The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-21
A LIBEL ON FREE GOVERNMENT.
The following is from the Charleston
NaruS and Courier.

The following is from the Charleston
News and Courier:
Our Republican lingo fellow-citizens who
are sympathizing SO violently with CUBA IN
her aspirations for freedom should rernem-
Der that she is just as independent. a
state already as any State in this country,
or as she would be If she We're to OBTAIN
She might be better off in some respects,
but she would be a long ways from being
either independent or Tree from foreign
domination"
Such a statement as this in a Southern
paper during the period of military gov
eminent and reconstruction that fol-
lowed the war would have excited no
comment, but it's appearance at this late
day in one of the leading papers of the
South is a surprise. 1t is not merely it's
inaccuracy and untruthfulness that ex-
cite surprise, but it's conspicuous exhibit
ton of a sentiment which all true friends
of the South have hoped was entirely
extinct.
Either the News and Courier is very
badly informed as to the kind of gov
rnment that prevails in Cuba or it is
very reckless in asserting that she is
Just as independent a state already as
any State in this country or as she
would be il she were to obtain admis-
sion into our reconstructed Nation
Cuba is a SPANS colony, with all that
the term implies. Her chief executive
officer and ruler is a encouragement
appointed by the Spanish government
and responsible to it alone. He is as
sisted by an administrative council, the
members of which are also appointed by
the home government. The governor
general has supreme political and mill
tary authority throughout the island,
subject only to the control of the home
government. He and most of the office
holders in the island are native Span
iards. A change of Ministry at Madrid
is generally followed by sweeping
changes in Cuba and the appointment
of a new lot of incompetent officials.
The people have nominal representation
in the Spanish Parliament and a limited
control of local affairs, but practically
all civil and military power centers in
the encouragement. Taxes are enor-
nous. Spain keeps about 10000 regular
troops in the island all the time, besides
a considerable volunteer force in active
service. The revenues are farmed out
by the Spanish government, and the
Cuban people have no control over
nancia expenditures. The public debt
exceeds $3.50, 900, 600. Justice is feebly adj
ministerial, and the rights of person and
property poorly secured. The press ana
telegraph are subject to a censorship,
the vigilance and severity of which de-
pend on the will of the governor-gen-
eral. A few years ago the leading daily
paper of Havana was sentenced to
twenty days suspension for copying
from a New York paper a paragraph
stating that Spain was trying to sell
Cuba. and another Havana ape was
subjected to the same punishment for
copying the item from the first one.
Both papers were required 10 pay half
the costs of the prosecution.
One is at a loss to understand how
a newspaper which certainly knows
something about this country and is
presumed to know something about
Cuba can say there is as much freedom
and independence under such a govern
ment as that above outlined as there
is in any State in his country, where
the people nominate and elect all their
State and local officers from Governor
down to township assessor, where the
principle of local self-government pre-
| walls to the fullest extent, and where
personal rights and individual freedom
| are recognized and protected as nowhere
| else in the world. 1t is to be hoped the
Charleston News and Courier has not
MANY readers who indorse such a state