The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-10-03
FREEDOM FOR CUBA.
SENTIMENT STRONG AND GROWING IN
THEIR BEHALF.
The Claims of the Struggling Patriots
to be Recognized as Belligerents-
All They Want to Declare Their
independence is to be Given Fight
ing Chance.
Atlanta Constitution. |

hoH about the petition which Llorens
has been circulating requesting con-
gress to recognize the Cuban insur-
gents as belligerents attracted wide
spread attention in Atlanta and it
seems that everybody wants TO sign it,
Indeed, there is no doubt but that the
great mass of the citizens of Atlanta
Of Georgia and of the United States
are in sympathy with the Cuban
revo-lutionists and is in favor of our
government according them all the
rights to buy arms and ship them from
ur shores which it accords to any es-
tablished nation.
That the United States wishes Cuba
to become an independent country is
recognized fact. There is no other
sentiment in this country. 1t has been
SO for fifty years or more. Yet, unless
the revolutionists are recognized to
that extent which would permit them
to buy and TO ship arms from here,
every sensible man knows that it is
practically impossible for them to sue
ceed. While it is true that Spain S
financial condition is critical, that the
country is almost on the verge ofbank-
ruptcy, yet Spain with $3.50, 900, ,oco
of Cuban outstanding bonds cannot af-
ford to let 60 her ownership of the
island. She will, therefore, strain
every point to send her troops to Cuba
and to suppress the rebellion, which
she can undoubtedly do unless the
Cubans are enabled to gets arms and
ammunition.
Tne Cubans ask the United States
to accord them the same rights which
it accords the Spaniards. Of course
the delicate question to be decided by
the United States is whether or not the
rebellion has assumed proportion suffi'
cient to be recognized.
During the late war the confederacy
made every possible effort to be recog,
nized by the European governments
1t had established government of its
own and had a congress of its own
| Yet, even with that, France was the
only nation in the world that recog.
nized it. France went SO far as to fur
nish the confederacy with arms and mu.
nitions of war. France fitted up cruis.
ers for the confederacy. Now the
Cubans have established what they
term a government. They have elect
ed a president, but that president
is in New York. Under the laws of the
nations, or international law, the
question will naturally arise as to
whether or not the United States
should recognize as belligerents body
of insurgents who have no established
government in which they are in rev.
olution.
France did not inj,re herself with
the other nations Of The world by her
recognition of the confederate govern.
ment. Her people may or may not
have sympathlzed with the confeder
acy. But France simply accorded the
seeding States the same rights o
purchase which was accorded to the
United States government.
The sympathy of the people of the
United States is almost unanimousl,
with the Cuban patriots. Why, there
fore, should not the United State
recognize as belligerents the majority
of the people of the island of Cuba
We know that the majority of the in
habitants of Cuba are striving fo
its independence. They have al
army Of $4,000 men in the ielo
now contending for its independ
ence with the force of Spain. l
it is also stated upon what is presum
ed to be reliable authority that 400,
900 men could be put into the field
they had arms and ammunition.
Sentiment is divided in the Unite'
States as to whether or not Cub
should be annexed, but all American
are in favor of the independence O
Cuba, and believe that the Cuban
should be allowed to make their owl
: laws and sell and purchase from tn
United States.
Public sentiment has been sufficient
ly aroused throughout this country t
, bring the matter before congress i'm
medlately after it assemblies in Decem
cember. 1t may be that the admin
istration, after its policy, will advis
against the adoption of resolutlo
recognizing the insurgents. However
there is certain to be an enthusiast
contest in its favor and the indication
at present seem to that such resolu
ton will be adopted, certainly if III
Cubans continue to exhibit th
strength and win the victories tia
they have during the past tw
months.
We don't want Cuba as a part {
this country any more than we war
the Hawaiian islands. We don't war
to be infested with the lepers of Hawai-
neither do we want 10 admit the ye
! low fever of Cuba. We want neither Z
, a part Of our county, yet we want t
see both independent and we want tn
trade Of both. As it is now, Spai
, practically prohibits the sale of ou
goods to Cuba, but if the Island wei
: Independent our trade with Cuba woul
be tremendous.
BARTOLOME MAsSO TALKS.
\ correspondent of the The Ne
York HfraIL, who visited the insu
gent headquarters several days ag
succeeded IN Obtaining a brief int
: view with General Bar,rolome Mass