ween her fingers.
She has always held on with eager greed to all that she could lay her
hands on. It is certainly food for the unrestrained laughter of gods and
men that she has recently been sneering at the United States as a nation
of traders and money grubbers.

CHAPTER II.

THE BRITISH OCCUPATION--SPAIN'S GRATITUDE.

In the early years of the eighteenth century, Cuba was more or less at
peace, that is so far as Spain, a degenerate mother of a far more
honorable daughter, would allow her to be at peace, and she increased in
population, and, to a certain extent, in material prosperity.

But in 1717, a revolt broke out, a revolt which was thoroughly
justified.

Spain felt that the agricultural wealth of the island was increasing,
and she desired for herself practically the whole of the advantages
which accrued from it.

Therefore, she demanded a royal monopoly of the tobacco trade. This
demand was strenuously and bitterly opposed by the Cubans.

The Captain-General, Raja, was obliged to flee, but finally the trouble
was ended, and Spain, by might far rather than by right, had her way.
The monopoly was established.

But the oppressive government led to another uprising in 1723, which
again was quickly quelled. Twelve of the leaders were hanged by Guazo,
who was at that time the captain-general.

Twice, therefore, did the one who was in the wrong conquer, simply from
the possession of superior force.

It is said that the mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceeding
small. And in the light of recent events, this seems to be, and in fact,
so far as human intelligence can determine, it is true.

Richard Le Galliene, to-day, toward the end of the nineteenth century,
speaks in clarion tones, as follows:

"Spain is an ancient dragon,
That too long hath curled
Its coils of blood and darkness
About the new-born world.

Think of the Inquisition
Think of the Netherlands!
Yea! think of all Spain's bloody deeds
In many times and lands.

And let no feeble pity
Your sacred arms restrain;
This is God's mighty moment
To make an end of Spain."

About this time, that is, from 1724 to 1747, Cuba, chiefly, if not
almost entirely, at Havana, became a ship building centre, of course,
once more, at least for a time, to the advantage of Spain. In all, there
were constructed some one hundred and twenty-five vessels, carrying
amongst them four thou