Spain ever grasped in full the future possibilities of the island. Certain it is that she never actually realized them. And the loss was in consequence as great to Spain as it was to Cuba. For had Spain allowed herself to lose sight of the richness of present extortions and aided Cuba to develop her resources for the future, the whole story would have been far different. But the people of the United States were beginning to recognize Cuba's possibilities. American merchants began to flock thither. American money and American resourcefulness opened new doors for Cuba's rich products. American trade and enterprise contributed a great deal which made for Cuban expansion and industrial development. In proof of this there is the fact that the island towns on the north side, which is nearest the United States, increased both in population and commercially, in striking contrast to the slow growth of the towns on the south side of the island. In 1850 these latter towns, with Santiago de Cuba as the chief city, did not maintain more than twenty-five per cent. of the trade of the island.
In further proof of America's hand in the development of Cuba, we may cite the following tables, in every one of which it is easy to see that Cuba's trade was largely with the United States. Taking the records of Cuban trade in 1828 as typical of the commerce of the early part of the century, we get the following contrasts with the figures of the years immediately preceding 1850:
Cuban imports in 1828, $19,534,922; exports, $13,414,362; revenue, $9,086,406.
Cuban imports in 1847, $32,389,117; exports, $27,998,770; revenues, $12,808,713.