A Message to Garcia

essay by Hubbard

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June 30, 2026

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"A Message to Garcia" is a moralistic essay by American editor and publisher Elbert Hubbard. It first appeared in his magazine, The Philistine, in 1899. The essay draws a moral lesson about perseverance from an incident during the Spanish-American War. Hubbard, who also founded the Roycroft Press, wrote in a vigorous, epigrammatic style that blended radical and conservative ideas, often apotheosizing work and efficiency. Hubbard died in 1915 when the ocean liner Lusitania sank.

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Elbert Hubbard
…number of The Philistine, “A Message to Garcia” appeared, in which the importance of perseverance was drawn as a moral from a Spanish-American War incident. In 1908 Hubbard began to edit and publish a second monthly, The Fra. His printing establishment in time expanded to include furniture and leather shops,…
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…number of The Philistine, “A Message to Garcia” appeared, in which the importance of perseverance was drawn as a moral from a Spanish-American War incident. In 1908 Hubbard began to edit and publish a second monthly, The Fra. His printing establishment in time expanded to include furniture and leather shops,…
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Andrew Summers Rowan
“A Message to Garcia” (1899). In truth, Rowan nearly botched his mission, most notably by revealing its nature to a reporter in Jamaica even before embarking from there for Cuba.
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“A Message to Garcia” (1899). In truth, Rowan nearly botched his mission, most notably by revealing its nature to a reporter in Jamaica even before embarking from there for Cuba.
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