Chapter I: Front Matter

Etext transcriber's note:

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected; the original orthography, including variation in the spelling of names, has been retained.

The Index included at the end of this etext (which includes volumes 1 thru 4) appears at the end of volume four of The History of Cuba. It is provided here for the convenience of the reader.

"The Socrates of Cuban youth," as he has often been called, Jose Cipriano de la Luz y Caballero was born in Havana on July 11, 1799, and was educated at the Convent of San Francisco, the University of Havana, and the San Carlos Seminary where he was a pupil of his uncle, Jose Agustin Caballero, and of Felix Varela. Later he travelled and studied in the United States and Europe. In Germany he became intimately associated with Baron Humboldt. Returning to Cuba in 1831, he gave himself to the task of improving and promoting the educational interests of his country. In 1843 he revisited Europe, but was recalled the following year to answer an absurdly false charge of being implicated in the Negro Conspiracy. He then founded and until his death conducted his famous school of El Salvador, in which for a generation many of the foremost Cubans were educated, and in which manhood and patriotism were ever the foremost items of the curriculum. He was the author of a number of standard educational works. He died on June 22, 1862.]

THE HISTORY OF CUBA

BY WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON A.M., L.H.D.

Author of "A Century of Expansion," "Four Centuries of the Panama Canal," "America's Foreign Relations" Honorary Professor of the History of American Foreign Relations in New York University

_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS_

VOLUME THREE

NEW YORK B. F. BUCK & COMPANY, INC. 156 FIFTH AVENUE 1920

Copyright, 1920, BY CENTURY HISTORY CO.

_All rights reserved_

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's Commercial Backwardness--Resources Unappreciated--Statistics of Imports and Exports--The Sugar Trade--Burdensome Taxes and Tariffs--Restrictions on Personal Liberty--Obstacles to Travel--Titles of Nobility--The Intendent and His Powers--Authority and Functions of the Captain-General--District Governments--Municipal Organization--The Courts--Control of the Navy--Censorship of the Press--Adversion to Foreigners, Particularly to Americans.

CHAPTER II--23

Narciso Lopez and His Career--His Valor in the Venezuelan Wars--A Soldier of Spain--Some Daring Exploits--With the Spanish Army in Cuba--His Distinguished Career in Spain--A Leader Against the Carlists--General and Senator--Important Office in Cuba--Alienation from Spain--First Plans for Cuban Revolution.

CHAPTER III--37

Betrayal of Lopez's First Revolutionary Venture--His Flight to New York--Cuban Juntas in the United States--Lopez's Negotiations with Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee--Unofficial American Aid--Strained American Relations with Spain--Official Warnings Against Filibustering--An Elaborate Expedition Prepared by Lopez in the United States for the Freeing of Cuba--His Proclamation to His Followers--The Voyage to Cuba.

CHAPTER IV--49

The Landing of Lopez at Cardenas--The Flag of Cuba Libre for the First Time Unfurled on Cuban Soil--Parleying and Fighting at Cardenas--Spanish Treachery--Failure of the Cuban People to Rally to the Support of Lopez--Retreat and Reembarcation of the Expedition--Mutiny of the Crew--Landing at Key West--Spanish Wrath Against the United States--Arrest of Lopez and His Comrades--Their Release.

CHAPTER V--62

Administration of Concha and His Recall--Second Expedition of Lopez Recruited in the United States--Men and Money Provided in the South--Betrayal of the Scheme--Proclamation of the Captain-General--Disturbances in Cuba--Third Expedition of Lopez Organized--Aguero's Attempt at Revolution at Puerto Principe--His Proclamation--Initial Victories Over the Spaniards--A Fatal Mistake--Suppression of the Revolution by Overwhelming Numbers--Execution of the Leaders--Suppression of Other Uprisings.

CHAPTER VI--91

Another Expedition Organized by Lopez--Its Roster--Departure from New Orleans--Colonel Crittenden--Arrival at Key West--The Landing in Cuba--Lack of Cuban Support--Fatal Division of Forces--Desperate Fighting with Spaniards--Crittenden's Mistake--Capture of the Revolutionists by the Spaniards--Indignities and Tortures--Fifty-Two Put to Death--Heroism of Crittenden--Ill Fortune of Lopez--Betrayal and Capture of Lopez and His Comrades--His Death on the Scaffold.

CHAPTER VII--116

Failure and Success of Lopez--Irrepressible Determination of Cuba to Be Free--Crisis in the Affairs of Spain--Animosity Between Creoles and Spaniards--Expressions of Cuban Sentiment and Determination--Profound Impression Produced in the United States--Opposing Views of Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery Men--Attitude of Great Britain and France--Anti-Spanish Outbreak in New Orleans--Webster's Diplomacy--England and France Warned Not to Meddle in Cuba--Spain's Appeal to England Against America--Tripartite Pact Refused.

CHAPTER VIII--132

American Overtures for the Purchase of Cuba--Some Early Diplomacy--Change of Policy Under President Polk--Spain's Refusal to Consider Sale--Pierre Soule's Extraordinary Negotiations--The Black Warrior Controversy--Soule's Humiliation--The Ostend Manifesto--Marcy's Shrewd Disposition of It--Buchanan's Futile Persistence.

CHAPTER IX--145

Revolution in Peninsular Spain--General Prim's Proclamations--General Response Throughout the Kingdom--Serrano's Entry Into Madrid--Flight of the Queen--Republican Government Established--Downfall of Maximilian in Mexico--Change in American Attitude Toward Cuba Because of the Civil War and Abolition of Slavery--Organization of the Spanish "Volunteers" in Cuba--The Moret Anti-Slavery Law--Cuban Interest in the Spanish Revolution.

CHAPTER X--155

Cuban Independence Proclaimed at the Outbreak of the Ten Years' War--Provisional Government Organized--Carlos Manuel Cespedes--Proclamation of Emancipation--Representative Government Formed--Cespedes's Address--The First Cuban Constitution--The House of Representatives--Presidential Proclamation--Proclamation of General Quesada--Proclamation of Count Valmaseda--Request for Recognition--The "Juntas of the Laborers"--Cuban Government and Laws--Organization of the Cuban Army.

CHAPTER XI--180

Beginning of Hostilities--Comparative Strengths of the Cuban and Spanish Armies--The Spanish Navy--Pacific Measures First Tried by Captain-General Dulce--Their Rejection by the Cubans--The First Engagements--Cuban Victories--Destruction of Bayamo--Revolts in Many Places--Murder of Cespedes's Messenger by Volunteers--Guerilla Warfare--Havana in a State of Siege--Progress of the Insurrection Throughout the Island--Dulce's Change of Policy--Sympathy and Aid for the Revolution from the United States.

CHAPTER XII--200

An Appeal to the United States for Recognition--President Grant Overruled by His Secretary of State--Americans Stirred by News of Spanish Cruelties--Cuban Disappointment at Non-Recognition--Progress of the War--Spanish Reenforcements--Liberation of Slaves--Spanish Successes--Controversies with the United States--Destruction of Property--Arrival of General Jordan with Supplies--Dulce Forced Out of Office by the Volunteers--Accession of Rodas and His Decrees--The "Butcher of Cadiz"--American Protests Against Interference with Commerce--Proposals of Mediation--More Aid from the United States.

CHAPTER XIII--225

Great Increase of Revolutionary Strength--Spain's Enormous Force--The Case of Napoleon Arango--His Extraordinary Manifesto--An Elaborate Appeal for Betrayal of the Revolution--Designing Decrees of Rodas--Emancipation Decree of the Spanish Government--Its Practical Effects--Atrocities Practised by the Spanish--Downfall of Rodas and Appointment of Valmaseda as Captain-General--Spanish Overtures to the United States--Murder of Zenea by the Volunteers--Address by Cespedes--Treachery in the Ranks.

CHAPTER XIV--259

Counter-Revolution in Spain--Amadeus Made King--Increased Malignity of the Volunteers--The Massacre of the Cuban Students--Death of General Quesada--Reorganization of the Cuban Army--Campaign of Maximo Gomez--Progress of the War with Varying Fortunes--Calixto Garcia at Jiguani--Gradual Reduction of Cuban Strength--Valmaseda's Savage Threats.

CHAPTER XV--271

Spain's Desperate Efforts to Suppress the Revolution--Stubborn Resistance of the Cubans--Valmaseda Opposed and Overthrown by the Volunteers--Accession of Jovellar--Increasing Interest in Cuban Affairs in the United States--Spain a Republic Again--Retirement of Cespedes--The Seizure of the _Virginius_--Massacre of Many of Her Passengers and Crew--Strenuous Intervention--Settlement of the Affair--"The Book of Blood"--Spanish Confessions of Brutality.

CHAPTER XVI--289

Renewed Cuban Successes--The Island in a State of Siege--Concha Again Captain-General--Record of the Cost of the War--The United States Threatens Intervention--Spanish Anger--A Protest to England Against America--American Peace Proposals--Strength of the Spanish Army--A War of Extermination--Martinez Campos Becomes Captain-General--His Conciliatory Decrees--Surrender of Cuban Leaders--The Treaty of Zanjon--End of the War--Campos's Explanation of His Course.

CHAPTER XVII--305

Results of the Ten Years' War--Political Parties in Cuba--The Liberals, Who Were Conservative--The Union Constitutionalists--A Third Party Platform--Cubans in the Cortes--Failure to Fulfill the Treaty of Zanjon--The Little War--Calixto Garcia's Campaign--Cuban Fugitives Protected by England--Revolt of 1885--Custom House Frauds at Havana--A Reign of Lawlessness--Tariff Troubles--The Roster of Rulers.