New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-20
The Right or Caban Independence
PHILADELPHIA, March 10, Is

1t is over four years since Spain rebeiied
against the rule of isabella, then Queen and
il is over four years since the cabans. fired
by the spirit Of freedom, declared that they
would be free frem the oppressive rule OF
Spain; and from the hour they unfrled their
Gag to the present moment, they have bat
tied in the hope Of securing their independ-
ence as free Republic. q
Heretofore no people have been more ready
in expressions Of sympathy, and liberal in
contributions Of material aid to those en-
deayoring to free themselves from political
burdens and the rule Of those who oppressed
them, than the American people.
The Greeks, the South Americans, the
Poles, Hungarians, and the Irish, have each
in their patriotic efforts to free themselves
from their yoke Of political thraldom, received
the warmest words Of encouragement and
substantial assistance from all classes Of our
community, and though the wished-for sue
cess did not crown the efforts of all, yet those
failing knew that a great nation and free
dom-loying people sorrowed with them in
their failure, and hoped with them for the
coming day, when victory would reward their
yalor and devotion to their cause. Such
manifestations Of practical interest on our
part, favoring the cause Of those "who would
lie free,r is to them Of priceless value it en-
ergizes the halting and weak, and makes
those in the lead more confident of ultimate
success. But this freely bestowed sympathy
in the cases mentioned, and which seemed to
be Of spontaneous rising, has most singularly,
as it appears to me, been suppressed, and
needed aid withheld from the battling Gu
bans, and the appeals of its patriotic sons
and daughters have remained unheeded by
US, or treated with chilling indifference and
to this day, almost unsupported and alone,
they continue to war with mistaken heroism
for their liberty and independence from
SPANS control. Thousands Of Spanish SOL
diers have been sent to Cuba to crush out the
spirit Of freedom that burns in the hearts of
its children; but the cruel effort has been
vain. Each day brings to us reports of
bloody conflicts between the contending
forces, yet these almost unarmed and I'M
disciplined men continue to face their foes
and unfalteringly stand in the dignity of their
self-emancipatedm manhood, resisting the revo-
lutionary powers that, for the hour, rule at
Madrid. The Cubans, determined to act to
the full requirements Of high and noble pur-
pose, have made their cause sacred by deeds
Of self-sacriiice and martyrdom. Confident
that their cause was just and that they were
acting in defense Of the right, and, therefore,
fully justified in their course, they openly de-
clared to the world that, in arming them
selves against the tyrannical Government Of
Spain, we must, according to precedent in
all civilized countries, proclaim before the
world the cause that impels us to step
which, though it entails considerable disturb
ance upon the present, will insure the happi-
ness Of the future" 1t is well known that
Spain governs the Island of Cuba with an
iron, blood-stained hand.
The former holds the latter deprived of po-
litical, civil, and religious liberty. Hence the
unfortunate Cubans being illegally prosecuted
and thrown into exile or executed by military
commission in times Of peace. Hence their
being kept from public meetings and forbid
uSh " opcah VI WHO VII dudlTS VI )tdte.
Hence their remonstrance against the evils
that affiict them being looked upon as the
proceedings of rebels, from the fact that they
are bound to keep silence and obey. Hence
the never-ending plague Of hungry officials
from Spain to devour the products of their in
dustry and labor. Hence the restrictions to
which public instruction with them is SUBJ
jected in order to keep them so ignorant as
not to be able to know and enforce their
rights in any-shape or form whatever. To
the God Of our conscience and to all civilized
nations we submit the sincerity of our pur-
pose. Vengeance does not mislcad us, nor
is ambition our guide. We only want to be
free, and sec all men with us equally free as
their Creator intended all mankind to be.
Our earnest belief is that all men are breth-
ren.
Such were the grievances under which the
Cubans had long suffered and submitted to
in silence, and their declaratory knowledge
Of the rights due them, and their determine.
ton to secure them by their last and only
resort-the force Of arms, under an independ.
ent republican government of their own.
The annunciation Of so bold purpose by
an oppressed people should have received
ready response from every true lover of hui
man freedom, and particularly from the
American people, the practical exemplar Of
them, and the first to prove their truth and
grandeur.
For over four years the thunders Of wars
arms have been heard on the mountains and
plains Of the Queen Of the Antilles-a con.
fict between Spanish injustice and patriots
determined to free themselves of its exaction.
and wrongs.
For over four years the struggling Cuban:
have asked us for aid and the recognition o.
their right to be free, and the legitimacy o.
their warning in their own behalf and fol
their own cause, without receiving that mag
netic response so freely given heretofore tc
those who would be free, and were offering
up their lives and fortunes to secure it.
Why is it that we deny them the cheering
word God speed'' to those who have sub.
mitted so long to their foreign rulers, but
availing themselves: of the revolutionary
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