The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-20
A CASE FOR PROMPT AMI vIGOR.
Gus ACTION.

The arrest and imprisonment of Rev.
A. ]. Diaz by the Spanish authorities in
Havana calls for prompt action by this
explained and aporogIzed for. may prove
to be a turning point in the relations be-
tween the United States and Spain. Mr..
Diaz Is a Cuban by birth, but a natural
lied American citizen. He has had an
interesting career, and one which shows
him to be a man Of character and force.
He was born in 1852. After graduating
in the school OF his native town he spent
twelve years In the study and practice
of medicine. He took part in the last
Cuban rebellion, serving as a captain of
cavalry, and escaped capture and con-
sequent death by trusting himself to a
log, which fioated out to sea and from
which he was picked up by a passing
vessel. He was taken to New York.
where he fell sick. and while in a hos
pital was led by the Bible readings of a
visitor to become d Christian. Since then
much of his time has been given to mis-
sionary work in Cuba. under the
! auspices of the Southern Baptist Church,
though ne has made frequent visits TO
and long stays In this country. He be-
came a full citizen OF the United States
several years age, n is entitled to the
protection of the government, not only
on that account, but by reason Of his In
vulnerable character. He has never con-
cealed his sympathy with the cause of
the present insurgents and may have ex-
pressed himself openly that way, but an
American citizen may talk. even in
Cuba. As a native Cuban he doubtless
overt act too well to make a mistake of
that kind. His connection with the
former rebellion has probably made him
a suspect, and the dispatches state that
he had some trouble with the Roman
Catholic bishop Of Havana His arrest
Is probably due to e combination of re-
ligious and political cause aided by per-
sonal spite. For some time past he has
been superintendent of the Baptist mis-
sions In Cuba, under the direction of the
home mission board of the Southern
Baptist Convention, whose headquarters
is at Atlanta. That denomination is
very strong In the South, and its men,
bers are justly indignant at Mr.. Diaz's
| arrest. At last accounts he was in jail,
where he was liable to be poisoned any
day or taken out and shot. Rev. /. T.
Tichenor. of Atlanta, corresponding sec
rotary Of the board under which Mr..
Diaz mas been working, has published a
statement in which he says:
For months communication with our mis-
| sionaries has been difficult and hazardous.
Iney were objects OF suspicion because OF
their religious faith and practice. IL Is UNI
derstood that all letters were subject TO In
| spection at the Havana postoffice. Under the
prevailing conditions the most innocent e So
excited minds of the Spanish authorities
might be transformed into words indicating
| rebellion and treason. Every letter We sent
10 Havana might engender suspicious that
would result in the imprisonment of our mis-
sionarfes, and every letter they sent TO US
might be fraught with similar consequences.
With the religious aspect OF the case
the United States government has MOTH
ing to do. though 1t supplies indubitable
| proof of Mr.. Diaz's high character, but
from another point of view the case is
an important one A man whose Amer
lean citizenship is not disputed or ques-
toned has been arbitrarily arrested by
the Spanish authorities In Havana and
thrown into jail at a season of the year
when. II he escapes poison by his keep
.ers, he cannot long escape death by dis
ease. The American people should not
cave the Southern Baptist Mission
Board unsupported IN this matter. They
should with one voice demand of the
government that 1t adopt instant meas
ures for the release Of Mr.. Diaz and in
demnity for his imprisonment. This is
not a case for diplomatic correspondence
or legal quibbling. 1t calls for an ulti-
matum.