Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-30
I4s
Cuban Aspirations.

Cuban Aspirations.
Spain desires the friendly offices" o
the United States in persuading tn,
Cuban insurgents to accept the prefer
ed reforms and lay down their arms
Spanish craftsmanship does not grasI
| the fact that this would be about the
most unpopular move that our govern.
ment could possibly engage in. The
American people have no more faith in
the sincerity or permanency Of Span.
ish reforms" than have the Cuban pa.
| triots. Experience has demonstrated
the fact that they are of the kind tina,
do not reform. The fact that they are
being pushed to the front at this
eleventh hour of the Cuban insurrec-
ton does not indicate any change in
| the Spanish heart. 1t simply demon
strates the straits of Spanish despera-
ton, at the failure of Spanish arms. 1t
is the last faint hope eagerly seized
upon by Spanish authority to save
some part of their hold upon Cuba. II
history has demonstrated, one fact
MORE conclusively than amy other. it is
| ting utter inability of Spain to deal sue
cessfully with colonial possessions.
Pride. greed and ignorance, have long
been the three most conspicuous traits
of Spanish character and to them is
( due the loss, one after another. of the
rich colonies that have. ipdtimes past.
been subject TO- Spanish authority.
Nowhere in the, history =, Of; man can
there be found a more revolving rec
ord of tyranny and robbery, than that
which tells the story of Spanish rule in
Cuba. Nowhere beneath the sun does
there exist a spot where nature has
been more lavish of her gifts. 1t is in
habited by brave and devoted people.
A considerable portion of it is owned
by citizens of the United States where,
in the natural order of things, the
great bulk of it's trade must go. Has
there ever been any reason why this is
land and it's people should be subject
to power thousands of miles away
across the sea without single natural
bond of sympathy? Is there any rea-
son why it's property should be taxed
for the support of rotten and
tottering monarchy on the other
side of the ocean? Is there any
reason why it's able and patriotic
citizens should be excluded from all
participation in it's government, and all
authority be administered by corrupt
and profligate sons OF. Spain, who have
received from the Spanish government,
as a special privilege and mark of
good will, an opportunity to mismanage
Cuban affairs and plumber the Cuban
people? ,.ys
How long would any brave and
spirited people submit to abuses like
these? Is it any wonder that the
Cuban patriots are fighting to throw
off the Spanish yoke and that they
will never be satisfied with anything
short of absolute independence of
Spanish rule? In these resentments
and aspirations they have the active
sympathy Of the great mass of the
American people. 1t is the old passion
ate purpose of our own revolution the
struggle for human liberty, re-enacted
on an island of the sea, but a few
hours sail from our own shores, amid
modern conditions, and under infinitely
greater provocation. There can be but
one prayer go out from. the sympa-
thetic hearts of the people of this coun-
try, and that for the complete and per-
manent establishment of Cuban indie
pendence. 4e-.s..