Chapter 11 Section 5 Against Spanish Colonial Rule

In 1847, the British sailing ship "Duke of Argyll" trafficked 365 indentured Chinese laborers from Xiamen to the port of Havana, creating a precedent for indentured Chinese laborers to enter Cuba.From 1847 to 1854, the number of indentured Chinese laborers who immigrated to Cuba reached 42,501 (not including the number of deaths on the way), accounting for about 1/30 of the total Cuban population at that time.After that, about 500,000 Chinese laborers went to Cuba Island.The contracted Chinese laborers suffered various tortures on the way, and the death rate was astonishing.According to the investigation and statistics of the arrival of contracted Chinese labor ships in Cuba by the Cuban "Malina Daily", a total of 50,123 contracted Chinese laborers traveled from Hong Kong and Macau to Havana from 1847 to 1859, and 7,722 died on the way, with a mortality rate as high as 15.2%.

After the indentured Chinese laborers arrived at the port of Havana, they were sold to "traders".During the auction, the Chinese laborers had to take off their clothes and let the employer inspect and select them.Indentured laborers were generally sold to plantations for sugar cane production.Under the supervision of the Spanish colonial rulers and Cuban plantation owners, the Chinese laborers fell into the abyss of misery.According to the contract, "the working hours shall be determined by the buyer according to the nature of the work", so the daily labor of the Chinese laborers sometimes lasts 18 hours or even 20 hours, depending on the arrangement of the plantation owner or supervisor.What's more, on April 10, 1849, the Cuban authorities also promulgated the "Administrative Law on Importing Chinese Laborers from Cuba", which imposed various punitive regulations on working in China.It stipulates that "Chinese workers must absolutely obey the official and anyone who leads him to work." "No matter in work or other aspects, anyone who disobeys the orders of his superiors shall be given twelve lashes. If there is resistance, an additional eighteen lashes will be given. If If you still refuse to obey, you can put him in shackles, or put him in shackles to sleep... ". "Where more than two people refuse to work together, each of them will be whipped twenty-five times, then shackled and fettered at night for two months."Except for the suspension of wages during the escape period, the search and arrest and repatriation expenses are deducted from the wages of the Chinese workers, "they should also wear the shackles for two months. If they escape again, the punishment period (including wearing the shackles) will be extended for four months." ".The provisions of the Chinese Labor Management Law legalized the torture and killing of Chinese laborers by Cuban plantation owners and supervisors, making them more confident.These Chinese laborers worked according to the regulations and the eight-year contract expired, and they could be free. However, the Cuban authorities issued an order in 1858 that the Chinese laborers who had expired the contract must sign a new contract within two months, otherwise they were ordered to leave the country.Due to lack of travel expenses to return to the motherland, the Chinese laborers had nowhere to go, so they were forced to sell themselves again.Some indentured laborers often commit suicide because they cannot bear the inferior life during the contract period.According to statistics, 101 Chinese laborers committed suicide in 1865, and 142 in 1857; some Chinese laborers took violent forms and died together with the colonists and planters.In 1856 alone, there were 129 murders by Chinese laborers, 10 injuries, and two riots.The Spanish colonial rule in Cuba made the contracted Chinese laborers fall into dire straits, and made the contracted Chinese laborers a natural ally of the Cuban people against Spanish colonial rule.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Spanish American colonies were liberated and a series of independent countries were established. Only Cuba and Puerto Rico, two island countries in the Caribbean Sea, were still under Spanish colonial rule.Inspired and promoted by the independence movements in various parts of Latin America, Cuba has been fighting for independence since the beginning of the 19th century, setting off an early independence movement.Since the middle of the 19th century, Cuba has carried out two wars of independence: the first war of independence - the ten-year war (1868-1878); the second war of independence (1895-1898).After two wars of independence, Cuba finally ended Spain's more than 300 years of colonial rule.The reason why Cuba won victory and independence was the result of the joint struggle of the people of the country, including Cuban slaves, free blacks, mixed-race people, and some plantation owners, and it was also the result of the active struggle of Chinese laborers.

On April 7, 1866, a group of Cuban planters in exile in New York, USA established the "Republican Association of Cuba and Puerto Rico". , color of the inhabitants of absolute liberty". In July 1867, Francisco Vicente Heguilera, a native white Cuban, organized an "Independence Committee" in Bayamo, Oriente Province, announcing the overthrow of Spanish colonial rule by force and the complete independence of Cuba. On October 10, 1868, 38 plantation owners headed by Carman de Cespedes rang the bell at the Di Majagua sugar factory near Yala, Oriente Province, to summon the slaves. Equipping these slaves with weapons such as old-fashioned rifles and spears, an armed uprising was officially held, Cuba was declared independent, and the "Declaration of Independence" (the "Call of Yala") was issued, thus opening the prelude to the Cuban people's opposition to Spanish colonial rule .

Cespedes put forward the slogan of "liberty and equality" in the "Declaration of Independence", emphasizing the revolutionary principle of "respect for all peaceful inhabitants and life and property".These revolutionary slogans and principles opened the hearts of Cuban indentured laborers.Many contracted Chinese laborers quickly joined the ranks of the revolution as if it was raining after a long drought.Just as Gonzalo, a close comrade-in-arms of Jose Marti, recorded: "On October 10, 1869 (should be 1868—the author), Yena (Yara, place name) revolted. Slaves (referring to Cubans) hold high the banner of fraternity, no matter what kind of slaves, they can seek freedom under this banner. Although the Chinese are suffering, they still have the inspiration. If they rely on it, they can restore the lost freedom, and then Decide to join the revolutionary army voluntarily.”

As time went by, the rebel army gradually won victory in the eastern part of Cuba.At the same time, Chinese laborers from Oriente, Camagüey and Las Vegas provinces joined the rebel army one after another.Only 200 Chinese laborers participated in the team of the rebel general Gallisto Garcia, and 400 Chinese laborers joined the team of Napoleon.During the entire uprising period, more than 1,000 Chinese laborers participated in the uprising team. Chinese laborers joined the revolutionary ranks, posing a serious threat to the rule of the Spanish colonial government. On July 20, 1870, the Governor of Cuba sent a letter to the Spanish government, comprehensively expounding the adverse influence of Chinese laborers on Cuba's politics and economy, and suggested stopping the importation of Chinese laborers.But the Spanish government has yet to pay attention.On August 29 of the same year, the Governor of Cuba wrote to the Spanish government again, expressing his support for the above proposal. He said: "At present, the Chinese laborers have openly refused to fulfill the terms of the contract. threaten the tranquility of Cuban society."

It is admirable that the Chinese laborers fought the enemy bravely in the uprising team and vowed to die.General Gonzalo couldn't restrain his passion, and described the great achievements of Chinese workers in the Cuban independence movement: "Hey, the Chinese don't seek fame, and have no personal desires. If they are willing to shed this precious blood for Cuba, we should have To praise them, to fulfill our hero-worship, it can be humble and contemptuous, but it is only natural to praise the virtues of the Chinese.” Wang Sen, a Chinese laborer from Oriente Province, joined the rebel army as soon as the "Yala Call" was published.He was originally a Chinese herbal pharmacist. After joining the rebel army, he joined the Chinese laborers in the Battle of the Cauto Estuary at the end of 1868. He heroically defeated the Spanish army led by the colonial general Balmaceda and defended Bayamo, the capital of the Republic.Wang Sen also participated in the battles of Minade Tuna and Guimaro, and made outstanding achievements repeatedly. He was once praised by the President of the Republic of Cuba as "this China is a model of loyal patriots".

The heroic deeds of Sebastian Xie An, a Chinese in Las Vegas, are also widely praised in Cuba.Xie An was a major in the Northern Battalion under General Thomas Haldane of the rebel army. There were 400 Chinese in the battalion. Xie An fought in the famous Minas and Juan Rodriguez battle on January 1, 1870 , led his troops to repel the enemy many times.General Haldane wrote in his report on this battle: At that time, Pueyo led the Spanish army with 2,000 troops...while the Cuban Liberation Army had only 548 troops and Haldane's artillery.The battle started at noon and lasted 75 minutes.During these 75 minutes, we repelled the enemy's dense formation up to 500 meters in succession.When the bullets ran out, they did not retreat.Xie An commanded the Northern Battalion to engage in hand-to-hand and hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Xie An alone killed three people with the butt of his gun.Under their heroic blows, the enemy finally retreated, leaving behind 200 corpses and 25 horses.

In the famous battle of Las Guancimas on February 16, 1874, the Chinese troops played an important role.In this battle, 500 Chinese participated in the battle.At first it was a reserve team. Later, when the Cuban Liberation Army retreated, the Chinese troops came back to ensure the safe retreat of the People's Liberation Army.Among them, the troops led by the Chinese captain Juan Sanchez were resourceful and brave, and severely damaged the enemy. The Chinese soldiers were not only like tigers on the battlefield, but also showed a fearless spirit of fearlessness after being captured.Chinese lieutenant Tancoredo of the Las Vegas Provincial Liberation Army was captured in combat in the Rosamaria area.When the Spanish officer saw him, he said contemptuously: "This is a Chinese coward." Tancredo stood up with serious injuries, leaned against a tree, and immediately took out the Cuban officer's ID card from his chest, glaring at him. The enemy retorted loudly: "I am not a Chinese coward. No, I am a lieutenant of the Cuban Liberation Army! If you want to kill, kill it."

Many Chinese participated in both the first Cuban War of Independence and the Second Cuban War of Independence, and contributed everything selflessly to the cause of Cuban liberation.These include Joseb, who participated in important battles such as Cienfuegos, made great contributions, and was finally awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel; Tolon, the captain of the First Corps of the Cuban Liberation Army in Oriente Province, and so on.Because of their long-term and selfless participation in the Cuban War of Independence and their great achievements, the Cuban government stipulated in Article 65 of the 1901 Constitution that Joseb and Torón had the right to be Cuban presidential candidates.This is the highest honor given to them by the Cuban government.In order to commemorate the martyrs of the Chinese laborers who died in the 30-year War of Liberation, the Cuban people built a round monument more than two feet high in Havana, on which General Gonzalo’s praise to the martyrs of the Chinese laborers was engraved: “In Cuba’s War of Independence , no Chinese has become a traitor, and no Chinese has become a deserter." This is the pride of overseas Chinese in Cuba, and also the pride of the Chinese nation!

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