The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-12-04
The Cuban Cause-A Retrospect.

'. Y. Tribune. II
The Cuban Cause-A Retrospect. II
The summary execution OF the pa 7
riots recently captured on the Virgin +
us recalls the fate of others who nave n
in the same cause. DO you
remember the melancholy story OF I
Gabriel vuldoA, who was executed IN ,
havana in 1874 on the charge OF pioV'
TING the liberation of his country? he
was led from prison, with nineteen
others, to the fatal plaza He passed
through the streets with the air OF Il ,
conqueror, with serene face and an 4
unfaltering step, chanting his prayer IN
a low hut calm voice. When they
reached the plaza he addressed his
companions the last words OF farewell
and consolation. He was to suffer first;
and when the signal was given he step
ned into the square, and knelt, WIN
nerfect composure and unbandaged
ewes, before the soldiers who were to
execute the sentence. When the smoke
Of the first volley rolled away 1t was
seen that he had been wounded IN the
shoulder and had fallen forward bleed
ing and agonized. An irrepreSSIole
murmur of pity and Indignation ran
through the multitude but the mar
tyr, still self-possed, recovered his posi-
ton, and standing erect, exclaimed
FAREWELL world. ever pit'less TO me
Fire here % placing his hands on ms
breast. The last tones OF ms voice
were lost in the report of the muskets'
this time more merciful in their mis-
sion. The night before his execution
he penned the following lines to ms
mother :
The appointed lot has come upon me, mothSr'
1rhe mournful ending Of my years oi Striie'
rhis changing world leave, ana 10 aiio'n'''
In blood and terror, goes my spirit NY niue,
,it tb,r grief-smitten cease thy mortal Weeping
And lei thy soul its wonted peace regain ..i.,,,
| I foU for right and thoughts Of thee are H"'oP'"t
| Srross nv lyre to wake its dying strali,
, atr,in of ioy and gladncss, free uhiailihB'
| All glorious and holy, pure, uiNhlc, y.
| AnJ innocent. UNCONSCIOUS AZ tue Nhiii'b
| Tvittered at my birth ana reSiRi,' t,,,ry
| r,,, nn,v my life: even now descending 7UuN.l'
FAITHS mantle folds me to my TntnperS Sso morS
Nnthor farewell! God keep thee, ana Ioro'''
, Sad Int heroic thoughts OF the young
=, and gifted victim Well has 1t oeel
said that such men die not IN vain
erIhe blood of the martyrs Is the seeo
, the church.
IL And thus, likewise, died the gaiial
III Lopez. When captured with ouly Oh
: ,o attendant, by the Galatians ana tle
l. ,loodhounds, he exclaimed XIII M
IL Init pardon my friends " Desperate'
10 wounded, exhausted by loss OF oio'
"' and bv hunger, he could scarcely NOV
ILL., VET when they came to conduct HIM
The place of execution, he stood
", erect and marched with a manly sue
GU He begged to have soldiers dea'
n8 Init submitted with fortitude to I
er- uofrool Tn n firm voice he declar
that had he taken up arms Tor llperC.
's that the imputation OF plunder IL
ne piracy was a calumny that he met
tated only the happiness OF his cou
trv and was ready to perish for
lhe cause.
ON The tears of the spectators evlnc
ain their sympathy when he was thrust y
re. tbe fatal embrace of the garroter.
rer, Adios, cuba quesjnda," were
ere last words he uttered. No thought
gh, vengeance disturbed his dying he
do The "holy faith of Valdez supper
him. and the lifetime affection Oh
want heart the dream and inspiration OF
eet, career, dwelt latest upon his mem
r of l"Farewell, mother " Adleu'
soon Cuba ~ and the sublime martyrs
note in their bloody graves
,n;ot Shall we speak of the last mon
INV = ,r opn dead-our kindred
y, ~ friends-our Crittenden, ker, otah
.,,a,u James, and others-who, soon
.nO" word were executed on the rampai
'iO'' Havana Not while their bones me
Ni''n in foreign soil and their blood Is
rnovenoed. "Let no man write
IN @ ne epitaph" while the authors OF tne'
'ila' ocution live and prosper. They DIE
e"" patriots die-their bitterest pah8
anu their country might have saved
This indeed, was the sting OF del
III 'lie this it was to die
'e ny We have seen the last woros oi y
was .h;s noble band, addressed to his
dipps scrawled on his commission wl'n lil'
Mrs. h,ood-" One word from Washil
leatre would have saved us" But that
over was never spoken, and branded as
ly ex- hers and banditti," they died.
! the Death is the common friend OF loe'
other IA different men may hoiu,
o'A0- Al st ;ts summons each must go,
note, The timid and the boiu'
t poor Rrt whether on the scaffold hiBh'
-, hor Or in the battles van' ,.,. ,,;o
~ The fittest place where man '"' "
bS was II where he dies FOR mail
Mem orleans Picdyuhe.
killing Gpx RYAN, the victim OF op'
though Cuba was we'll known in ,Washi
to pass d. c., as a great ladies' man. anc
It Mrs. tod sensation while promenadii
myself ovorue with his military cape,
Texan braid hat, long curling ha
The He always carried very heav'
sury to and was gener"ii' ,.Leu,a
the pa unusually iafeo o.o.tr;,
| xyoa a terror 10 uhuy PO>sS''AA'
,he five, frequently had difficulties in IL
in lien lobbies, generally following VI
,ro oort cussion on Cuban matters in I'll