The sun., 1895-02-28
Cuba.

Why should the Spanish monarchy any
longer exercise despotic authority over the
people Of the radiant island which lies so
near our own seaboard, and is thousands Of
miles distant from the kingdom Of Spain?
1t is an anomaly. 1t is preposterous.
Why should these people, numbering over
a million and half, be taxed to the amount
of millions of dollars every year for the en-
richment Of Spain? Why should Spanish
troops be stationed among these people, and
Spanish men-of-war occupy their harbors,
TO keep them in subjection? Why should
these people be governed from Madrid, or
compelled to obey the laws made there9
Why should all their interests be rendered
subordinate to those of the Spanish mon
archy? Why should their rights be tram
pied upon by foreign power, which cares
only for the revenues that can be extorted
from them? Why should their aspirations
Tor liberty under republic be crushed,
generation after generations
These things are anomalous. They are
immoral and cruel. Their existence ought
not to be protracted
The Cubans possess one OF the richest and
loveliest islands in the world They are an
intelligent people. They are brave. They
are capable of self-government, and they
have made many an effort to obtain it,
Early in the last century there were up
risings in Cuba against Spanish exactions
and tyranny. All Of them were mercilessly
suppressed by Spanish arms At the open
ing Of our century there were ominous
manifestations there. About the middle of
the century there was revolt which gave
good hopes of success. In recent years there
have beer outbreaks again and again; and
now, once more, we have news of an upris-
ing, and of encounters with the Spanish
troops, and of the hurried preparations of
the Spanish authorities in Havana for seri-
GUS conflict.
We make no prediction of the result, but
shall not be surprised by Spanish success.
The Cubans have repeatedly disappointed
their we'll wishers in this country. They do
not lack courage or fervor, but they lack
some of the other elements needed for sue
cess. The patriotic party are unable to or
ganize effectively in any part of the island;
they cannot procure arms; they are deficient
in pecuniary resources; the movements of
every man of them, every man under suspi-
cion, are watched by Spanish spies; they
cannot meet except by stealth; they do not
possess the liberty of speech or of printing.
Spanish tyranny is everywhere, over the
provinces, cities, and villages; Spanish guns
are ever ready for service. Spain has strong
holds in Cuba; she has n large military
force; she has naval vessels and gunboats on
the seaboard; she has storehouses of sup
plies; she can despatch more troops to the
island, in case they may be needed she can
squeeze from the Cuban people all the
means required for the maintenance Of their
own subsection. There is not n doubt
that the enemy will be hard to overcome at
any time the patriotic party may attempt
to break his yoke. The party can succeed
only through the combination of all their
forces, however difficult that may be, only
through unyielding determination under
adversity, only through steady perseverance.
When sudden uprising of patriotism is
followed by speedy dispersion Of the pa
triots, there is danger that the enemy will
be lastingly strengthened.
We can conceive of the kindling of the
fires of freedom at any point in Cuba, and
Of their spreading over the island as, at the
time Of our revolution, they spread over this
country. We can conceive of the rallying
of the liberty-loving Cubans in numbers
sufficient to put an end to Spanish domina-
tion forever. We can conceive of their seiz-
ing and using the resources which have been
filched from them by the enemy. The
patriotic party in Cuba possesses powers
never yet brought into play. We should
like to see it make Use of these powers.
That Cuba is bound to be free we have
not doubt. 1t cannot he held in per-
petual bondage by Spain. The spirit of it's
natives is that of freedom. The Spanish
exnctions and the Spanish despotism, against
which it has SO often and 50 long protested,
must be brought TO an end.
We wish success TO every struggle for
emancipation and free government in
which Cuba may engage