Meantime the war was being carried on in the provinces with varying success, but dissensions finally arose between the civil and military authorities of the republic of Cuba, and as “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” the effectiveness of the campaign was destroyed, and, in 1878, concessions were offered by the Spanish government, which were accepted by the revolutionists, and the struggle was abandoned.

What the outcome of the contest might have been, could it have been continued with the leaders united for its success, is an open question.  As the years went by the rank and file of the Cuban army seemed to be more determined than ever to throw off the yoke, and the government in Spain became less prompt in sending supplies of men and money to carry on the war.  They eagerly seized the opportunity to bring it to a close, and the treaty of Zanjon, which was signed by General Martinez Campos, the Spanish Governor-General of the island, and General Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban army, promised many reforms, and gave amnesty to all who had taken part in the rebellion.

CHAPTER XV.

THE PEACE OF ZANJON AND ITS VIOLATED PLEDGES

Spanish Hypocrisy and Deceit—­Cubans Denied Representation—­ Increase of Taxation—­The Royal Edicts—­A Plausible Argument, Which Is Not Borne Out by Facts—­Spain’s Promises Always Broken.

If Spain had been sincere in the promises of reform she made her Cuban colony when the treaty of Zanjon was signed, it is probable that the present war would have never occurred.  For while a few of the leaders—­notably General Maceo—­refused to become pacified, the great majority of the better classes were glad to accept a peaceful settlement on terms that gave them, in fact, if not in name, nearly every concession for which they had fought.

But it did not take them long to learn that they had been duped.  Spain granted to Cuba the liberties of Puerto Rico, which had none.  On this deceitful ground was laid the new situation, through which ran a current of falsehood and hypocrisy.  Spain, whose mind did not change, hastened to change the name of things.  The captain-general was called the governor-general.  The royal decrees took the name of authorizations.  The commercial monopoly of Spain was named coasting trade.  The right of banishment was transformed into the law of vagrancy.  The brutal attacks of defenseless citizens were called “componte.”  The law of constitutional guarantees became the law of public order.  Taxation without the consent or knowledge of the Cuban people was changed into the law of estimates (budget) voted by the representatives of Spain.