He was the founder
of the first public library and the first newspaper which had
existed in the island. He showed his ability as an executive by
restraining the restless population under the excitement which
accompanied the revolution in the neighboring colony of Santo
Domingo, which ended by the loss to Spain of that island.
One of the earliest causes of ill feeling between the islanders of
Cuba and the people of Spain occurred just at the end of the
administration of Las Casas in 1796. In the seventy years prior to
that time a great navy yard grew up on the Bay of Havana, and 114
war vessels were built there to convoy the Spanish treasure ships.
All at once this flourishing industry was closed on the demand of
the ship-builders of Spain that the work should be done in the
mother country. As might have been expected, this aroused great
indignation among a large number of people in Havana who had been
dependent upon the industry.
It was about the same time, or just a hundred years before the
outbreak of our war with Spain, that sugar became an important
article of general commerce.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153