The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-21

- nat nave tney DONE IOr us 10 entltle
them TO our affection and respect? In
their long domination OF four hundred
years there is not one single act accorded
in our history showing that the Spanish
Government ever concerned itself in the
remotest manner with the welfare and
act, every law, every order emanating
from the home Government or its repre-
sentativss in the colony carries upon its
face, in visible and unmistakable char
scters, the sordid motive which prompted
it, that is, to rob the people OF the prod
uct of their labor. The conduct OF
Spain toward Cuba may be summed up
in these two ominous words; Slavery
and revenue.
"On the 2Sth March 1926, the brutal and
degenerate Ferdinand the VII, who then
misruled the destinies of Spain, set his
hand and seal to the most iniauitous
decree that has ever been signed by an
abandoned despot. That decree invested
the captsin-genersl of Cuba with un-
limited and absolute powers over the
property and the lives of the Cuban
people and made his uncontrolled viii
the supreme law of the land. Tint decree
yet stands unrevoked. Using and abus-
ing that authority, the captains-general,
many OF them ignorant and vulgar
soldiers, have ruled the island with more
severity than IL II had been a penal col
ony or conquered and re7olted city in n
state of siege. The first FIVE years OF the
revolution, which continued from 1868 to
1878, the appalling number of 1872 per-
sons, men, women and children, were
butchered in cold blood by the Spanish
troops in the cities, in the villages and
in the fields OF Cuba
The orator here stated that he had been
asked since he came to Providence IL the
revolution was one of negroes, and in re-
ply he stated that the population OF Cuba
was 1000, 900, of which number 500, 00O
were negroes, and 100, 900 spsniards, and
he then gave the names and distinguish
cd records Of the officers of the Cuban
republic, all OF whom were white, sll of
them prominent, either through their So
cial standing or their great abilities on
the island One of them at least having
q great European reputation.
Another question he said he was asked
was were the Cubaps capab BILE OF self
government. He said the information
that led tc this question came from Span
ish sources and in sarcastic but graceful
terms he painted the incapacity shown
by Spain for the last 400 years. Pointing
to her losses in Italy, Portugal and OF her
places he said that 1t seemed as IL Spain
was rapidly going to the bottom of the
ladder and that she would remain there.
Senior Pierra then painted in burning
words the deed of famous Cubans, show
ing that her children not only in the
Western hemisphere, but also in the
Eastern one, had won under serious draw
backs, a fame that neither time nor the
calumny OF her oppressors could obliter-
ate. In the fields OF literature, philosophy,
science and ststesmanship he pictured
the proud ascendency of the people for
which he spoke. Her greatest orator
had spoken once before the Cortes, and
CASTELAR, had said 10 him: "I was here
the frat one and ] bow 20 you."
Turning again to tho issues involved in
the struggle, his words were:
The Spaniards have repeatedly asserted
that the Cuban people enjoy almost all
the liberties enjoyed by the people of the
United States.
The Cubans do not enjoy the right OF
holding public meetings.
II a Cuban wishes to hold a reception
at his house he must first get a license
and pay Tor il, otherwise he will get in
to trouble. A long array OF other arbi-
trary things might be presented.
The Cubans have neither voice nor
vote in the imposition OF the taxes which
they pay, or in the expenditure OF the
revenue. Both things are done for them
in Spain. No more is necessary to give sn
idea OF the political condition OF our peo-
pie. In fact, the Cubsns cannot utter
WORD, move a step, cannot even breathe