The evening times., 1896-12-10

| is conceded that some other course must
| be taken. The Question 10 be determined
| isnot fully clear, except that the war must
| cease.
CUBA LOST TO SPAIN.
| Cuba today is lost to Spain. The public
| proclamation of Spanish defeat may not
have been Officially and definitely an
| nounced. but III truth and fact the subinis-
sion OF Cuba VIII never again be yielded
as of old. The tribute of $50 ,OOo,O 600 to
| SAG, 100000 annually, SO long exacted,
VIII never again replcnish the treasury
OF Spain. The struggles of 1895 and l S96
may sadly cripple Cuba, but they will
ruin Spain
Cuba, with its wonderful soil and climate,
| and its unparalleled capabilities, will re-
gain in material 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 independent
citizenship consecratcd to liberty. This
age is not an age OF retrogresson. The
world of today is not welded to barbarism
in order to perpetuate tyranny or relieve
tottcring dynasties.
Whatever may be said regarding our duty
as nation toward n friendly power which
is striving to suppress an insurrection in
Cuba, still no one, either N America or Eu-
rope, misunderstands the situation. Every
humane heart, American or foreign, sym
pathiZes deeply and sincerely, hot with
the rapine and pillage by which the insur-
gents In Cuba seek to weaken their enc
mics, but with the spirit which leads them
10 look constantly and with hope toward
that star of liberty which they believe VIII
lead them to Cuba lbrc.
SHALL CUBA BE FREE.
The American people are coming to the
consideration of the Cuban sit uation as they
already have in certain other cases as
great political question, continental
question, If you please. And being a pulti-
cal continental question, ii will be decided
ultimately by the continent whose inter
ests are most clearly involved Gepgraphi-
cally considered, Cuba cannot belong To
Spain. A line drawn rromthc South Florida
headlands to the mouth Of the OrinocO
places Cuba on the American side.
The great Antillean sea which surrounds
Cuba and other islands is but an extension
of the Mexican gulf, and geographically
Cuba belongs, as politically it ought to be-
long. TO the American continent of re-
publiCS, and not TO Spain or Europe. Geo
graphically Cuba Is in American waters
ana politically 10 is entitled to statehood
In the continent of American republics.
This great continental question, therefore,
when stripped of all its complications, be-
comes, in plain and simple language, Shall
Cuba he free? THIS country will never CON
sent to the transformation OF Cuba into Il
slave pen for the holding in servitud,. OF
the captured patriots and insurgents who
are fighting for the dearest rights of men
We Will not permit that island, a land
which has the brightest possibilities for a
people OF intelligence and enterprise, to
he made the abiding place OF death and
destruction.
She Hes too near our land OF freedom to
remain the military prison OF the most
cruel and unrclenting policy on earth
This war now being waged is avowcdly a
war OF determination, or utter crushing
out OF libert on Cuha's SO, 900 square miles
OF territory.
UNITED STATES MUST AC.
1 believe 1t TO he the duty Of the
United States to use the great power at
taching to the nation to declare and to
Inain ain, as q prerUgative of right, be-
longing generally 10 repuhlicanisrn and
specifically To this republic. that no charnel
house of ruin shall be continued in the
West Indian waters. whose waves break
at our very front gate, any longer than the
time IL shall require to break II up. And
If the duty OF supprcssuE this damning
blot, and crasing IL foreyer from sight,
shall fail alone upon the United States, so
be it,
The effort cannot fail We shall no. wage
any warfsre for the acquisition of terri
tory for ourselves. We shall not claim
Cuba as reward for saving her from the
slaughter; but we Will not see that fair
island turned again to the merCics Of wild
beasts and vultures of war, whose ONLY
stimulus is gain. Cuba lbre-free Cnba-is
the reward. and what a glorious reward
will that be!
Every citizen of the United States will
feel that his hrthrIgtt as an American
freeman Will mean something. Every lover
OF liberty the world over Will eNuls in the
progress and advancement Of man. The
breadth and stature Of individual Ameri-
canism VIII be enlarged and ennobled So
ciety will feel that its doors ned not be
closed against wrong and oppression. for
there will be none who dare modest and
make afraid
settlement is to be had. A settle
ment Uust be made. The account ha : been
open and running long enough-yes, far
too long. To its settlement we may prom
erly invite the cooperation of all the re-
publics OF the American continent. But
the end Of the devastation must be de-
terTnined. The United States must furnish
the occasion, if it does not otherwise arise
LET BLoODsHED CEASE.
If other means fail, we may consider the
propriety of fair purchase of Cuba. That
method has had its share of Consideration
in previous administrations. 1t is not that
we want the territory, but we mean that
the trouble shall mean Just settlement
and CONCLUSION. Let the end come, and
let freedom and humanity he glurified
The wisdom and discretion of an Ameri-
can President and Cabinet can certainly
find a way to determine the trouble with
out imperiling the interests of our country
or our people / have little CHOICE or pref |
erence as to the particular method, but l |
do want. and know the public expects, a |
settlement on a humane and Just basis |
The United States can do no less than
to initiate this effort for humanity and |
liberty.
CALL ON CUBA.
Mr. Culom spoke for exactly an hour He |
was followed, on the same subject BY Mr.
Call, who called up the joint resolution in |
troduced by him. yesterday. recognizing the
independence of Cuba. He sent to the |
clerks desk and had read several official |
communications in regard to the case of |
Oscar Cespedes, an American citizen
He said that there was no better arpu- |
ment than this Cespedes case to show hnw |
impotent the Spanish authorities in Cuba |
were to defend the rights Of American citi- |
zens.
He could see no reason whatever for |
falling to make prompt recognition of an |
existing fact the Independence of Cuba |
and to give to the Cubans the same rights |
as are given to Spain in the ports and juris- |
diction of the United States.
Spain would have in this no legitimate |
cause of offense. 1t would be really to her |
interest that this ACTON should be AIKEN |
and that the war should be termir ated |
without further destruction of life ard |
property and without further excitement |
of the people of the United States"
Mr.. Cans joint resolution was at the |
close of his speech referred tothe ommittee |
on Foreign Relations.
The bill to amend the immigration laws |
was then taken up as the unfinished busi-