THE DAWN OF FREEDOM.
When the United States declared war against Spain for the purpose of
freeing Cuba from Spanish misrule under which she had suffered for so
long, and also with the desire to avenge the dastardly blowing up of the
Maine, but little or no thought was given to Porto Rico. That island was
an unknown quantity, but still one which was destined to play a
considerable part in the near future.
This was in the natural sequence of events. After the terrible havoc
wrought by our navy at Manila and at Santiago de Cuba, attention was
turned toward Porto Rico.
The feeling became widespread throughout the United States that the war
would fail in its object if Spain were not driven from the possession of
all her colonies in the West Indies. Even those who in the beginning
thought that the war was unnecessary, gradually came round to this point
of view. It was quite sure that the expulsion of Spain from the western
hemisphere would prevent the provoking of another war of the same
character, and this desirable result could not be achieved so long as
Spanish rule was maintained in any part of the West Indies.
The demand for the freeing of Cuba, the possession of Porto Rico, as
well as a protectorate over the Philippines, was just, and the nation
demanded it.
The Boston Herald aptly remarked:
"This may well stand in the place of any exaction of money. The United
States is much too rich to desire to compel money payment from an
exhausted and practically beggared nationality. Such a course would be
belittling the war in the eyes of the nations of the world, and it is
not at all in accordance with ideas of our own national dignity. Here is
the substantial concession of Spain, and it involves all and more than
all for which the war was declared."
The invasion of Porto Rico was not commenced until after the result of
the war had been definitely decided.
But the Spaniards with that unfailing belief in "manana" (to-morrow)
behaved like true Orientals, as they are in part, and acted as if time
gained was half-way toward victory. With scarcely an exception, they are
all indolent and fatalists.
The prime minister, Senor Sagasta, put off everything with that word
which has proved so fatal to Spain, which undoubtedly precipitated the
war, and which was at the bottom of all Senor Sagasta's
policy--"manana."
It is related that one day in the Cortes, a deputy criticized the
idleness and indolence of Senor Sagasta, and the latter replied:
"_A nadie le ha sucedido nado por no hacer nada._"
A free translation of this is: "Nothing happens to him who does
nothing."
Both Sagasta and the Spaniards have doubtless found out by this time
the falsity of the saying. To show the feeling prevailing in Spain, it
may be well to quote a Madrid corresponded of the London Times:
"Though peace is regarded as assured, it may not be attained so quickly
as is generally expected. Senor Sagasta objects to be hustled, and
insists upon everything being done in a quiet, orderly and dignified
manner. He considers it necessary to have full and satisfactory
explanations as to all doubtful points, in order to enable him best to
protect the national interests against the aggressive tendencies of the
Washington Cabinet.
"He has also to examine very minutely the exigencies of the internal
situation and home politics, so as to avoid popular dissatisfaction and
political unrest. The Spanish people, though sincerely desirous of
peace, are disposed to admire this hesitancy and tenacious holding out
till the last, although aware that it implies greater sacrifices.
"As an illustration of this feeling, while General Toral is blamed for
capitulating at Santiago, Captain-General Augustin, in continuing a
hopeless resistance at Manila, bids fair to be a popular hero."
About this time, before any attack by the Americans, Macias,
captain-general of Porto Rico, discovered a conspiracy, which if it had
not been quickly checked would have placed the island in a state of
insurrection.
Eduardo Baselge and Danian Castillo, both prominent Porto Ricans, were
active leaders in the incipient insurrection.
The Spanish postal authorities discovered the conspiracy through a
letter written by Castillo to Baselga. General Macias was informed of
this discovery, and a quiet investigation disclosed the fact that there
were involved in it all of the most prominent residents of the city of
San Juan, both native and foreign.
The headquarters of the conspirators were located and a quantity of
dynamite, arms and provisions was found.
It was the intention of the leaders, after their plans had been
perfected, to give wide publication to a proclamation calling upon all
native and patriotic Porto Ricans who hold liberty dearer than life, to
join them and accomplish the overthrow of the Spanish government and the
death of the governor and his officials. The plans of the conspirators
were so carefully laid that had it not been for the accidental discovery
of Castillo's letter, they would unquestionably have been carried out.
The discovery of the conspiracy occurred about the time of the visit to
Washington of Dr. J. J. Henna and Ramon Todd, both prominent Porto
Ricans, of whom we have had occasion to speak before, and whose purpose
in going there was to hold a conference with President McKinley relative
to the establishment of a provisional United States government in the
island after the Spaniards had been driven out.
Within twenty-four hours after the arrest the two leaders, Baselga and
Castillo, were shot.
The residents became very much excited over the affair, and feeling
against the Spanish officials ran high.
From the very beginning the real Porto Ricans, as we shall see
hereafter, were in favor of the Americans. The Spaniards, however, were
most bitter, and as had been the case in Havana and Manila, kept up an
absurd show of superior strength. This is well manifested by a
proclamation which, signed by Jose Reyes, Celestins Dominguez and Genara
Cautino, was issued to the people of Guayama on May 20, 1898. As one of
the curiosities of the war, it can only be compared to the celebrated
and laughable manifesto which Captain-General Augustin issued at Manila
just before the appearance of Admiral Dewey's fleet.
The Porto Rican proclamation ran as follows:
"To the people of Guayama. Hurra for Spain!
"A nation that is our enemy, by its history, by its race, and because
she is the principal cause of our misfortunes in Cuba, having fomented
in this island that is our sister a war in which she supplied all kinds
of resources, taking away at last the mask with which she concealed her
fictitious friendship, has excited us to-day to vowed war.
"There is a deep abyss between the manner of being of that people and
ours, which established antagonism that we should never be able to
remove. Our sonorous language, our habits, the religion of our
ancestors, and our necessities are conditions of our life so different
from those of that race, so opposite to those of that people, that we
are frightened in thinking that we should be constrained to accept a
manner of being that is repugnant to our origin, our heart and our
feelings. We are a people entirely Spanish, and we were born to a
civilized life under a flag that was, and we hope ever will be, that of
our wives and children. For four hundred years the warmth of the mother
of our native country has given life to our organisms, ideas to our
brains, majestic thoughts to our souls, and generous undertakings to our
hearts, and in those four centuries the glories of the Spanish house
have been our glories, her gayeties our gayeties, and her misfortunes
our own misfortunes.
"We have been full of haughtiness when, being considered as the
Conqueror's sons, we know that we had participation in the heroic
actions of our brothers, and that the laurels with which they crowned
their hero's front were also our laurels. When in tranquil hours we
heard in our hearths our predecessors' epopee, describing as
superfluously exact their achievements; giving them lively color that
always inspires our tropical fancy, our nerves felt the thrill produced
by enthusiasm; at those moments, our being all affected, our breast with
its strong aspirations and our fiery tears rolling down the cheeks
reminded us, obliging the cords of patriotism to vibrate, that we were
Spaniards, and we neither could nor would like any other thing than to
remain Spaniards.
"As if it could be that the country of Sergeant Diaz, of Andino, and
Vascarrondo's, and all those conspicuous countrymen that irrigated with
their blood Martin Pena and Rio Piedras camps could measure either the
vigor or the haughtiness of an enemy who has not yet exhibited his face
after so many ostentatious and angry vociferations. No! and thousand
times no! The light fishermen of Porto Rico's shores, merchants,
lawyers, musicians, mechanics, journeymen, all persons who may have
strength to grasp a gun must ask for it. All united, with a solid front
we shall go to intercept the invader. Behind us and as a reserve legion
will come down from the highlands like a raging storm, if it is
necessary, the _jibaros_, our fields' brothers, the most accomplished
exemplar of abstinence, probity and bravery; the same that formed the
urban militia; the same that were sent to Santo Domingo to defend
gentile honor; they, who in number of more than 16,000, covered the
plains of the north shore of the island, and compelled the Englishmen in
1797 to re-embark hastily, leaving their horses and artillery park.
"Porto Ricans! the moment is rising when not a single man of this
country gives a step backwards, as it is said commonly; the hour of
organizing ourselves for defense is sounded. The Spanish lion has shaken
his dishevelled mane, and our duties calls us around him. Our temper is
to fight, and we shall fight. Our fate is to overpower, and we shall
overpower. Honor imposes upon us the obligation of saving home, and we
shall save it in this land of our loves. Before North American people
carry their boldness so far as to tread our sea-coasts it is necessary
that we must be ready to receive them; that they may find in every Porto
Rican an inexorable enemy, in every heart a rock, in each arm a weapon
to drive them away; that that people feels that here it is detested
intensely, and that Porto Rica's spirit is Spanish, and she will ever
be so; therefore, inhabitants of Guayama, we invite you for a meeting at
the Town House next Tuesday and offer our kind offices to the
government, who will give us arms.
"It would be unworthy of our so gentle history, we should deny our
blood, if in these moments of struggle we should endure indifferently.
Let our enemies know that we are a brave people, and that if we are soft
in peace days, we are also fit for war chances; that all his command,
all his pride, and all his arrogance may fall out with a wall composed
of all Porto Rican breasts."
In the light of ulterior and posterior events, this document is really
as comical as anything in opera-bouffe.
"We have no means of knowing," says the New York Sun, in commenting upon
this precious effusion, "whether Senor Jose Reyes, Senor Celestino
Dominguez and Senor Genaro Cautino actually grasped their guns and
immolated themselves upon the altar of four centuries and in the
presence of the ostentatious and vociferous invader; or whether they
prudently joined the light fishermen, merchants, lawyers, musicians and
_jibaros_ of Porto Rico, to whom they had vainly appealed in the name of
Spain in yelling themselves hoarse as the Stars and Stripes went up in
town after town. Perhaps they took the latter course. Perhaps they will
turn out good Americans. In Porto Rico, as elsewhere, times change, and
men's minds change with the changes of time and destiny."