The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-14
FOOLISH SPEECHES.

The sincere friends of the Cuban patri-
OTIS have little reason for gratihcation in
the speeches made by Senators in support
OF the cause OF Cuban independence. AL
most without exception these speeches
have been foolish and net infrequently
they have been of a character TO injure
the cause OF Cuba rather than to helpit.
The recent speech OF Senator Mills is a
striking illustration of the injury that
may be done to any cause by the FOLLY of
it's inconsiderate friends. Acting upon a
report that Signor Crispi had declared
that Italy would regard American recogni-
ton of Cuban independence as a serious
com IMPLICATION OF foreign affairs the Senator
made an address in which he revi eo the
Italians in way which was not only un-
dignified as Senator and insulting to the
Italian people, but positively harmful to
the Cupans themselves.
The Senator is reported TO have said:
Who is Signor Crispi? There was a day
when the Roman name was acknowledged
throughout the whole earth, but that day has
passed, and the symbol OF power of Italy to-
day is monkey and an organ-grinder. Now
If Signor Crispi takes offense at the action of
Congress-it, in conjunction with Spain. he is
disposed to make q holy alliance, let them
come with their monkeys and organ-grinders
and their hot tamales. This Government is
too great 10 sit under threat of all the armed
powers of the earth.
A statement of that kind hurts the re-
pute of the United States Senate more than
it does the Italian people. 1t is known to
every student of current events that
rarely If ever in history has Italian ge-
Mus shown more brilliantly in all depart
ments of human endeavor than during
the present generation. Without count
ing the names of such statesmen and war
riors as Cavour and Garibaldi, and Victor
| Emmanuel the kingliest king of his
time, there are in the departments of
science sucn men as Calvin. the discov-
erer of galvanism; Volta, the inven tor of
the voltaic pile, and Schiapareli. the as
| tronomer, with many another scientist
| hardly less noted, to attest what Italy has
done for the advancement of human
knowledge and the Improvement of hui
man conditions.
In literature, as well as in music and
| the drama, the names of illustrious Ital-
ians are so many that it would be invidi-
Gus to select few out of the number for
| special mention. There is, in fact. no di-
rection in which the human intellect is
now exerting itself in which the Italians
have not taken a leading place. and the
world owes as much OF its advancement
to that people, in proportion to their
number, as to any other on the earth.
The cause of Cuba cannot be promoted
by such speeches. The people of the
United States sympathize with the Cuban
patriots, desire to see the independence oil
the island established. and are glad 10
know that there many members of the
| United States Senate who are ready to
give recognition to the island. They are
not pleased, however, to see these friends
of Cuba so inconsiderate as to make
speeches unworthy of American states.
manship.
| 1t is the misfortune of Cuba that 80
many men of emotional temperament
and inconsiderate speech have espoused
| her cause. She has suffered more than