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Origin and Conduct of Cuban Wars: Tacon

In Clarence King's pamphlet, "Shall Cuba be free?" he very clearly sketches the first flagrancy of discordant relations between Spain and Cuba--the time in the administration of Tacon, sixty years ago. Mr. King says: "General Tacon was the instrument of Spanish greed in Cuba, a soldier of violence and ignorance, who came to the captain--generalcy embittered from a failure to encompass Spanish ends in South America. Tacon was a true type of the Spanish oppressor, born with a contempt for all other than force and hardened by the omnipotence of his Spanish commission." It was when this soldier was in full power that the news of the Constitution, proclaimed in Spain, reached Cuba, September 27, 1836, and a movement was made by Cubans to secure their just share of the liberties accorded Spaniards, but Tacon ordered that there should not be the slightest change without his express orders. Now Tacon was serving under a royal commission that contained this language: "for the important end of preserving in that precious Island (Cuba) his legitimate sovereign authority and public tranquility through proper means, has resolved, in accordance with the opinion of his council of ministers, to give to your Excellency the fullest authority, bestowing upon you all the powers which by royal ordinances are granted to the governors of besieged cities. In consequence of this His Majesty gives to your Excellency the most complete and unbounded power."