New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-25
THE CAUSE OF CUBA.
LECTURE BY FIDEL G.. PIERRA, SECRETARY
OF THE PAN AMERICAN CONGRESS-

Fldel G. Pierra. secretary Of the Pan American
Congress. and one OF the best-known and most
active Cubaus in this country. lectured last night
before the Chancellor's club. Catholic Benevolent
Legion in Wilson'S Assembly Rooms. P!errepont-
IT,. on "Cuba-Past. Present and Future" The
speaker was introduced by John ". De voy He
said in part:
During 800 years the mother country entirely ne
elected ihc people Of Cuba and Kept them In such
a complete ISOLATION from the rest OF the worId
irnt inry only knew Of It's existence through the
frequent attacks y the pirates which infested the
coast ~ the slani. ana robbed ana plundereu rs
.nhan.tants AZ their pleasure The mother country
neither defended the colony nor allowed ITS m
defence. "
ana tAe Srtntres residing on the island was TREND
~ ami cordial. RIt soon after. through the niiu-
enc - ciHr oil Splush mvhop'ilsls' u ult'SS Ion
was produced between those TWO clements or the
population. ana i was so stimulated by General Ia
left Il had reached hr point OF almost open asgres,
sion. Tacon Wa animated 10y a profound hatred
for al SpAnish-Amcrlcans. ana consequently for the
Cuba had been repres;snrted in the Spanish cor
ties IN Isl. ana In 80 When the Cories we're con
Ncnci Ia mo CUBA sent FOUR Deputies Dut adinls
sion refused to Them. II dd not suit the In
torests OF the clique Of Spanish monopolists that
tte voice Of the cuban Deputies should be heari
In the Cori-s. and they laborci strenuously TO pre-
vent r. and support by ,ienera! Iacqn' VINO rep,
rule alone coulI preserve the Island TO spain, they
succeeded In excluding the Cuban representatives.
From the moment that DIVISION was created be-
tween the Cubans and the Spanards the former lost
all influence with the Government, ana treated
AS conquered race. unworthy OF all consideration
The former became unconditional supporters OF the
power OF Spain In Cuba. and In joint partnership
with the Spanish officials have misruled and plum
deied the country at their pleasure.
In ls2j the Captain General was clothed with abso-
lutte authority over the lives and property Of the
people Of Cuba and in fact over everything. for he
IL empowered disregard and set aside any
law which may be enacted by the Sovereign respect
ing Cuba The royal decree Is yet In force.
During the last seventy years there Is not one
sins,e Cuban family. some one OF whose members
has not suffered persecution or death. on the
merest spcion and without form OF trial they have
been banshel from the island deported to the penal
colonies OF Africa ordered shot. their estates
have been confscatcd and their families reduced 10
poverty and destltuton.
Referring to the United States the speaker I'M
dertook TO show with long array OF figures that
1t is In the interest Of this country that Cuba be-
come Independent republic. II would mean.
he said. the preservation OF all American capital
and "A great increase in the commerce between the
two countries He added:
Spanish clvzatlon II has perhaps good
clements but II IN order to preserve these all the
Others must be- retained, the majority OF which
most pcrniciOus, then let us hope that cubans
shall DO able at a very early date to blot out
the la9t vestige OF 1t from the island. Not that
hate the Spanards. for hate no people and no
race. but because | love my country best, and be-
cause Spanish political customs. Spanish govern
mental Institutions and Spanish methods OF public
administration are an unmtigated curse and a
fearful calamity.