A TALK ABOUT THE TROUBLES IN CUBA
Hong Kong is due west from Honolulu, and the distance, in round
figures, is five thousand miles, so it was quite true that Larry had a
long voyage before him.
Captain Ponsberry did not calculate to make the entire trip without
stopping. In his almost direct course westward were to be found Wake
Island and the Farallon de Pajaros, dividing the trip into fairly
equal thirds, and it was calculated that the _Columbia_ would put into
both places for fresh water, and possibly a bit of fresh meat and
vegetables, for the kind-hearted captain saw no need of going without
these comforts when they might be had with but little trouble.
For over a week the weather proved all that could be desired. It was
true that it was hot, but the stiff breeze was comforting, while it
made the gallant _Columbia_ fully represent her name so far as build
was concerned, for she readily “scooned” over the long swells of the
rolling Pacific.
There had been no occasion for Larry and Oleson to speak to one
another, and thus far neither had uttered a word. As the days went by,
Larry, naturally light-hearted, was inclined to forgive his enemy. But
not so the burly Norwegian. Whenever the eyes of the two met, Oleson
scowled ominously, and more than once Larry found himself shivering
from some nameless dread, he could not tell what.
“I’d give half a month’s salary if he wasn’t on board,” he said to Luke
Striker, his one confidant. “If he keeps on looking at me like that,
he’ll give me the nightmare.”
“You look out for yourself whenever you’re on night watch with the
furiner,” answered the Yankee tar. “If you don’t watch out――maybe an
accident might happen, see?” and he closed one eye suggestively, and
then Larry had another shiver.
The looks finally became so threatening that Striker spoke to Oleson
about them. “The boy is treating you square enough,” he said. “You just
leave him alone, and we won’t have no trouble.”
“I no touch the boy――no spak to him,” growled the Norwegian. “You let
me alone, like captain say you should.”
There the talk ended, and instead of anything being gained by it,
matters were made worse, for Oleson became an enemy of Striker as well
as of Larry. He no longer looked at either when their eyes were turned
in his direction, yet they felt intuitively that he had them constantly
in his mind.
Taken at its best, life on a sailing-vessel on an extended trip is
bound to grow more or less monotonous, and were it not for a number of
reasons Larry would have found time growing dull on his hands, during
the hours when there was absolutely nothing to do, and when he was too
wide-awake to think of going to sleep, as many of his messmates did.
But besides Striker, he had made a good friend of the Rev. Martin
Wells, and the missionary was not above coming forward to chat with
Larry and the others, and in addition to this he loaned the youth
several books, which Larry devoured with keen relish,――histories and
biographies, books which were rather dry when compared with what the
boy had read when at home, but which did him far more good.
As we know, Larry had been very much interested in the blowing up of
the _Maine_. Before leaving Honolulu he had heard a later report than
the first from the United States, by which it was stated that the
Spanish authorities denied any knowledge of the explosion, and that
the United States naval authorities were going to take matters in hand
immediately by appointing a Board of Inquiry to fix the responsibility.
“This Cuban matter is something of a mystery to me,” he said to the
missionary one day, after the blowing up of the battleship had been
discussed. “What is the real trouble down there; can you tell me?”
“I can tell you something, Lawrence, if not everything,” replied Mr.
Wells; “but in order to get at a proper understanding of the case I’ll
have to go pretty well back into history.”
“I won’t mind that, sir, so long as I’ve got the time to listen.”
The two were seated under the shadow of one of the small boats, and
after a second of thought the missionary began:――
“The story of Cuba from the very start has been one of persecution
and intense suffering――persecution so terrible that it can hardly be
believed, and suffering in many cases beyond endurance.
“When Columbus discovered the New World, there were but two powers,
Spain and Portugal, that disputed for the possession of the new
territories, which embraced not only the West Indies, but also a large
portion of the southern part of North America, and the northern and
eastern portions of South America. The dispute was referred to the
Pope, as head of the states, and he granted to Portugal that part of
South America which is now Brazil and gave to Spain all the rest.
“Such a vast and valuable possession could not be left alone long,
especially as it was known to be inhabited only by savages, and was
suspected to be rich in minerals, and before long Spain sent out
numerous colonies, commanded by her own noblemen, to conquer the whole
of the West Indies, including Hayti, San Domingo, Jamaica, and Porto
Rico, as well as Cuba, the largest of all the islands, and the richest.
“When the Spanish colonists arrived they found the islands settled by
peaceful Indians and Caribs. Without delay they set about conquering
these people, and this done, they made slaves of the Caribs and also
of the Indians, when they could catch them, which was not often, for
the Indians would take to the water rather than risk capture. To the
Caribs were added slaves from Africa, and all these poor people were
treated so shamefully that the Caribs died off like sheep, and even
the Africans could not stand it. The one thought of the Spaniards was
to make money, and they cared nothing for their slaves’ bodies though
professing a desire to save their souls.”
“It’s a wonder they didn’t rebel?”
“They did rebel, but they had no arms and were unskilled in warfare,
and each time they were put down with greater cruelty. Old writers have
left us many accounts of those fearful times,――accounts the reading of
which makes one’s heart ache.”
“But now Spain doesn’t own all of the islands, nor any of North
America?”
“She owns nothing now but Cuba and Porto Rico, and a few small places
of no importance. Her cruelty and rapacity has had its reward. The
gold and silver and other riches sent by noblemen from the islands to
Spain lured the buccaneers of the world to that locality, and many were
the ships which were taken and plundered. Then other nations heard of
the wealth which was there, and of the great cruelty, and took upon
themselves the task of setting matters right. The least interference
enraged the Spaniards, and numerous fights followed, and in the end,
as I have stated, Spain was stripped of nearly everything. And she has
lost more than I spoke of before, too, for she once controlled Mexico,
Texas, and what is now New Mexico, California, and Nevada.”
“But what has brought about this present trouble?”
“I am coming to that. As years went by, the colonists in Cuba and other
islands increased, until the home government had a new element to deal
with, for slavery was now a thing of the past. These colonists became
tired of paying their heavy taxes to the mother country, especially
as they derived no benefits, and so other rebellions broke out, until
Cuba was in a state of perpetual war. The hand of Spain was an iron
one, however, and could not be shaken off. The colonists were allowed
nothing, not even to run their own internal affairs, for every office
was filled from Spain, and the taxes became heavier and heavier.
“At last, about three years ago, the Cubans, or a large portion of
them, resolved to stand it no longer. They withdrew from Havana and
some of the other large cities, and set about establishing a government
of their own. They formed an army, the watchword of which was ‘Cuba
Libre!’ meaning Free Cuba, and swore to hold no communication with the
Spanish authorities until their freedom was acknowledged.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of that, and how they have been fighting the Spanish
soldiery ever since. But still I don’t see where _we_ come in,” said
Larry, earnestly.
“Don’t be impatient, Lawrence, and you will see. Yes, the Cubans have
been fighting for three years with varying success. They were poorly
equipped and scarcely organized, and the most they could do was to
stick to the forests and mountains, and wage a sort of guerilla warfare
against the trained regiments from Spain sent over to annihilate them.
As the situation now stands, the Spanish hold all of the large towns
and the seacoast, while the insurgents, as they are called, hold the
interior and many small villages.
“Of course such a condition of affairs so close to the United States
could not help but arouse sympathy for those who had been so illy
treated, and expeditions were sent out secretly to help the rebels;
but this was against international law, and Spain promptly called
upon the United States government to put down the practice. Then the
insurgents, through their Junta, or representatives in our country,
asked for recognition before the world, so that they might be free
to use the ports of the United States and do many other things they
otherwise could not do, but recognition has not yet been obtained,
although it is being considered by Congress.
“But now comes another view of the present situation, and this is
worse than the fighting that is going on. Under the guise of wishing
to protect the weak and helpless in the country and in villages,
the Spanish authorities in Cuba have been driving all of the women,
children, and old men into the big cities and holding them there. The
young and middle-aged men, of course, cannot be thus driven, for they
are in the ranks of the insurgents. But when the women and children and
old men get into the cities there is nothing for them to do, and, as
most of them are poor, they are actually compelled to starve, unless
some kind-hearted soul will feed them.”
“If that’s the case, we ought to help the poor people, war or no war!”
cried Larry, heartily.
“That thought is exactly the thought of those who have lately taken
hold, to send supplies to Cuba and to aid in every way possible the
poor, sick, and dying. Up to date several hundreds of thousands of the
poor people have died from exposure and the want of nourishment, and
the whole Christian nation is crying out that such inhumanity must
cease. But Spain wants no one to interfere, stating that to give succor
to the rebels will only prolong the disturbance which she will soon
end.”
“Never mind; we ought to help, whether Spain likes it or not, that is
my idea of it, Mr. Wells.”
“The efforts of the Americans in Havana and elsewhere have stirred up
much bad blood, and it was to protect those Americans that the _Maine_
was sent into Havana harbor. Now that the _Maine_ has met with such
a sad fate I presume the feeling upon both sides is more bitter than
ever. I should not be surprised to hear of a riot in Havana, in which
many Americans might be slain.”
“But if that court of inquiry finds that the _Maine_ was blown up by
some Spanish agents, won’t that mean war?” concluded Larry, as a
shrill pipe from the boatswain’s whistle caused him to arise.
“It will mean another step in the direction of war,” was the grave
response.