Hammond Times, Volume 15, Number 179, Hammond, Lake County, 20 January 1922 — Page 12

PACT, TWKLVK!

THE TIMES. Friday, January 20, 1922.

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CENTER OF FOUR

CENTURIES CFPOMANTIC HISTORY-

t"AD a groTip f -J tlernen preaer

By GARRET SMITH

Cuban gn-

preaented them-

years apo to the officials at Washington nf1 otinomncwl that Ibey were a commercial mission, mrv.t y their gcverDtueot to pieaJ .ith the UnJUM ?tateg not to enact a tariff law that wnuM financially crlyp! their country, we would fcav ben as amated s would have n the n;en of a preTious generation fcad sTJcli a misalon presented Itself fron Japan. Tet snch a miaion came from Oita riKrently and was received by the State Depart -tr.ent with the consideration dae irepresentatlves ot one of Ainerlcn'i "beat International customers and mst barmon'ous neighbors. Cuha In lesser degree parallel 'Japan aa a sleeper who awoke sadtfenly to a state of surp'rtsing ac

tivity. Japan was a giant who had flnmbered in andmf barharistn for thousands of years. Cuba has .proven herself a little giant wbosa ep of medievalism lasted four Pntur'e-a. The history of what went befora Cnha's awakening, daring those 400 Sark years of Spunieh mismla. Is a tlosed book to most Americana, though one of the most romantic 3:os in the world's annals. Whatever may have been the romance in Ccba's existence tinder Fpain, If Is a story of misrule largely throngh oppressive taxation, hampering her economic development end fomenting political disturbances. Although couched In vry diplomatic and carefully phrased Isnimage. the Cuban Commercial Mission's rase, a presented to the SenAte Finance Committee thxousrh th? State Department, was a plea for the United States not to repeat tbronph III considered tariff lesslalion the mistakes made centuries ro by ?paln. The m!ss!on polntexl out that sugar Is Cnba'a main dependence, not only for economic and Industrial welfare but also for po

litical stability and that a burdensome American tariff would destroy her chief market for that product and place both the Cuban people ami their government la jeopardy of bankruptcy. Cuba's atory Is of peculiar Interest now as a background for the center stage position In the commercial world which her financial. Industrial and political troubles have placed her sine the collapse of the sngar market and the consequent financial depression In the Island. The story of her struggle for Independence Is a story of straggle against oppressive taxation. It !s the basis of the argument of American business men against the GO per cent Increase In the tariff on Cuban sugar. Remote as Cuba seemed during those four centuries under Spain, the warp and woof of her annals and her destiny were from the start closely Interwoven with those of

the United States, through whose aid she finally awoke to full realization of her latent possibilities. To begin with, Cuba was among the discoveries of Columbus on hla first yage In 1492, and that great navigator went to his death believing that In Cuba he had found the mainland he sought, the contLnent on which was later built our republic. And Cuba, like the United State, was first settled by Spaniards. And

to Cuba, as to the American colonies, came the English to give the first impetus toward political freedom and modern progress, though with Cuba the leaven was weaker and slower to the working. To Cuba, too, came the Irish, the French to mlr their strains with the original stock, tliongh In Cuba, unlike America, the Spanish blood continued to predominate. In 1523 she took upon herself th same vexatious problem that for so many years plagued America when she began the African slave trade. She had her Indian problem, too. For a time she enslaved these aborigines, but ahe seem to have solved her problem early by emancipating them tn 154-4;

LD CATHEDRAL. HAVANA

HERE RESTED THE BODY OF COLUMBUS

UNTIL AFTER THE 3BUUSH-AMERICAN VWWL

A STREET OF OLD HAVANA-TRACES OF THE ANCIENT CITY STUL REMAIN IN LOU HOUSES AND NARROW STREETS.

The sixteenth aiid the early part of the seventeenth centuries were a period of tyrannical oppression and unjust taxation for Cuba, accompanied almost continuously by wild romantic violence. Brigandage reigned ashore, smuggling and piracy on the sea. There was an almost unbroken series of Insurrections against Spanish tyranny and

of struggles between factions. It waa during this period that English and French pirates began and continned their reign of terror on the Spanish Main. The disastrous economic rule of Cuba was a breeder of privateering and smuggling. In 1762 came Cnba'a first real tentative step forward. In that year the British stormed and captured Havana. The city was returned to Spain In exchange for the Florldas a year later, but the progressive organlrtng genius cf the British had left Its lufluanc. They had opened and developed the port of Havana and given a new impetus to Cnban commerce. They Inspired in Cubans the desire for political free

dom. Cuba demanded and obtained I-eclal privileges which for a time she retained after her capital city was returned to Its old masters. In that year really began CuCa's mod

ern history.

1 In 1S2B, however, reaction set in, .Just as It had a generation or more I beforw under the British rule of the American colonies. The captains general of Cuba received arbitrary

powers and a new rHgn of tyranny and discord began. In 1834 the Spanish constitution was proclaimed in Cuba without the governor's consent and was promptly suppressed. The climax of this period came In 1841 with a bloody persecution of the rejrroes for a supposed plot of rebellion against Spain involving the alleged ambitions of Greet Britain and the United States to annex the Island. From 1820 on Cuba had been getting more and more Involved In International affairs concerning particularly Spain, the United States, England, France, Colombia and Mexico. In 1550, during the time that the slavery question was embroiling the United States in discord, Cuba becrme Involved seriously In

the the

During the remainder of the j the same problem. During that year

eighteenth century and through the proslavery Interests in the United

early nineteenth century the Island

enjoyed a succession oT liberal governors. The turmoil of European war had practically cut Cuba off from the mother country during this period and left her almost Independent Plotting for actual Independence began with the adoption of the Spanish constitutional government of 1812. Even then the close tie with the new government of the United States of America was recognised in Cuba. The question of her annexation to the United States was freely agitated. Liberal change la this etni-detacbed colony of Spain developed further and farther. One of Its manifestations was the abolition of the lav trade In 1820. ' j

States advocated annexation. Presidents Pierce and Bachanan vainly sought such nnlon. From 1S49 to 1851 thera were three abortive filibustering expeditions to Onba from the United States, From 1850 to

1868 there was a steady conflict between the liberals and the reactionaries, centering around the connivance of the captains general in Ille

gal slave trade. Then as the slavery question had culminated In war tn the United States it reached the same climax in Cuba only a little later with the Ten Years War beginning In 18G8. the rebels combining two factions against Spain. The reformists demanded action against corruption and nnjtist taxation end slavery and recognition of equality between the

' Spaniards born In Spain and Creoles. Separatists favored

same reforms, but went a step farther in advocating complete separation from Spain, some favoring independence and others annexation with the United States. It was a bloody and destructive war, and Intervention by the United States was sought and expected, but it failed to materialize. The war ended with the rebels accepting the terms demanded, including abolition of slavery and colonial autonomy. It was 1885, however, before the slaves were all emancipated, and in 1893 equal civil status for blacks and whites was declared. The Spanish constitution of 1870 was proclaimed In Cuba In 1SI, but the changes effected were only nominal and superficial. The struggle kept on until it culminated In the final insurrection of 1S95, which ended with American Intervention and in the Spanish-American war of 1898. now America cleaned up Cuba, reorganized its government and put tt on a truly modern basis during her military rule of the Island from 1899 to 1002 and again during tt occupation from 10OU to 1P09 ts famiHar history to every one- It was America's final recognition of a common bond between

herself and the Island people at her gate. Cuba last came conspicuously Into International limelight when she

promptly followed her foster mother Into the "World War and trained her little army for service abroad. Today we are faced with the questions presented by the Cuban Commercial Mission. We must decide whether we shall continue our historic tie in the spirit of the past by liberal tariff laws and cor.timie to develop our prosperous trad relations wtth'Cnhl OT whether bv n

consliVred awl burdensome enactmeats we shall cripple this giant and send tixa back to his slumbers, Spain crlprled Cuba by unjust taxation. Shall we. who freed the little Wand from that burden, turn about now and destroy her by the same process? It U In Havana and the country roundabout chiefly that visltlns; Americans today can see concrete memorials of the historic incidents which awakened this young giant and have so closely bound Cuba's destiny to ours. Diego Velasqoer, In 1515, foradml on the south coast of Cuba a city, wh'ch he called San Cristobal de la Havana, after the name of a tribe of Indians he found there. Four years later, however, the colonists bcame dissatisfied with his selection and, crossing the island to the north shore, re-established the city where It now stand. Ever since if has been the center of the Island's history, although It was not until 1556 that It became formally the capital of Cuba. In Morro Castle, guarding the eastern entrance to Havana harbor, one sees the lonely old watch tower that back in the early days of the sixteenth century stood guard the hilltop of Morro so that the pJrstes could not take the little community unawares. Later one sees England's fleet of 200 ships lying In a semicircle oT the entrance of the harbor. When the commander of the castle could no longer hold out be exploded a mine and nearly wrecked the oil fortress rather than surrender. X little further within the harbor lies La Cabana, the largest and most impressive ancient fort of the western hemisphere, built In 1763-shortly after the British evacuation. When Spain's army retired from Cuba In 18W) both Cabana and Morro were filled with long lines of cells in which thousands of politics! prisoners bad spent years of con

finement. Up to the departure of Spaln'ssrmy from Havana tn 1809 sections of the old city wall several blocks in length, extending through the heart of the town, still remained Intact. Only one small piece remains today, hovever. of the woras that was bejnm'ln 1633 and not completed until 1740. Near the landing place at. the foot of O'Reilly street still stands th fortress La Fuera, on whose drawbridge Mme. de Sot a stood In 153! and watched her husband sail awep to the conquest of Florida, an expedition which ended In his death and burial in the Mississippi River, whVch he discovered. Then there is the Cathedral of Havana, In which rested the bon of Christopher Columbus until at the request of the Pope the SpanlsJ forces were allowed to remove the tar tv Seville, Spain, on their departure In 1899. These are only a few of the urnents that remind Americans ot the varions turning points In Cuban

history In which onr race and nation have a pecuHar Interest, ranging all the way from those old fortresses remlnlsoent of the first In fusion of Anglo Saxon Ideas an! ideels Into Cuba to the srt In Havana harbor where sank the Maine, to San Juan hill and to the neck of .nf!nsro harbor where Hobson sank

Attend This Big: 1i jpl ) I i DOJl 1Lflf3 C ,j

h u MidUSeason Sfiaoe Sale

State Street Hammoed 1;

and save 50 on the dollar. Everything must be sold quick! So don't delay, but Hurry Here! ! To take your choice of Men's and young men's suits, pants, shoes, overcoats, shirts, underwear, overalls, overshoes, sheep lined coats, mackinaws and hundreds of other items.

L

9

west rnces m

moni

Men's Overalls Sears Roebuck, best made, triple stitched, guaranteed not to shrink, full cut, sold anywhere in the United States for $2.00, a pair, our Bankrupt Sale (! "1 OC price e i ?

Children's Overalls, all sizes

Children's Flannel Waists, at

Children's Heavy Flannel, (Kakai color) ...... Boys' Slioes at

h Men's Caps

39c 49c ...59c $1.99 37c

Men's Heavy Wool Socks, regular OQ $1.25 seller, for .. Men's Extra Heavy Winter Caps, 5 C Boys' heavy Wool Knee Pants, (S? 1 QQ all sizes Men's Extra Heavy Working Gloves, Q at ,

Men's Heavy Canvas Mittens, at Men's Heavy Work Pants,

at

9c $1.55

Men's Blue Serge and Wovstetl 2.17 Pants, pair . . . Men's Worsted Suit, while Q . 5 0 they last

$ 1250

t ,"H0LTERSH0E$J

Regardless of former cost or present day values, we are slashing to rock bottom, every pair of shoes in this stoTe. Thousands of pairs of desirable styles in footwear for the entire family will be placed on sale beginning Saturday, at prices which mean shoe economies for everybody.

Women's Brown Calf-Oxfords, gg rubber heel, sale price . . . Women's Brown and Black Hi QEj Shoes, French heel sale price Women's Fine Quality Kid Skin Shoe, military heel, this )j) 45 sale Brown Oxfords, medium heel gg 45 semi-brogue last, special . . v Growing Girls' Brown Calf Skin Shoe A fine school shoe, sale $3,95 price One Lot of Strap Slippers, black or brown, medium or Hi heel, this (g QJJ sale ...... -i. ........

Women's Felt Slippers All colors and styles, values up to $2.25, this

sale

$1.29

Baby Shoes Fine quality kid skin, hand turned sole, sale price $1.65

Men's Genuine Calf Skin Goodyear Welt Shoes, newest winter styles, (?f QC this sale P.OU Men's Kangaroo Shoes, broad toe, rubber heels and cushion insole, g 35 Children's Brown and Black Shoes, all solid leather, this ?' O sale

Same in misses'

$2.95

Youth's black Broad Toe Shoes O OC good 6c solid, sizes 10-13K2 Boys' Tan Army Last, just the Q A C shoe for this time of year. V-'a Men's W. L. Douglas Shoes, in $C OC 5 different styles, all sizes. P

Also many other splendid brands. Space being limited, we h aven't room for all, but come in and see for yourself, T922 merchandise at 1912 prices.

SUCCESSOR TO HELLERMAN SHOE STORE 595 HOH'MAN STREET HAMMOND, INDIANA

Men's Blue Serge Suits, at ;

at - i . 'i.. i. . ; ., i .. Vwf hi j