The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-12

OF Cn6 nln0t6enJn century.
What therefore is clearly, morally
and religiously, the duty of the Uni
ted States in this unequal and afro
cious warfarei Is the Golden Rule
fit and becoming as between nations'
Are good deeds, naturally, unfit to go
round? Patrick Henry believed that
the God of battles would raise up
friends to fight our battles for US.
And he did. What had become of
American liberty without the service
of the German Barons, John De Kalb
and Frederick Steuben, without
Thaddeus Kosciusko and Count Pull
aski from Poland, and without the
ships and men and money from
France, and, above all, without Wash
ington's friend and counselor, the
magnanimous and loyal La Fayette?
Even the women of Paris applauded
his heroism for our young republic
and the French queen, when he left
for our shores, gave him her admira
ton and benediction. Ships contin-
ually left the ports of France for the
United States ladened with supplies
for our necessities. French ports
were open to our privateers. 1t is in
deed a dark problem as to what
would have become of the American
Revolution and of American liberty
but for the French.
What, therefore, shall become of
our magnanimity in case of still
more distressing need and still nearer
to our own doors-yea, as it were, at
our very thresholds Shall Cuba, in
abject poverty, with her torn women
and butchered babes, stretch out her
hands to us all the day long, and yet
there is no answers We, the richest
nation on the globe, accounting our
selves the grandest nation ON the
globe, are there no crumbs from our
table for begging, bleeding Cubas
Are we worse than Dives to Lazarus,
and as cruel as Abraham to Divess
Have we no crust, not drop of COM
fort for Cubas Then God be more
merciful to us than we are to others
And must we harden ourselves still
more savagely against them and set
our war dogs of great ships to watch
and crush the philanthropy of those
who would be generous? May God
forbid this infamy! Does the love of
God or mercy to men dwell in the
hearts of those having abundance,
who will neither bestow Of themselves
nor allow others to bestow the aid
that is wanting?
Give national application to the
golden rule. Or, if we cannot fol-
low the example of Jesus, then fol-
low the example of France. If France
did hold good will to us out of illwill
to England, in part, what thena The
good to us from poor motive, were
better than no good at all. And SO,
would the United States bless Cuba
in retaliation for Spain's malice in our
Rebellion, it were better than no bless
ing at all.
But we must find lawful ways to
help the Cubans. A shame to us that
this long oppressed, down-trodden,
bleeding nation should knock at the
gates OF this great people and be
chilled at our silence. Afraid to be
mercifull Afraid of Christian frater-
nifty and benefcence! Then may we
we'll be afraid to die, for we are not
fit to live. Of whom shall the United
States be afraidI We ought to be
afraid of national shabbiness, of in
dividual cowardice, of the want of
charity and mercy to the suffering.
But God has peopled this earth with
no nation of whom our Republic
should be afraid.
Then send our proclamation of con-
dolence to Cuba. Recognize Cuban
belligerent rights. Require Spain to
stop their barbarian butcheries on the
American continent. Let us be first
to recognize the independence of
Cuba. Quit ourselves like men. Help
an infant, struggling republic, to cut
the folds of the dragon of foreign op-
preston. Help her to rise up and
walk. That is Christ's word and
way. Thus shall we become the COM
forter. Thus shall we keep step
to the words of our Lord. And thus
will the old flag become still more
glorious in the eyes of the nations.
Thus will the risen Cubans them
selves bless God for the protection of
that flag. In their sunny future,
amid the odor of palmgroyes and
dates, the golden light of liberty and
peace shimmering all over tina
bountiful land-I hear their answer