The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-15
CRAVEYARDS

NEW YORK, Aug. l5.-In Hayeza dis
patches published yesterday mention was
made Of an article in lei Quiiote Madrid
newspaper which the Spanish govern
ment had made every effort TO suppress.
II was sharp comment on the injustice
of Spain 10 Cuba. Copies obtainablo
readily sold at S. each.
A prominent member OF the Cuban
party in New York city received a copy OF
El Quijote containing the objectionable
article. II was written by Senior Margall,
one OF spains foremost Republican pol
iticians who was one OF the presidents of
the Spanish republic before Martinez
Campos placed Alfonso XII on the throne,
thereby again re-ostablishing "a monarchi-
cal form Of government.
The article caused sensation among
Cubans in New York. This is IA transla-
ton of it by Tho World:
We should work TO re-establish the prin-
ciples Of justice. No nation has the right
TO occupy territories populated by other
people unless with their consent. IL ma
ton occupies them by force, those con-
quered can at any time fight them until
they drive them from their soil.
There is no possible limitation. Moth
ing can limit the right to freedom and in
dependence. Whenever this principle was
applied TO our life, did we Spaniards un-
derstand sof For centuries we fought for
our independence and the Limitation OF
centuries made no difference.
Let US be just to those who are now
fighting in Cuba. We should have given
them long ago the autonomy TO which
they have an undisputed right. We should
have united them 10 the metropolis by tho
ties Of common interests only, national
and international. We would have thus
prevented not only the present war, but
also that of 1883. How much blood and
how much treasure we should have saved
by this conduct.
spain's Own Fault.
IL there Is now war in Cuba it Is all our
fault. IL Is our duty to mend our error
and stop IL. The war of 1868 lasted 10
years, and we could only stop it by
treaty. We then allowed the Cubans the
rights and liberties enjoyed by Puerto
Rico-the treaty by which we will have 10
end the present war if we are not beaten
by Cuba.
Seventeen years ago we gave them lib
srty. Let us make them now the owners
and arbiters Of their destinies Let us al
low them 10 govern themselves politically
and economically; and In order that they
may bo grateful for our generosity, let US
help them to their autonomy without any
disturbances or bloodshed.
The feeling of patriotism is invoked
against this conduct. Above the feeling
OF patriotism stands that of humanity,
and, above all, the feeling of justice Cuba
Is the graveyard of our young men. In
these deplorable wars our soldiers die
there by the thousands; some on account
of the climate, and others by the lead and
steel of the enemy. The greater part OF
them go there by force, and fight for u
cause with which they are not in SYM
pathy.
Is II even human not to try to find the
means Of saving the lives of these menY
1t is irritating to hear one day and an-
other that Ii Is necessary to send to Cuba
regiments and recruits In order to finish
with the rebels, and uphold and establish
the national sovereignty
1t Is easy to stay at home and send others
to die, and IL Is easy, too, not TO know
anything about the war, but by reading
descriptions of the battles by our flresides
In winter and under the shade of the trees
In summer.
The national sovereigntyl Is it that the
nation In order to be sovereign must alb
sorb the life Of the groups that make IL
upp Is 1t that sovereignty must carry
along with IL the slavery of the coloniesp
Its sovereignty limited to the national in
terests, IL must be circumscribcd to the
life of relations TO the colonsts.
National pride IL also invoked to con-
tinue tho war, as IL 1t were dishonorable
to a nation to grant what is just. Would
the honor Of the nation suffer less by con-
tinuing the war and losing in the endS
Was Il mora honorable for us to have to
ratify Mexico by the peace Of Cordodo, the
plan of Iguala, and to sign In Peru the
shameful capitulation of AvacuchoY
The war will increase our already des-
perate economic situation. Its only three
months since the war was begun, and al
ready IL has cost 81, ,00O, 900 in the last
budget made mp before the war;