Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-05
Our next extract will be

most emphatic manner upon the table by
which he sat. .ka
Our next extract will be
THE EXECUTION OF LOPEZ.
",Tis come-his hour of mstyrdom
Infreedoms sacred cause Is come;
And, though his lifs hath pass'd away
Like lightning a storming day,
Yet, shall his deaih-hOur leave track
Ofglory, permanent and bright,
To which the brave Of alter-times-
Tho suffering brave-shall look long back
With proud regrct-and by its light
Fsfok through the hours Of sIarery's Righ
MOORE.
Friday September lst came the day APP
pointed for the nlartyrdom of General Mar
cisco Lopez, the friend and lover of his coun-
try.
The morning davned dark and cherries,
for the sun hid his bright face with heavy
clouds, and refused to look on deed so foul.
At an early hour an immense crowd as
sembled, and waited in gloomy silence the
coming of the captive. The whole space be-
tween the Punta fort and the Carcel was
filed with troops, cavalry and infantry, who
formed an immense square, in the midst of
which was erected tho scaffold, about twenty
feet high, tho top surrounded by balcony,
and in the centre of the platform was the
garrote.
The troops wero heavily armed, every can
non of the fort charged and pointed to the
place of execution. The solemn voice of the
tolling- bell announced the coming of Cubas
great champion, and the deep rolling drum
sent its death-notes out on the morning air.
First, marched the strangely dressed priest.
bearing the black flag of death, after whom
came detachment of soldiers, and, in their
midst, walked Cubas brave son, whose crime
had been to love her honor and to seek to adj
vance her happiness. The procession moved
slowly across the square, towards the scat
fold. Far above the tinselled slaves lowered
his naughty form, clad in spotless white. A
mantle of fine linen hung from his shoulders
to the ground, in heavy folds. A white cap
of the same material drew the raven curls
from his face without concealing his features,
and on his knightly hands he wore the base
letters of a tyrants power. All who that
gazed upon it, can forget the noble presence
of that illustrious victim There was no
sign of guilt, or fear, on his calm brow. He
walked with the firm, stately step of triumph
to the death-shrine, the sscrifcial altar The
| earnest power of an unconquered spirit BEEN
"
| that love of right and truth, which had made
] him struggle to live a free man, gave to the
| doomed patriot the lofty bearing of con-
querer. They strove to hurry him forward,
they were impatient to seal with his death
stroke the chains of Cuba,-but the chief
tain's step was slow and measured. He had
walked before that multitude in the pomp Of
wealth and station, but never so proudly as
n,a Il h., h.
raised his dishonored sword and struck the
Cuban on his neck, saying, "the neck should
bend before it broke" No flush of anger
| dyed his brow, no sound came from that lip
of pride; he looked sorrowiuly on the poor
minion of crown, and turned to mount the
scaffold as king would approach his throne
Hestood amid that dark assembly, gazing
! for a moment with chsngeless brow on the
terrible instrument of death. look of
! naughty defiance fitted across his face, as his
eyes swept scornfully over the dense throng
of negro and Spanish hirelings, ere they rest
ed on the unhappy Creoles, whom the policy
of Concha had removed as far a. possible
from the sound of the heros words. Then
his rich voice, clear as the blast of silver
trumpet ringing through the morning air,
thus addressed them:-"Cubans l have
come here to die. To you need not justify
the act which has brought me to the scaffold.
Your own hearts acquit me of the false charges
with which they seek to blacken my memory
and rob me of my country's love. What
ever l have done, Cuba's good has been the
great object of my life. | aspired to high
things, to bless her with the free institutions
of Republic to promote her happiness by
establishing government liberal in its polit-
ical and religious principles. Though that
effort has failed, the hope of it is not lost
and I am content to meet my death if it
brings the day of my country's redemption
nearer; for the free flag of Cula shall"
He was rudely, angrily thrust aside, and the
officer motioned the priest to approach. His
hands were relieved of their heavy bonds,
and he received the cross. Then his noble
head lOas bowed over the blessed emblem of
his faith, and the holy father slowly repeated
the prayer for the dying. When he arose the
executioner attempted to draw the white cap
over his face, but he dashed it aside-"Nay,''
cried the stern imperious voice, my death
shall be a witness in the face of heaven
against you. | am sinless before God and
man OF the charges which We bring" With
fearless dignity he sat in the chair of DEATH
The cold iron serpent of dsspotism was coil
ing around his neck, when sudden impulse
fired his mighty heart; he sprang to his feet
and stood before the breathless multitude, a
shining form of light. A glory, a splendor
not of earth, beemed in tho royal majesty OF
his beauty; his wild, dauntless spirit glowed
{ on its brow-throne, and filled his eyes with
eager flashing brilliancy. With yearning love
the patriot stretched forth his arms and for
getting all, he gaEed fondly in the distance on
the purple mountains and waving verdure OF
the Summer Isle-then, with voice full Of
southern melody, saddened with eternal love
he cried, "Cubs,-aear Cuba !-Adseu p He
sank back-his eyes closed with proud
smile upon the slaves,-and Lopez gave hi'
life to Cuba, and his name to fame
, There was silence-even those whose
, hands reeksd with the crime of his death
were awed by the bold heroism of the feared
and hated foe of the tyrant The cry fol
which Spanish gold had battered, rose for {
moment and died family away But, hsrl.
there is wall of agony it echoes hoarseiy
, through Cuban hearts; it is
t "a nations funeral dirss for her patriot .on.''
Lopez mighty spirit! unrswarded in life
: unforgetten in death, thou shall yet be aveng
ed. The divine principles for which thoi
gavest myself willing sacrifice, glow with
quenchless fire in hearts who knew no such
word as fear,-when every conviction of right
every propting of humanity, urges them on
toard. There are those whose patriotism il
: not bound by mountains or rivers, it rises su
; perior to self, it spreads beyond the land o
nativity, going, like beam of light to smile
Q gladness on a country weeping in all the dark
ness of despotic degradation. Thy wondrou
msrtyrdom kindles a sacred enthusiasm il
{ the chivalrous and brave; the holy sympathy
the generous daring of LaFayetts-of Kosci
i usco, thrill Americas noblest SONS. Tn.
:, name, thy bright and honored namo, oh, tho'
lover of freedom, shall be their watch word Il
victory. The day Of Cuba's redemption
J; comes surely on. Thy glorious spirit, radian