The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-02-04
CUBA AND THE CUBANS
INTERESTING LECTURE BY MIR.
+. c. BUXTON.

The Last of the Brotherhood of st.
Andrew Series-A Synopsis, With
Regrets for Lack of Space
for the Full Text.
The closing lecture Of the series be-
fore the Brotherhood of ST. Andrew,
was delivered by Mr.. J. @. Buxton, in
the lecture room of ST Paul's Episco-
pal church Friday eve. The subject
was carefully handled and merits the
consideration Of Christian nation in
whose very arms this fair Island seems
TO dwell. 1t is a matter OF regret
that we have not space for The lecture
in full.
AT er giving q graphic picture {
this fertile, beautiful island, rich IN
minerals and choice gems, the Queen
of the Antilles, the lecturer proceed
ed at once TO the sad state of revolt
and devast alton and death which pre-
walls there.
The revolt, 1t was shown, not to have
been that OF outlaws, but well con-
certed and arising from causes OF op-
preston extending over several years.
"On February Oath, 1895. at planta
tion in the province Of Santiago.
Marti, Gomez, Maceo and other long
exiled leaders met and organized .
council OF war. For seventeen years
they bad waited for this hour. All OF
them had been leaders In Cuha's cause
In The former revolution; all had suf
fered 1n large measures had IL aceo
suffered. In the former revolution
he had seen his home pllaged, his
mother and sisters shamefully dealt
with, his father and ten brothers shot
down on field of battle. All bad been
broodtng over the cause OF the dear
island, bad waited, watched for the
opporLune time they knew would come.
The hour had arrived. The signal Was
given, under the very tree where
Maceo had sheathed his sword, the
banner Of freedom was flung 20 the
breezes and the rebellion which lasted
nearly two years was begun"
The causes which justified this
course-what were they? They were
such as justified the rebellion OF the
American colouies. First Of all, there
is taxation without representation
Only 8 per cent OF Cuban population
has the right OF suffrage and of ali the
mem hers in the Cortes from the col
ony, only three are native Cubans.
Again their property rights are not
stable. The estates OF the Cuban pa
triots are liable at any time to conf1s-
cation. Courts Of justice afford no
reief. The educational system Is q
farce. Cuba has also been subject to
the surveillance Of a standing army,
not less than twenty-five thousand of
Spain's hlre,ings have been quartered
in Cuba for thirty years. Add to all
this Thousand outrages, humiliation,
petty exactions and colossal tyrannies
and then let Americans answer the
question, did the Cubans have right
to revolt?
The insurgents are poorly armed,
scantlly fed, but they are acclimated,
know the country and are brave and
hopeful The warfare on the part of
Spain has ceased to be civilized.
and now what shall the people Of
the United States do? There are
four courses open to us We may do
nothing. We may for prudence sake
refuse to entapgle ourselves in any
way with the affairs of this unhappy
country 1t is true thereby that We
may forfeit all claims to honor and
hum anity, but none the less this
course is open to us We may propose
20 Spain to buy the Island.
''Shall we propose TO buy the Island?
No, there are two valid objections to
this course. In the first place We
have no assurance that Spain will
part with Cuba for financial consider
alton and we should only subject our
selves to the humiliation OF having
our offer spurned. In the second, we
do not need Cuba, at least just now
Many grave problems that have to do
not only with the well being, but the
very life Of the republic are now be-
fore the American people for solution,
and until these problems shall have
been solved, il would show the great
- mi f.JIr
selves with new and unknown inter
ests and heavy responsibilities. There
is third course.
1--WE may recognize the Cubans as
beIligerents. This in part we have
already done. In the early spring Of
last year Congress- passed concurrent
resolution In which Cuban belliger-
ency was recognized and the Presi-
dent instructed to mediate between
Spain and her Colony. This resolu-
tfon as Is well known, did not receive
che sanction of the exective and hence
fell to the ground
"Some one has said, shall we inter-
fere only to secure for the bounded
Cubans temporary respite from their
sufferings, promises which Spain does
not mean to keep
"There is no need to blink the fact
through false courtesy that Spain Is
cruel.
"In the pame of Spain and the cross
these legaliZed pirates took possession
of new land, and beneath the folds
OF It's flag and the banner OF the cross,
they did devilish work.
ITO interfere in such matter as
this seems to come not short of bind
ing duty. Let US grant to a people
sore tried the home they crave,
the boon our forefatheTs sought in
I776--sought and found, independence
"rnese Cubans are fighting 10 the
sacred cause of liberty, for that cause
that lends sacredness to the very
names of Lexington and Bunker Hill,
They are unconquerable in spirit In a
real way they choose freedom or death.
Through the smoke of battle and
burning houses they look for aid.
Where else but to great country hard
by, where but to the land of the free,
the home of the brave-where but to
the land over which freedoms starry
banner ever waves ?"
Rev. A. L. Stanford's Work.
Rev. Fl. Blair, presiding elder of