Empire Rising: Spain

The best reason for the Spanish Government to abandon the Cuban Colony is the continuous revolt within the Cuban Colony, which overwhelms the Spanish Government, leading them to choose to abandon it voluntarily.

Although this is a very good reason, one must also grasp a degree when spreading the news.

Originally, Spain voluntarily abandoned the Cuban Colony, but if the news spread is too severe, it is inevitable that the British Government will demand higher prices, resulting in Spain receiving fewer benefits.

To ensure the smooth exchange of the colony, Carlo even proactively convened a Cabinet meeting, requesting the close cooperation between the foreign affairs department and the colonial affairs department to promote the exchange of the Cuban Colony.

Of course, before exchanging the Cuban Colony, the Spanish must do their best to absorb the population that supports Spain from the Cuban Colony.

Although most people in the Cuban Colony want to become independent, there is still a small number of Spanish immigrants willing to continue to obey Spanish rule.

Under Spanish rule, Cuba’s safety can still be assured. But if Cuba becomes independent, with a population barely over a million, it has no power to resist other great powers.

Spanish colonial rule is indeed brutal, but that does not mean the colonial rule of other European countries is kind.

If complete independence for Cuba cannot be assured, a considerable number of Spanish immigrants would rather continue to remain in Spain’s embrace, at least they can become first-class citizens within Spain’s colonial system, where their interests can be adequately assured.

Although they are all European immigrants, they receive different treatments in different countries.

Take the United States as an example. In peacetime, whether British, German, French, Russian, or Italian immigrants, everyone is white, naturally treated equally.

But during wartime, immigrants from countries at war with the United States would also face certain discrimination and targeting domestically.

German immigrants who migrated to the United States during the World Wars received such treatment, compared to other white immigrants, their situation could be described as miserable.

Of course, regardless of the period, the treatment of whites is always better than that of other racial populations.

Some whites chose to immigrate abroad precisely because they could enjoy the treatment of higher citizens in foreign countries. This era is quite brutal for blacks, as laws in both colonies and immigrant countries usually do not protect the interests of blacks.

Even for black slaves who obtained free person status, their interests still would not be protected.

This can also be seen in later generations. Even into the 21st century, white police can still openly shoot black people.

Unless the incident is stirred up by public opinion, white police not only won’t face any punishment, but may even have the chance to get a few days of paid leave.

But black police are completely different. As soon as an incident of a black police officer shooting a white person breaks out, it quickly evolves into a nationwide political event in the United States.

If it’s like this in later generations, let alone in this chaotic era. In 1880, white Americans shooting blacks was very common, especially those powerful white families, killing a few blacks would not receive punishment.

As for blacks retaliating against whites, that is absolutely impossible. Because at this time in the United States, the government from top to bottom practiced racial segregation policies.

Blacks could only live in remote rural areas and chaotic slums, rarely seen in bustling cities.

Even if blacks can be seen in bustling New York, these blacks are definitely among the lowest status. Compared to those with the highest status among the black community, it is easier for slaves serving whites to enter big cities.

Considering that most congressmen, capitalists, and government officials in the United States are white, one can imagine the treatment and situation of American blacks.

When Carlo and Prime Minister Canovas determined the policy of exchanging the Cuban Colony, not a single Cabinet official stood out to oppose it.

They are not foolish, knowing who granted them the power they hold. If such a proposal was made by a Cabinet member, at least it would prove they are qualified to rebut and debate.

But this proposal was personally made by the Prime Minister and King, even if the other Cabinet members do not support this idea, they cannot prevent such a situation from happening.

Moreover, early in the previous discussion, the Spanish Cabinet Government maintained a rather ambiguous attitude towards the exchange of the Cuban Colony.

There were indeed Cabinet members who explicitly opposed it, but not many. More Cabinet Ministers maintained an equivocal attitude, as long as this matter didn’t require their responsibility, they didn’t mind going along with the Prime Minister and King’s decision.

After the Spanish Government made its decision, various public opinion institutions also took action.

First, from the Cuban Government side, they needed to allow some Spanish opponents to plan resistance activities.

Of course, such resistance activities need to be kept within a certain scale, at least they cannot affect the Cuban Colony.

If during this period, there is a large-scale resistance in Cuba, even if the Colony is successfully exchanged in the end, the value of the Cuban Colony will surely be greatly reduced.