The revolution of 1895 falls naturally into three periods: First, that of Capt.-Gen. Mar tinez Campos, whose fair fighting utterly failed to prevent the spread of the revolutionary movement from the eastern to the western provinces; second, that of Captain-General Weyler, who inaugurated the policy of recon centration ; third, that of Captain-General Blanco — including the events from Weyler's recall to the destruction of the Maine. Fighting fairly and like a gentleman, Campos was fairly beaten by men who developed positive genius in guerrilla warfare— Gomez and Antonio Maceo, who knew how to win by skilful eva sion, by opportune attack, and, above all, by making an ally of every peasant and living on the country. Marco crossed both trochas and reached Pinar del Rio province, thus carrying revolt from one end of the island to the other. Among the hills of the Sierra de los Orangos...
he maintained his hand of followers and defied all efforts to dislodge him up to the: close of the year 1896. Then he risked his life once too often and was killed. Campos failing to check the insurrection, Weyler was sent to cruSli it. The reasoning of the latter was strictly logical. He learned that Cuban peasants supplied the rebels with food, with information in regard to the movements of Spanish columns and with ammunition, bought, stolen or brought to the coast by filibusters. He did not shrink, then, from the extreme cruelty involved in the re.. moval of the country folk from their homes to garrisoned cities, where, as (reconcentrados,° they should become quite harmless. Oh 21 Oct 1896, his proclamation was issued. Thousands of Cuban families were peat in towns or zones tinder surveillance of a Spanish and as time went on they died of starvation and fever.
United States and When Spain's Prime Minister, Cadova's del Castillo, was as sassinated, 8 Aug. 1897, the prop of Weyler's Cuban policy was withdrawn. His successor; General Blanco, took to Cuba a policy of corns, promise. Autonomy was offered; and, for the rescue of the reconcentrados, the suggestion was made that charitable people in the United States might forward supplies to be distributed by the American consuls in Cuba, The pro posal of autonomy was rejected with emphasis. General Blanco's emissary who brought the message was shot by an insurgent commander. And when it became known that an appeal for contributions to feed starving Cuba had been made in the United States, formidable riots in Havana expressed resentment of the proffered relief, which was regarded as the entering wedge of the dreaded intervention. For the protection of American interests the Atlantic squadron was ordered to make its headquarters at the Dry Tortugas, within six hours' sail from the Cuban capital; and on 25 January the battleship Maine was sent to Havana The Spanish government sent the cruiser Viz4-• caya to New York harbor soon afterward. On 9 Feb. 1898, a letter addressed to Senor Canale jas by Senor Dupuy de Lome, Spanish Minister to the United States, was published in the newsz, papers of the latter country. Its cynical tone and insulting characterisation of President Mc Kinley were resented, and Senor die Lome re= signed his office. One week later the Maine was destroyed Thy the explosion of a:submarine rnine,° — to quote from the report of the court of inquiry— °which caused the partial explo sion of two or more of her forward magazines.° The court was. unable to obtain evidence fixing the responsibility upon any person or persons; before the official investigation was made, how-• ever, public opinion in the United States had rightly or wrongly assigned the responsibility, and war with Spain seemed inevitable. On 8 March, the House of Representatives passed bill appropriating $50,000,000 for national de-, fense. Senator Redfield Proctor's statement of his personal observations in Cuba, read to the Senate 17 March, did not make for peace. It confirmed previous reports which had excited pity and indignation. Diplomatic representa tives of the six great European powers called at the White House 7 April to present a joint' note, a appeal° for (the peace.* President McKinley's reply was con.
ciliatory, but the resolve he had formed was ex pressed in his message of 11 April: "In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests, which give us the right and the duty to speak and act, the war in Cuba must stop' The war in Cuba had, indeed, stopped or halted. The queen regent of Spain had directed General Blanco to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, in order to prepare and facilitate the restoration ofpeace; and the President's message con cluded with the statement that he had received official information of this circumstance. The text of General Blanco's proclamation had been published, and the orders of General Weyler revoked. It was asserted that the reconcentra dos were to be permitted to return to their homes; that the sum of $600,000 had been voted for their relief ; and that public works had been undertaken for the purpose of giving em ployment to the poor. Spain had offered to submit to arbitration the disputes which might arise in the matter of the Maine. President McKinley called attention to all these things, and requested that they should be given full weight in the deliberations of Congress. But the "full weight" of such programs had been ascertained. The reports of American con suls in Cuba accompanying the message de scribed conditions which it seemed impossible to reform without forcible intervention. The famous joint resolutions of 19 April recogniz ing "the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relin quish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and di recting the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect, concluded with the words: "The United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people?' The Spanish-American War began on 21 April 1898; Admiral Cervera's fleet was de stroyed off Santiago 3 July; the formal sur render of Santiago took place on 17 July. In
the protocol suspending hostilities which was signed on 12 Aug. 1898, it was provided that Spain should relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba, and that Cuba should be immediately evacuated. The evacuation pro ceeded gradually; the last of the Spanish troops leaving 1 Jan. 1899. The participation of the revolutionary army in these events has two noteworthy features: A force of about 3,000 Cubans, led by Gen. Calixto Garcia, joined the American troops as Aserraderos and served through the Santiago campaign, forming a part of the line about the city. Later, the retiring Spanish army was closely followed, outside of the chief cities, by the Cuban army, which took charge of the towns and country, maintaining order and performing police duty; and, when finally disbanded, dispersing peacefully among the people. The treaty of Paris, signed 10 Dec. 1898, provided for the temporary occupation of the island by the United States. By an order dated at Headquarters of the Army, Washing ton, 13 Dec. 1898, a division known as the Di vision of Cuba was created, under command of Maj.-Gen. John R. Brooke. The authority of military governor of the island was exercised by General Brooke from 28 Dec. 1898, until 20 Dec. 1899, when he was succeeded by Maj..-Gen. Leonard Wood, who continued in office until 20 May 1902. During the entire period of American occupation (18 July 1898 to 20 May 1902), the total revenues were $57,197,140.80; amount in hands of the treasurer at the dose of business, 19 May 1902, $635,170.29. The lat• ter sum was paid to the republic of Cuba; the former was expended for maintenance of the government ($2,780,781.16), justice and public instruction ($11,108,187.46), sanitation ($9,706, 258.20), public buildings, works, ports and har bors ($5,833,607.90), charities and hospitals ($4, 124,986.60), barracks and quarters ($2,525,483 .78), etc. A comparatively small amount was used for the pay of the army; very large sums de voted to works of public utility, in the interests of the Cuban people. Cuban imports during this period amounted to $225,437,135, the largest items being foodstuffs, animals and animal products, cotton, silk, vegetable fibres, wool, etc., and metals and metal manufactures. From the United States came 43 per cent of imports, while the rest of the world supplied 57 per cent. Cuban exports amounted to $180,609,067, the United States taking 75 per cent. The articles exported to the United States were tobacco and its manufactures, $45,400,670; augur and mo lasses, $77,648,819; wood, unmanufactured, $1,751,451; iron and manganese ore, $2,587,715; fruits and nuts, $2,547,392; all other articles, $5,479,092. Thorough sanitary measures were adopted; the death-rate of the island was low ered; the causes of yellow fever were discov ered, and that disease nearly exterminated. Es pecially successful were the efforts to beautify Havana and improve its sanitary condition. That city became one of the most attractive in Latin America. The reforms extended to the prisons, hospitals and asylums. A general sys tem of free schools was established throughout the island and, in many practical ways, Cuba was prepared for self-government. A constitu convention, the members of which were elected 15 Sept. 1900, met in the city of Havana the following November. The constitution of Cuba was adopted 21 Feb. 1901, and an appendix thereto (the "Platt Amendment") 12 June 1901. A form of government was thus provided which, in its main features, resembled that of the United States. The appendix, however, curtails Cuban independence. Its eight articles follow: I. The government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any way authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to obtain by colonization or for naval or military purposes, or otherwise. lodgment or control over any portion of said island. 2. That said government shall uot assume or contract any public debt to pay the interest upon which, and to make reasonable sinking-fund provision for the ulti mate discharge of which the ordinary revenues of the Island of Cuba, after defraying the current expenses of the govern ment, shall be inadequate. 3. That the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, lb* maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty. and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the Treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and under taken by the government of Cuba. 4. That all the acts of the United States in Cuba during the military occupancy of said island shall be ratified and held as valid, and all rights legally acquired by virtue of said acts shall be maintained and protected. 5. That the government. of Cuba will ilea cite. and, as far as ussosesary.' extend the devised. or other plans to be mutually agreed sanitation of the cities of the island. to the end that a recur rence d epidemic and infectious diseases may be thereby assuring protection to the people and co Cuba, as well as to the commerce of the southern ports the United States and the people residing therein. O. The bland of Pines shall be omitted from the boundaries of Cul* specified in the constitution, the title of ownership thereof being left to future adjustment by 7. To enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba, and to protect the people thereof. as well as for its own defense, the Cuban government will sell or lease to the United States the lands necessary for coaling or naval stations, at certain specified points, to be agreed upon with the President of the United States. S. The goveenment of Cuba will embody the foregoing provisions in.• permanent treaty with the United States.