The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-01-23


precious metals. From the Rockies to the
Andes whole races were enSlaved to toll for the
gold and silver that was to fill Europe with I
religious dissension and war. During the reign
of Philip H. the most cruel bigot that ever sat
on a European throne. Spain reached the zenith
of her power. With the wealth eXacted from
America was built up that gigantic despotsm.
half military. half ecclesiastical that could
prOmpt catherine de- Medic to advocate the st.
bartholomew massacreS and the assassination
of Coljouy and send a red-handed AlVa to the
Netherlands armed with all the merciless
enginery of sacerdotal inquiSitiOE to torture
thousands for conscience's sake. With the de-
feat of the Armada sent against Elizabeth the
success of the plans of William the Silent and
subsequent rise of the Dutch republic. Spanish
power began to wane. In America the gather
ing strength of France and England began to
OyerShadOw the southern terrorism OF the
naughty Castan. and the close of the French
and Indian war found SPANS hold on America
resting solely on the prestige Of the past. The
close of the Napoleonic struggles left Spain. as
a direct result of the Ieninsular campaign one
of the most weakened states in Europe. and ill
poor condition TO cope with the storm of REBEL
ion that now burst in America. With the sue
cess of the English colonies as al example.
Spanish America. from the Sabine to the
Pampas. under the leadership of Simon Bolivar
and JuareZ rose in revolt. and. despite the moral
aid extended Spain by the Holy Alliance. MALL !
tanned the struggle that resulted III the eXpu- |
sion of the Spaniard from his long misruled |
possessions. OF all her vast dominiOns the one |
active friend that spain found i'll her hour of !
universal rebellion. was cuba. and CuDa alCne !
With Il loyalty born of faithfulness she adhered
trv A of
purpose that gained for her the poetic appella
tiou of Ever faithful isle As the mentor of
her cause and the friend in need. cuba earned
the una,loyed gratitude of the Spanish heart.
But Cuba's reward was the ever present specter
| of the despoiler and tax gatherer. Driven from
the continent and the prey on which she had SO
! long Toasted. Spain seemed to concentrate all
/ her powers OF oppression i'll a plunderOus career
t of robbery and misrule on Cuba. the parallel OF
which must he sought for in the annals OF
! Asiatic Satrapies. IN 1868 the wronged island.
writing under the lash of her heartless task
master. began her decade of struggle for liberty
which, though unsuccessful. developed the
patriotic qualities that is yet to burst her bonds.
In this war were enacted the most shocking
barbarities ever perpetrated Oh any people OF
the western hemisphere. With Nalmaseda. the
feted and petted of Madrid. chief butcher.
unfortunate CUBA. subjected to scenes OF
carnage and rapine rivalling in atrocity the
darkest deeds OF the Mongol hOrdes of Genghis
Khan rhe closing years of the nineteenth
century finds Spain again struggling with REBEL
ion Again the Cuban worm has turned and
again is heard the dismal story of the vaIldal
, warfare of the Spaniard. In her present light
for freedom Cuba is encouraged by the SYM
, pathy of all: but yet. the succor of none.
Just now it is fashionable to wish God-spee't to
the Cubans. it is also considered good form TO
SympathiZe with the ArneDians AMI urge on
the European powers to chaStIse the Turkish
, government. Armenia has the distance that
, lends enchantment. Cuba the familiarity that
breeds contempt: is the butcherins of women
, and lefenselesS prisoners i'll Matanzas Jess
% culpable than the massacre of ArmenianS il
SassouD? Is the cut Of the machete of the
ruffians under Garrido. more soothing. than the
sabre thrusts of the kurds under a Turkish
pasha: TO the people of the United States il
presented the question OF action or indifference
in the Cuban situation. Related. it is. geo
graphically and commercially the deplOrab
II plight of the 'Gem of the Antilles gives al
v interfering interest to the extent of demanding
l. the Immediate restoration OF Cuba to norma
conditions and one which the diplomatic qut
bles of international obligations should not b
IT permitted to Obstruct. Why have we not th
same right-that of humanity-to send a dOubl
A turreted monitor to Havana to compel peace
that Europe has to concentrate fleet at til
G. entrance of the Dardanelles and threaten Cor
stantinople" The same right of eltinteres
ID that caused England and France to Join hand
in the Crimean war, that prompted spain he
ct SELF into hasty recognition of the Souther
Confederacy. that moved Beaconseld to mas
A British power at Malta in the Russo TurkO wa
that sends Russia medtiling in the affairs of til
Nv Orient should impel the United States to abit
+ the nuisance that has so long polluted the FIRE
., air of our south eastern shores. In her trea
*, ment OF Cuba Spain studies the lessons
,a American history with little care. She refuss
to learn that England had her Washington
France a TOussaint L'Onverture. she herself
Bolivar ana her own cruel eXactions has pr
duced the stormy spirit that will sound the dealt
knell of her rule Conceived iii ayarice. born
cruelty. nOurished on arrogance ana reared wit
a selfish disregard of the rights of the governe
Spanish power i'll America has ever been tt
he quntessence of the childish query: How b
of was Alexander. pa. that people call him great:
ar Stripped OF her romance and viewed unmaskf
he in the light of modern intelligence. Spain stan(
IN as the embodiment of incapacity. an anomaly {
or this hemisphere and "a back number of civiliZ
ed ton. In the career of Spain read the il
OIL mutable law of fate that wrong shall not proSpe
mt and that grimly and memorable the swift hal
M of retributon shall follow the woes OF Il
ew victim. Every dollar wrung from Cuba has bet
a repaid by tear drawn from Spain. Eve
of stripe laid on the backs of PueblOS undOing Il
cir work of the gentle Franciscan fathers was but
up link in the chain that finally encompassed Il
,se destruction of the tyrant. The immOlation of
in Peruvian Inca the treachery with the MOntez
on mas and the brutalites practised on the Ate
les were but chapters in the events that caus
he America to know Spain no more forever.
rO-
he The Deacons Unfortunate Blunder.
tez .......".'"'"
he The curate of IA country church had II
he notices to give out. and did SO, properly enoug
ed in the following manner II am requested