A persons to obtain evidence, and of 1,346, who were tried and convicted, 78 were shot. Narciso Louez inaugurated a revolutionary movement in 1848, on the failure of which he escaped with some of his fellow revolutionists, reaching New York, where he began a new movement. His attempt to return to Cuba with a small party in 1849 was frustrated by United States authority. Organizing his forces outside of the United States in 1850 he landed in Cuba with 600 men, but was compelled to flee again, the party being chased by a Spanish war vessel to Key West, where the filibusters disbanded. Lopez, seconded by Colonel Crittenden, of Kentucky, led 450 men from New Orleans to Cuba in 1851. Dividing into two parties for their initial operations, they were surrounded by the Spanish forces. Crittenden was killed in action, while Lopez, who was captured, was subsequently shot. Stung by oppressive taxation, the Cubans, in 1868, began a war which lasted ten years. Carlos M. Cespedes, on October 10, at the head of 128 poorly equipped men, issued a declaration of independence, which drew to his standard within a few weeks 10,000 volunteers. Republic was organized in April, 1869, with a constitution which, as one of its features, abolished slavery. Cespedes was elected President, and General Quesada was made commander of the insurgent forces. The Cubans, despite their generally poor armament, had the best of the war in the matter of fighting, but the Spaniards had superior resources, and the struggle degenerated into guerilla warfare on the part of the insurgents. After ten years both sides were ready for peace and General Martinez de Campos, the Spanish commander, made overtures to the Cubans, at that time under Maximo Gomez, which resulted in the treaty of El Zanjon, signed on February 10, 1878. Under this treaty Cuba was given representation in the Spanish Cortes, but Spain managed to control the elections, and the representation soon came to exist in name only. It was evident that Cuba could hope for nothing under Spanish rule, but must bear a constantly increasing burden of disproportionate taxation. Jose Marti planned a new revolution in 1891. These organizing an expedition in New York, and fitting out three vessels with men and war materials. were intercepted by the United States authorities soon after sailing. Meanwhile there was a rebellion in Cuba. Marti joined Gomez, Crombet, Guerra and the Maceo brothers, all of whom had been in the former war, and plans were laid at the home of Gomez in Santo Domingo, which resulted in all of these leaders going to Cul in May, 1895, when they found that the insurgents had already made some headway. Marti was killed in a skirmish a few days after their arrival, and Gomez, succeeding him in command, was once more opposed to General Campos, his former foe. General Valeriano Weyler succeeded Campos in comman of the Spanish forces on February 10, 1896, and waged the war with such cruelty that he became known throughout the world as "The Butcher." In all these events, so far as they were subsequent to the establishment of the United States as an independent republic, there was a peculiar interest for the American Government. The proximity of Cuba and the important relation of the island to the commerce of the country made it desirable that peace should exist there. It was to this end that in 1848 President Polk made overtures to Spain for the purchase of Cuba, offering $100,000,000, which the Spanish Government declined. Besides the injury to trade sustained by the United States through the disturbances on the island there was the constant annoyance and frequent expense of maintaining international law by action to prevent invasion of Cuba by expeditions organized and fitted out in American territory. In addition there arose between the Spanish and American governments various issues which threatened warlike complications. The question of the right and the duty of the United States Government to interfere in the insular troubles came under discussion in official and other circles, and eventually there was developed a strong popular feeling in favor of such a course. This was manifest in repeated attempts to bring before Congress the question of recognizing the belligerency of the Cuban Republic. While the agitation was in progress the U. S. battleship Maine called at the port of Havana, and while lying there was blown up by the explosion of a submarine mine during the night of February 15, 1898. This, although not the reason for the warlike action subsequently taken by the United States Government, had the effect of hastening that action. On April 20, 1898, an ultimatum was sent to Spain demanding the evacuation of Cuba. This was rejected by Spain and a war ensued which was one-sided from the start and was practically decided on July 3, by the sinking of Admiral Cervera's fleet off Santiago. Through M. Jules Cambon, French Ambassador at Washington, Spain, on July 6, 1898, opened negotiations for peace; and the terms laid down by the United States Government were accepted on August 2. The protocol was signed August 12, and Peace Commissioners were appointed who met in Paris on October 1. A treaty was signed on December 1, under which Cuba was finally evacuated by the Spanish troops on February 6, 1899. A military government of the island had been established by the United States on July 18, 1898, with Major-General John A. Brooke, U. S. A., as Governor. It was designed to establish a civil government, but the Cubans objected to having a civil governor appointed from the United States. Major-General Leonard Wood, U. S. A., succeeded General Brooke as Military Governor on December 20, 1898, and he immediately appointed a civil cabinet consisting entirely of natives, to whom were committed the several portfolios of State and Government, Justice, Education, Finance, Agriculture, Industry and Commerce. Under the administration of Governor Wood the rehabilitation of the island made rapid progress, and the work of public improvement, including sanitation, was carried on with vigor. Meanwhile, preparations were made for independent self-government, which had been pledged to the Cubans by their deliverers. Delegates to a Constitutional Convention were elected by the people on September 15. 1900, and began their deliberations in Havana on November 5. A constitution was adopted on June 12, 1901, which included a provision for certain treaty arrangements, giving to the United States practically a protectorate over the island. The form of government adopted was republican, with a President and Vice-President, each to serve four years; and a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. General elections were held under this constitution on December 31, for presidential and senatorial electors, representatives in the lower house of Congress, and provincial governors and councillors. At a meeting of the electors chosen, held on February 24, 1902, General Tomas Estrada Palma was elected President. Under a call issued by Governor Wood, which at the same time dissolved the Constitutional Convention, the Cuban Congress held its first meeting on Mar 5. President-elect Palma announced his cabinet on May 16. The formal inauguration of the new government took place at noon on May 20, when President Palma took the oath of office. Amid the salutes of cannon the American flag was lowered from every public building in Havana and the Cuban flag was raised in its place. Within the hour the last United States troops left the soil of Cuba and General Wood embarked on the U. S. cruiser Brooklyn for his return homeward. Cuba was left to national independence won for her by the arms of the United States. THE ACT UNDER WHICH CUBA BECAME A NATION. The following is the text of the Platt Amendment which defined the relations between the United States and Cuba: 1. That 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 manner authorize or permit any power or powers to obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise lodgement in or control over any portion of said island. 2. That said government shall not assume or contract any public debt, to pay the interest upon which and to make reasonable sinking fund provision for the ultimate discharge of which the ordinary revenues of the island, after defraying the current expenses of government, shall be inadequate. 3. That the govenment of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the 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 undertaken by the government of Cuba. 4. That all acts of the United States in Cuba during its military occupation thereof are ratified and validated, and all lawful rights acquired thereunder shall be maintained and protected. 5. That the government of Cuba will execute, and, so far as necessary, extend the plans already devised, or other plans to be mutually agreed upon, for the sanitation of the cities of the island, to the end that a recurrence of epidemic and infectious diseases may be prevented, thereby assuring protection to the people and commerce of Cuba, as well as to the commerce of the southern ports of the United States and the people residing therein. 6. That the Isle of Pines shall be omitted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto left to future adjustment by treaty. 7. That to enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its own defence, the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points, to be agreed upon with the President of the United States. 8. That by way of further assurance, the government of Cuba will embody the foregoing provisions in a permanent treaty with the United States. The United States Government, in the latter part of 1902, appeared to be getting restless over a seeming disposition on the part of Cuba to evade the obligations it assumed by the incorporation of the Platt Amendment into the Constitution of the new Republic. Shortly after the inauguration of President Palma the United States sent to Cuba a commercial treaty, or "convention," the terms of which have not been published. Cuban authorities seemed to exhibit a complete indifference toward this treaty and failed to even recognize its existence. In October the Administration began to grow restless over the seeming disposition on the part of the new Republic to evade the obligations assumed by the incorporation of the Platt Amendment, and some decisive action on the part of the United States Government was rumored to be pending. From press reports it appears that the Cubans consider this treaty to offer them a small reduction on tariff charges, not enough to compensate them for the reduction asked by the United States. In view of a possible entanglement, it was said that the complete withdrawal of American troops from the Republic would be delayed for a time. The Post Office scandal, which came to light in 1901, and which involved C. F. W. Neely, Chief of the Finance Division: H. G. Rathbone, former Director-General of Posts, and W. H. Reeves, were settled in March, 1902, when Neely, Reeves and Rathbone were each sentenced to imprisonment and to pay fines on conviction of embezzlement from the Cuban Postal Funds. On June 7 the Cuban Congress passed an act granting amnesty to all Americans in prison in Cuba, either under conviction or awaiting trial. were affected by the act, which was signed by President Palma, and were freed. These three In President Palma's administration, so far has not been altogether peaceful. Almost from the day of his inauguration, criticism of his acts began and has steadily grown. The dissatisfaction seems to have arisen from various appointments of the President, and the granting of some important concessions. August it was rumored that an act of impeachment would be offered to the Congress, but it was never brought before that body for action. August 18, Emilio Terry resigned the portfolio of Secretary of Agriculture, giving "private reasons" as his grounds for this step. The newspapers of the island claimed it was done because of the policy of the administration, which did not please Senor Terry. President Palma in his message to the first Congress of the Republic expressed gratitude to the Americans for liberty obtained for Cuba, said that the future of the Republic depended upon education, and called especial attention to the necessity of keeping the relations betwen Cuba and the United States most friendly. In his message delivered November 3, 1902, the President spoke of the good order which had prevailed in the Republic since the Congress last met, and especially of the cordiality existing between his country and the United States. He referred only briefly to the recent treaty mentioned above. The estimated income of the island is $17,513,800, and the expenditures $14,899,800, leaving a surplus of $2,614,000. The Cuban Cabinet, at the close of 1902, is as follows: Vice-President, Luis Estevez Romero; Secretary of Justice, Carlos Zaldo; Secretary of State and Government, Diego Tamayo; Secretary of Finance, Jose Garcia Montes; Secretary of Public Instruction, Eduardo Yero; Secretary of Agriculture (acting), M. L. Diaz; Secretary of Public Works, Manuel Luciano Diaz. HALL Delaware. Capital: Delaware, one of the thirteen original States, and next to the smallest in the United States, takes its name from Lord De la Ware, or Delawarr, Governor of Virginia, who entered the bay in 1610. The discovery of the Delaware, however, was made in 1609, by Hudson. In 1829 De Vries and thirty colonists from Holland settled near Lewes. In 1637 the Swedish West Indian Company sent out a colony of Swedes and Finns, who settled the country from Cape Henlopen to the falls near Trenton. In 1656 the territory was reclaimed by the Dutch, who sent to Sweden all of those original colonists who refused to swear allegiance to Holland. Delaware settlements continued to be under Dutch control until 1664, when New Netherlands was conquered by the English. Later William Penn obtained the grant of a tract along the Delaware River, which he called the "territories of three counties along the Delaware." The State became distinct from Maryland in 1703. The State has an area of 2,050 square miles, and in 1901 its estimated population was 187,000. It is famous for its orchards and for the qualities of its fruits. Upon its horticulture and upon its geographical position depend the industrial status of the State. The markets of Philadelphia and Baltimore are easily accessible for its products and many railroads bring coal and iron from the Pennsylvania mines. The principal manufacturing industries are iron and steel products; rolling mills, car shops, machine shops and ship building plants being of most importance. The total value of the products of these industries in 1900 was 30.7 per cent of the value of all the products of the State. The most remarkable development has been in the fruit canning and preserving industries, which advanced 112.2 per cent in a decade. There has been a marked decline in the manufacture of fertilizer and of cotton and woollen goods in the same period. The main interest of the session of the Delaware Legislature of 1901 was centred in the fight for United States Senatorship. The and was in session until March 8, without the deadlock being broken. divided into two factions, those in Addicks and those opposed to him. Addicks dates back to 1889, when Mr. Addicks displayed great energy especially in the Democratic coun lowing he held the balance of power publicans in the Legislature, but it In 1899 the expirement of the vacancy in the National Senate, the cry of "Addicks or nobody." opposed to Mr. Addicks, refused to so the party in the House could not tor Gray. In 1901 the Legislature had two, for the term of Senator Ken 1901. The Addicks men endeavored opponents in the Legislature by lar Republicans to propose a can that Addicks be elected to the long clined by the opposition, and futile Legislature adjourned. The regular time for adjourn had been a ruling in 1900 to the appoint a Senator if a vacancy the Legislature, and as the term of 4, it was thought the part of wis until after that date. Gov. John Hunn. Legislature met January 1, 1901, and nearly daily ballots were taken The Republicans of the House were favor of the election of J. Edward The Senatorial ambition of Mr. he became a citizen of the State. in organizing the Republican forces, ties, and through his personal folbetween the Democrats and Rewas not enough to control the vote. term of Senator George Gray left a and there was immediately raised The "regular" Republicans, those accept him as their candidate, and agree upon a man to replace Senato elect not only one Senator, but ney would expire on March 4, to compromise matters with their offering to permit any of the regudidate for the short term provided term. The proposition was deballots were taken daily until the ment was March 1, but as there effect that a Governor could not "happened" during a session of Senator Kenney would expire March dom not to adjourn the Legislature On August 19, 1902, the "regular" Republicans met in convention and nominated L. H. Ball for Congress. The Union Republicans the Addicks faction-held their convention on September 2, nominating William M. Byrne for Congress, Addicks having stated that he would withdraw from the convention if the nomination of Ball was indorsed. The platform of the Union Republicans touched on State issues and indorsed the Administration of President Roosevelt, although claiming that the Union Republicans had received unfair and unjust treatment. It approved President Roosevelt's Cuban policy and demanded that the anthracite coal mines be opened and held that the use of the mines should be controlled by the courts. It was asserted that trusts were a menace to the safety of the country. A plan offered with the view of breaking the Senatorial deadlock was that both factions unite on a man from a list of twenty names, Addicks to be omitted, was not even considered by the Addicks faction. At the suggestion of the Governor the Delaware Legislature of 1901 instructed the Attorney-General to take the necessary legal steps to protect the rights of the State in the boundary dispute between that State and New Jersey. The contest grew out of the arrest of some Delaware fishermen who were fishing along the New Jersey shore in 1871. Delaware claimed sovereignty over the Delaware River to the low water mark on the New Jersey shore opposite New Castle and distant not more than twelve miles from the coast. New Jersey claimed jurisdiction of all the river east of an imaginary line drawn down the centre of the stream. The litigation is now pending in the United States Supreme Court. Denmark. Capital: COPENHAGEN. From its earliest days the Crown of Denmark has been elective. When the male line of the princely House of Svend Estridsen became extinct, in 1448, the Diet selected Christian I., Count of Oldenburg, as ruler of the country, and the dignity remained in that family until 1863, when the male line became extinct with the death of King Frederick VII. In view of this lack of direct heirs, therefore, the Powers of Europe prepared and signed the treaty of 1852. by the terms of which the succession to the throne was bestowed upon Prince Christian of SchleswigHolstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg and his male descendants, through his union with Princess Louise. of Hesse Cassel, who was the neice of King Christian VIII. of Denmark. Prince Christian, who assumed the title of King Christian IX, was born April 8, 1818, being the_fourth son of the late Duke Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg. His marriage to Queen Louise, who was born September 7, 1817, occurred on May 26, 1842. She died September 29, 1898. They had issue: Name. 1. Prince Frederick, heir apparent. 1872 (3.) Princess Louise. (4.) Prince Harold.. 1875 1876 1878 1880 1887 (8.) Princess Dagmar. 1890 2. Princess Alexandra.. 1845 485 1887 1888 1890 (4.) Prince Viggo.. (5.) Princess Margrethe. 1893 1895 THE MINISTRY [Appointed July 23, 1901].-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Premier, J. W. Denntzer: Minister of Interior, Enerold Sorensen; Minister of War, Colonel W. H. O. Madsen; Minister of Justice and Minister for Iceland, Worship and Instruction, J. G. Admiral F. H. Johnke; Minister of Agriculture, O. Hansen, and Minis THE NATION.-The constitu Denmark dates back to 1849. It King and his Ministers, and the two houses, and the sovereigns of Laudsthing, or upper house, twelve for life and fifty-four chosen by es of eight years. The Folkething, or bers, elected by universal ballot, The established religion of Den to which church the King must be the affairs of the National Church. and absolute. Elementary education in Den being from seven to fourteen. The mune, are free. Besides the an there are a great number of Gov tions for higher study. Over the Courts of Justice in Courts of Appeal at Copenhagen Court of Final Appeal, at Copen Finance. The estimated bud ture, $18,097,052; revenue, $18, Denmark is an agricultural cent is productive; less than half being pasture, meadow and forest. $235,750; of exports, $168,875. King of Denmark. P. A. Alberti; Minister of Public the hundreds (districts) are two and Viborg. The Hojesteret, hagen, caps the system of judiciary. get for 1902-03 shows: Expendi217,899. country. Of its total area, 80 per of this is arable, the remainder The value of imports in 1900 was The Danish provinces consist of the Danish West Indies, of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. These latter are important, though small, containing but 515 square miles and having a population of but 12,900. The Danish Government has made the trade of Greenland a State monopoly. It amounts to $166,200 in imports and to $68,000 in exports. Iceland is perhaps the most important of the Danish possessions, and does the largest business. The export trade in fish, sheep and ponies in 1900 amounted to $598,600, while the import trade was $477,000. in the necessities of life. Iceland has its own Governor and Al-thing, or Assembly, although these are largely controlled by the Danish Government. The Danish West Indies are the most important of Denmark's New World possessions. Although negotiations were long continued for their sale to the United States, and a treaty was signed January 24, 1902, and ratified in the American Senate February 17, 1902. the transfer has not as yet been made. These islands are three in number, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. St, Thomas and St. John are members of the Virgin group, and are formed by a prolongation of the elevation that forms the Greater Antilles. They are 38 miles due east of Porto Rico. St. Croix, the largest of the three, lies 50 miles to their south and 60 miles southeast of Porto Rico. It belongs to the Lesser Antilles. St. Croix is usually regarded as the capital of the group. The largest city, Charlotte Amalia, is in St. Thomas, and has a population of 10.000. Christiansted, in St. Croix, has a population of 5,500. The cultivable area is not large. St. Croix has 16,500 acres of sugar plantations. All three produce considerable quantities of tropical fruits and small quantities of rum, tobacco and bay rum. The commerce of the islands, which was formerly considerable by reason of the fact that the port of Charlotte Amalia, on St. Thomas, has been for many years a free port, and one easily utilized by vessels engaging in the West Indian traffic, has materially deteriorated since the application of steam to navigation. Steam packets, with regular service, now visit every island in the West Indies, and thus render each island independent of local supplies, and the comparative monopoly formerly enjoyed by St. Thomas and its port of Charlotte Amalia has been to a considerable extent reduced. The imports from the three islands into the United States in 1901 amounted to $478,262, while the exports from the United States to the islands were $692,150, an excess of $213.888. The budget estimate for 1900 in St. Thomas and St. John provided for a joint expenditure of $179,686, while the revenue was only $95,620. In St. Croix the revenue amounted to $155,365, while the expenditure was $253,215. |