The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-25
INDEPENDENCE FOR CUBA.
CURRENT TOPICS CLUB HAS AN ~
TEREsTING DEBATE
tains That the Cubans Are Cap
able of SeIf-GOvernment, and
the Club Suxtains His Position.

able of Self-GOvernment. and
the Club suxtains His Position.
The Current Topics Club decided last
night by decided majority that the Gu
baED are capable Of seIf-government The
dIHusson. led and closed by Gen. ]. B.
Metcalfe. was intensely interesting from
start to finish. More than one speaker had
10 be called down by the chaIrman's gavel
under the time limit. and the whole debate
ran little beyond the prescribed hour Of
10 O'Clock.
Gen. Metcalfe's opening remarks were In
substance as follows:
Il am well aware that In a grave politf-
cal discussion all feeling should be shun-
ned. but can scarcely see how one can be
dispassonate in viewing the reasons why
Cuba should not be free. Abstractly. the
freedom OF a people comprehends every
element embraced In the well-being and
permanency OF civilized society, and there
fore covers the broad field of how best the
happiness of mankind can be secured and
perpetuated. The capacity OF a people for
independent government involves the ac-
tive and vigorous exercise of both rational
and physical energy. Your question is
then, DO the Cubans possess and have
they displayed these forces sufficiently to
have conferred upon them the sacred trust
of a government dependent upon the I'M
Ok the ptUifiE WHO up
hold it?' Without hesitation we proclaim
that they are worthy of the trust. When
the island of Cuba was first discovered.
there existed upon that land Of endless
summer between 10000 and 40. 900 Indians
who. the historian tells us. have. under the
iron heel of Spanish conquerors. entirely
disappeared.
When the present ahominable war
commenced population OF million and a
half of people inhabit the island which
the poet has so beautifully termed as the
sweet isle of flowers, That population
Creoles, and the balance mulattoes. ne
groes and Asiatic coolies. say advisedly
when the war commenced, for then Capt
Gen. Valer!ano Weyler. the great grave
digger of the century, had not made that
pearl of the Antilles the remorseless tomb
Of Spanish youth ard Cuban manhood. He
had not then 'paciiied' any of the prov
inces of Cuba-~that extraordinary and dis
mai pacification. such as the white-heated
simeon brings in its scorching wake.
The island of Cuba, in square miles. is
not much larger than half the common
wealth of Washington, That million and a
half Of people had by their skill an 1 energy
built up within that area not only many
towns and villages. but a half DOZEN cities
whose population ranged from 800 to 90
esl people besides their enlendd capital
city Of Havana with It's $4,000 souls. Their
agricultural products were marvellous IN
richness. and from sugar alone the mag
nificent sum of nearly $to0. 600 600 was annu-
ally produced
Gle which created those hives of human
industry and amassed this colossal wealth.
Is not this sufficient evidence 10 manifest
to all humanity that the CUBAN patriot is
capable OF at least approaching the bless
ings OF government of free men. These
cities maintained those greatest of modern
civilzers and educators, daily newspapers.
All this evinceS a mentality profound
enough for the most advanced character OF
government.
AIr resident. there is no sounder doc
;rine in political economy than that society
has right 10 participate In IT'S own gov
ernment. a people who have shown thai
sney are abreast with the march of the
civilization Of the hour. nave proven that
he rational and physical forces they pos
seSs entitle them To freedom.
''Imag CINE this gem of the Atlantic. witt
his people, with its unparalleled wealth OF
gich ard rare woods, it's fora seemingly
culiea from paradise, cursed with gov
eminent ;hat only tle sayaEery OF n Span
lard would maintain, It's people deprived
Of civil rights Of political liberty. ex
ctuSinn from public office and denial of re
iigious freedom. When the Cuban knew
he had won these ckic triumphs and SUI
fcred under he awfm blight OF Spanish
icspotgsm. did he with craven spirit kis'
me hand which had oppressed him. No.
4 thousand times no. Despairing OF redress
from these grlevous WRONGS ne ceased to
petition ana declared his rights. ard nov
knowing his rights he dares 10 maintain
them.
once before these wrongs and the tr5
cious taxation that not even the wondef =
ful wealth of The ISLAND could sustain
forced the Cuban into Il bloody streggle
for freedom. and for ten long years wits
an army 81 scarcely more than 15,s1 mes
they held az bay az army Of 1890 Span
isii soldiers and cost the Spanish eXGaeqarr
more than Si{sl go fsb1 And now. I'm three
years Spatn has sent an army Of e-nfks
soldiers and spent $3.50 ~ Bnt STU
heroic old Gomez keeps the banner OF Cuas
f.ibFe floating unco241ered and defiant H.
80 z oh Is . ~ fr.H.
say that such peonle, who can win slsck
sriamrhs n civil afc. possessed Of suct
unGaunsed yalor are not capable OF self
government
"These are the people wac are aspiring
for the blessings oF knowledge and civ
iliza;ion and GoG grant they may win L
Vhep We read Of the appalling horrors ~
SnanjSs, warfare. % the CORY butche~ies 81
the uon-con5 batants. I must confess tia
am disappointed AZ the suD!neness IF cur
own government. No age. Sex or condition.
81 sNa red BY the rarageS % this mos
CHRISTIAN nation faousa ads starving and
thousands murdered and when / see that
Nttle brown body. with rags scar,sete
covering ses.r form hot3gng her olesatisy75
cor. FOR freedom. for life. | hear a cry al
injured justice and the spirit Of liberty
wailfne
~ h4}ieve rs Mr. Cleveland said thai
ire limited S:gtss has a character as a ma
tior t. maintain. / believe mat II IL "a
fhe humiliation - every American that
MS government StRr1S needless midst rHe
wreck n IRE brave Cuhars and secs the
appalling buTchery % a Christian pospis
who haVe o~en reared within the very
-avs - the torch of liberty IL by our fore
fathers.
let Columbia IN her pride and nigh.
stretch forth her arm and say th's carni-
ysl ~ crime give peace ami freedom II
.sia wo~S ~ liberty, Or ! fear that the
future historian viii write that she - 70
sponSihle for this d-gui}tiness. ard thas
y fair rohes viii never - whlfenei ana
cIearssd from the red stains xpiasaei hy
the sword - the Span I'd with the sy;no9
~ = pe0pia who struggle Cor that liberty
whica American freeTnen enjoy, and who
wau; % ba and ara struggling 70 bs or
tire side ~ free Institutions"
Gen Netcaife VAS given close attention,
ard cordial APPLAUSE. TIE sneakers FOL
lowing him were Massrs. x stfer Rawen
Shepard McAr5lle Dow. GeohsEan. His
Ard Powlss. Gen. MefcaIfe closing. Mary
81 ire speeches teensed with instructive
information and arsa.msatat.ve elazagenes
The club extended vote os thanks 10 ali
TIE speakers
The question fer debate two weeks hencz
VIII Ds. rs the rev woman detrimental Al
10 f2e interests OK man Z business and II
scc.eiy!''