The news & observer., 1896-12-27
DIR. D1AzrEIL.s HIS EXPERIENCE
The Exiled Cuban Missionary at Galway
Baptist Chureh.
lNew York Trihune.l J

i4NEW A0Th
a iarge audience greeted the Rev. Or.
Alberto Jose Diaz, the exiIed Cuban
Baptist missionary and preacher, when
he spoke of his trials and those, Of his
country last night in Calvary Baptist
church. The Rev. DIR. Robert s. Mac
Arthur. in opening the service, prayed
earnestly that the Congress and President
of the United States be guided Alright
in the momentous question now con-
fronting them. He prayed that no war
weuld come upon the United States, and
that Cuba might be free.
DR.. Diaz said he had beea in Cuba
fourteen years since his acceptance of
the Baptist faith, ten years Of which
he spent in the pulpit. In that time he
had established a church worth $40, 600,
hospital worth $4,000, and cemetery
that yielded an income of $4,000 n year.
DIR. Diaz first explained that the trouble
in Cuba was not unforeseen, and that it
was due to the oppression of the Span
iards, who though tina little island held
but ], 800, 600 people, imposed annually
tax Of 500 coo. 600 on them and made
them pay annually 81 100000 upon debt
about which the Cpbans knew absolutely
nothing. AS in Spain and Italy, the
| speaker said, the Catholic church was q
! potent political factor that worked a bale
| ful influence, and he alleged that many
causes Of corruption could be traced TO
| the linking Of church with State.
| He explained that Senor Cisneros, the
! President of the Cuban Republic, was a
man Of sterling integrity and honor, and
I one who sought to form 4 government for
/ the island such as that of the United
States. To show the state Of affairs ex-
listing in Cuba, DR. Diaz said that under
/ the Spanish tariff law barrel Of -four
/ bought from the American manufacturer
would cost S34 The same -four bought
from Spanish houses, would cost SO. 1t
was the identical -four that the American
sold, but it went. ih tha "a CT case, in q
roundabout way 70 Cubs. by way of
Spain. Spain could not produce for Cuba,
hence Cubs suffered by the whole scheme
OF trade.
| 4 physician has TO paw from $4,000 10
| $4,000 fc- his educston. Then, IL he
wishes 10 practise he has TO ray $500 a
year for the privilege. II he wants TO
advertise himself, or wants to hang out
sign, he has to pay all the way from
| 10 cents to 81 for each letter of the adj
vertisement.
or the Senators who represented Cuba
| IN the Cortes the Cubans were always IN
the minority. even in the island represen-
tation. Thus the reforms the Cubans
prayed for were always defeated.
Insurrections, DIR. Diaz said, would ~
wars be the resalt Of such evils, and no
power on earth could restain the righte-
Gus indignation Of such an oppressed peo-
pie. DIR. Diaz said he was six times in
! jail and always for preaching against
The Church OF Rome. Once he was jailed
| for ridiculing the idea Of canonizing
| Columbus, he said. The last time he was
! jailed with his brother both were sen
fenced TO death without a civil trial, be
said, and it was only through getting a
| friend TO smuggle out telegramssto Presi-
dent Cleveltnd that both lives were saved
/ through this country's Intervention.
To prevent the incubation OF the gos-
! pei Of liberty Spain had passed a law,
| Or. Diaz said, cutting off from political
preferment any Cuban who sent his
children to the United States for their
education.
Unfortunately for u.s." said DIR. Diax,
/ 1--WE have no Lafayette. Our liberty bell
has been ringing two years, but nobody
seems TO have heard it."