Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-26
~ 4th OF JULY REMINDER !.
Ne Owe Debt to Spain Which Can Meyer
Be Repaid.
printed ihy Rsnuest.l


printed by Request.)
In these days of jingoism, when 6,
many alleged patriots are clamorin:
for the recognition as belligerents o
the horde of half-breed adventurer
who are conducting a guerilla warfar,
in Cuba in the name of liberty, it il
opportune to direct attention to tn,
generous assistance rendered by Spair
to our colonies in their time OF creates
need and without which, in all proba
bility, the Declaration of independence
would have been mere matter of his
tory. What she did to help us in oul
struggle for freedom, and how it wa:
done, are eloquentiy set forth in a
speech delivered by Mr.. George Sumner
brother OF Hon. Charles Sumner, in
Faneuil Hail, Boston. on July 4th, 1859
He said:
Eighty three years have passed since
the delegates OF thirteen feeble colonies
proclaimed the immortal truths of that
Declaration to which we have Just
listened. This act, pregnant with con-
sequences to all mankind, stands in his
tory as the record of the birth Of new
nation.
In 1776 the great powers of Europe
were in peace, and England was at full
liberty to throw On our shores the full
force of her arms.
In the great contest which ensued-a
contest for government and for the
equal rights of man-perils were en-
countered and sufferings endured which
we, calmly enjoying their fruits, re-
member with gratitude to the men who
toiled for us, and with fealty to the
principles which they proclaimed.
The struggle was long and unequal;
and when the enemy succeeded in
gaining possession of New York. the
timid began to falter All eyes were
now turned to Europe Delegates had
been already dispatched to seek the as
sistance Of France. and their hopes
were not disappointed One million of
francs were given from the French
treasury; cannon and military stores
furnished from the arsenals of France.
other stores to the value of million of
dollars placed in colonial ports acces-
slble to our vessels; and a series of
friendly acts commenced which. on the
9th of February, 177S, were consum-
mated in treaty of alliance, and in a.
declaration by which France bound her.
self to make no peace with England
until the independence of the United
States was fully recognized.
But 1t was not France alone which
came to our aid. During the summer
or TO, one of those brave men who
were the creators of the naval alory of
our country, Captain John Lee, of Mar
blehead, cruising under a commission
from Congress, having taken and sent
home five valuable prizes, and finding
it necessary to refit and obtain supplies
and munitions of war, entered the port
of Bilbao in Spain. The captains Of
two of his prizes and part of their
crews were on board. These officers
Immediately protested against their
capture and had Capt. Lee arrested on
the charge of piracy. The local author
tiles sent the documents Of the case to
Madrid, together with the commission
granted by this new and unknown pow
er. Here was critical juncture in our
affairs. On the decision of the Spanish
ministry depended, not alone the fate
Of Capt. Lee, but whether some of the
most important ports in Europe should
be opened or closed to our cruisers and
privateers. The English Minister in
Spain brought all his influence to bear
against us. At this moment the Decla
laration of the Fourth of July reached
Madrid. The complaint against Capt.
Lee was dismissed; supplies for his
ship, and aid in repairing it were fur
nished; and public declaration made
that in Spanish ports the new flag of
America was as free and as welcome as
the old and naughty flag of England.
This open act of friendship had been