74 CUBA AND POBTO KICO 



tion could be detected in Spain's treatment of this colony 

 during the past century. Cuba, under perpetual misgov- 

 ernnient, lias seen her trade decrease, her crops reduced, 

 her Creoles deserting to the United States and the Spanish 

 republics, and her taxes trebled in vain, to meet the ever- 

 increasing expenses and floating debts. England, in the 

 wisdom of her government, has distributed colonies 

 throughout the world, given them the fullest limit of self- 

 government, preserved the patriotism and loyalty of their 

 people, opened their commerce to all nations upon equal 

 grounds, and demanded of them not one cent of tribute. 

 Her colonial system is the highest practical manifestation 

 of the civilization of the age. The colonial policy of Spain 

 toward Cuba has been the antithesis of this in every 

 respect. 



Cuba is divided into two dioceses, which are the arch- 

 bishopric of Santiago de Cuba, containing fifty-five par- 

 ishes, and the bishopric of Havana, containing one hun- 

 dred and forty-four parishes. No Cuban-born priests are 

 found in any church of importance. In the cathedral 

 chapter at Havana there is only one Cuban, and only two 

 natives have ever obtained any especial preferment, the 

 miter never. 



The same oppression obtained in the church as in the state, 

 the former being used for base ends in many instances, 

 and against the protest of the authorities at Rome. While 

 nominally Catholics, and so holding that church responsi- 

 ble for what they do, many Spaniards in and out of Cuba 

 are very poor Catholics, and they commit many acts of 

 which the church authorities by no means approve. For 

 example, the Cuban native who becomes a Roman Catholic 

 priest fares about as badly as does the Protestant preacher. 



There is not a parish on the whole island that supports 

 an endowed school. Recently there was a crusade against 

 the civil marriage ceremony. The objection came because 

 of the loss of fees to the priest. The crusade was led by 

 the Spanish-born priests, who charge Cubans twice as much 



