Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-12-10
CUBA MUST BE FREE
Senator Cullom Speaks for the Pa
triots' Cause.
INTERFERENCE, BE SAYS, MUST COME
If Necessary, the Island Must Be
Purchased.
WAR TO BE PED

oendte tOQay on the CUBAN question, ana
his speech being the first extended discus
sion of the question since Congress recon-
vened, it was listened to with marked in
terest and attention. After a brief refer
ence to the Presidents message concerning
Cuba, Mr.. Cullom said:
while 1 am not disposed to criticise
President Cleveland, 1 may properly say
that had hoped he would find occasion to
give more positive or emphatic expression
of the true American continental policy,
which ought to be invoked in all cases
where the liberty and independence of any
of the peoples of the American continent
are involved. And, further, I think we
ought never to hesitate or delay when the
lines of this policy run parallel and coinci-
dent with those of common humanity.
If this position shall strike the mind as
being too much in advance of the conserva-
tlsm which has heretofore obtained in all
the schools of diplomacy, / may say that
that advance is what the world Is waiting
for
Spanish Cruelty.
Mr. Cullom referred to certain phases Of
Spanish history, showing the record Of
cruelty and oppression. Continuing, he
said:
This agency of murder and administra-
tor OF torture in the name Of Christianity
continued In vigorous existence in Spain
from the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella
aoout 14s2, until even after the beginning
OF the present century. During the exist
ence OF the holy Office, or nquisition, 81 ,912
persons were condemned and per,shed in
the names, 1869 were burned IN e1iiyy.
ana nearly 100000 were condemned to Sc
we're ana terrible penances The last VIC
tim burned alive persisted about 17GO
The above is the mildest and simples #
statement of history Of Spanish cruelty
to Spaitards from the day of the discover '
or America 20 tae Independence of the
United States"
After further historical reference to
Spanish cruelty in America, Mr.. Cullom
said: 'iii
While 81 the provinces which have re-
belled and separated from Spain have as
nave shown. become prosperous ard fairly
well conditioned, Independent countries tbe
teebie old mother country has gradually
fallen into a lower and lower state denend
ing and almost relying for existence nnnn
me stolen gold levied upon Cuba. Puerto
Rlco and the Philippine Islands. Spain con-
unues to be what she always has been-a
robber nation. / speak now of the nation
and not of her people.
Diplomatic Precedents.
IF we wait for precedent we shall wait
forever. If a precedent is needed we shall
make one. We violated every precedent
by the declaration of our own tndependence
did We even ask for advice as to the change
IN l'S9 from confederation to a union of
states. When we announced the Monroe
doctrine IN 1875, It was in defiance of nre
cedent and was the determination of a
rule which has become law and will
never be gainsaid. When we announced
not many months ago that we should inter
vene in the matter CT the Venezuela bound
airy and see for ourselves if our rights were
10 be concluded by foreign dictation. we
lN,,t
American common sense. And common
sense has Won.
These instances only show that up to
TINS time no assumption of authority in re-
gard to American affairs which this gov
ernmont has made has ever been success
1uliy contested. We now have reached the
time TO take another step in advance We
have already proclaimed that the United
states WIZ have something to say regard
ing matters affecting the American con-
tinent and should now announce that the
speedy termination of Spanish control of
the Islands at the gateway Of the Mexican
gun Is necessary alike to the welfare of
those Islands and TO the people of the
United States.
Cuba Must BE Independent
THE present situation cannot continue
A population of $4,000 white Cubans and
100000 colored Cubans, aggregating 1.45O.-
900 persons. will never yield and ought
never to submit to the bloody military rule
or 10000 Spaniards. The Spanish element
which has always controlled and dominated
CUBA since its discovery. numbers only
about one-tenth its population. Columbus
declared this Is the most beautiful land
ever beheld by human eyes, in October
1492. Now. in 1896, it is given over to de-
vastation and destruction.
Within its borders RACES a war which on
both sides Is declared to be a war either Of
on the one hand, or liberty
and Spanish exclusion on the other. This
condition must cease. The Spanish. after
two years war, have failed to establish
peace, and the insurgents have failed to
reach their hoped-for Independence
This war of determination must STOP
This Congress of the United States has al
ready recognized by solemn resolution the
belligerent rights Of Cuba, but SO long as
1t has not received the executive approval
it has no force. And If 1t had it is con-
coded that some other course must be
taken. The question to be determined is
not fully clear, except that the war must
cease
Mr.. Cullom then spoke of the progress of
Spanish American republics Of South Amer
lea. Then returning to Cuba he said:
1.-The government of Cuba by Spain is
merely tyranny, the governmental power
being but machine by which the profits
of the resident sugar grower go to fill the
pockets of the Spaniard 2OOO miles away.
A government which years ago suffered
ACKNOWLEDGMENT by the complete severance
of it's South American territories, which
idS bccu numuiat60 ny their success as
Independent countries, finds It's last claim
to a profitable dependency now threatened
War to the Last.
THE people of Cuba, who have borne op-
pressions and disagreement for many
generations. have invited their oppressors
to. final determination, and have hidden
them welcome to a feast of war and
carnival of dissolution. Right or wrong
the struggle continues. and IL we can Judge
by the history Of the men of both armies
it will continue until the last dollar is
spent, the last plantation ruined. and the
last machette has fallen from the hands of
the last man. The fighters there on either
side neither give nor ask for quarter.
Cuba today is lost to SPAIN The 1,ubIic
proclamation of Spanish defeat nav rot
have been cfhcially and definitely an
Eounced. but In truth and fact the submits
sion Of Cuba will never again be Welding
as of old. The tribute Of twenty-five to
forty million dollars annually, so long ex-
acted, will never again replen.sh the treas
ury of Spain. The struggle OF 1895 and 1896
may sadly cripple Cuba, but they win rnin
Spain. CIba, with its wonderful coil and
climate. and Its unparalleled capabilities
will regain in mineral wealth and growth
under benign influences far more than she
has lost. The blood OF her people spilled
upon her soil will yield growth Of indie