Cuba's rapid development at this time was due not only to Franz's planning, the Austrian Empire's vigorous support, and Cuba's superior natural conditions, but also in large part to clean government and public harmony.
This so-called clean government and public harmony owed much to having Arcadov von Liebnsteinsky—a governor who was upright, iron-fisted, and backed by immense influence.
The fact that Arcadov von Liebnsteinsky had been Franz's childhood companion alone was enough to inspire awe in official circles, let alone that he was Count Kolowrat's eldest grandson and the heir to the Liebnsteinsky family.
(Count Kolowrat had long served as the Austrian Empire's Minister of the Interior, standing toe-to-toe with Prince Metternich.)
For ordinary officials, the possibility of buying off such a man was practically nonexistent. Forcing him into compromise was even more fantastical.
Second, de la Concha, the governor's advisor familiar with Cuba, also deserved great credit. After all, he had served as Cuba's governor for so many years that he was intimately familiar with the local geography and cultural environment, and he was an old hand steeped in officialdom for decades.
With the two of them working together, hardly anyone dared to pay lip service while acting otherwise. Even if someone did, they would find it difficult to remain hidden.
Giving the chief credit for clean government and public harmony to the highest local officials might carry a whiff of personality worship, but in truth, when the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams will be askew. If those at the top were incompetent, dysfunctional, or even radiated negative energy, then those below would face countless difficulties even if they wanted to do their jobs well.
Arcadov von Liebnsteinsky's ambitions did not lie here, and at present, no one in Cuba could offer terms sufficient to move him.