The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-03
American Citizens in Cuba.

On the third page OF this issue a
story of Spanish savagery is told which,
it is no figure of speech to say, makes
ones blood run cold With the horror
She recounting of the circumstances of
Ruiz demoniac torture and murder ex-
cites, ;s mingled an intense feeling Of
indignation that an American citizen,
though naturalized citizen, should he
thus arrested, imprisoned, naltreated
and finally assassinated, with no fear of
or regard for the government of which
he protested that he was a citizen. The
United States was defied or disregarded
with the impunity horn of Spanish
knowledge of the sympathy and support
of the administration at Washington.
Consul General Lee, the representative
of the United States, was derided, in
suited, profanely condemned, when his
interference was invoked.
Worse than this. The government
which sent him TO Havana to protect
the lives and interests of American citi-
zens gave him no foil for Spanish in
suit, no support for the enforcement of
his demand. When an American
naval officer, some decades ago, in the
time of the Hungarian revolution, de-
manded Kozta of the Austrian govern
ment, the demand was backed by open
ports and shotted guns. Kozta was
speedily surrendered. He was Hun
gariau, claiming American citizenship,
and had been kidnapped by Austrian
officials. This occurred under demo-
cratic administration, heroic, in spite of
its mediocrity, in comparison with the
emasculated specimen of Americanism
that for four years has been in the seat
of power at Washington. Sanguily has
been released, but Scott, Aguirre, and
others conceded to be American citi-
zens, are still confined in the vile dun
geons of Havana.
That the condition of affairs in Cuba,
affecting American life and interests,
has not been exaggerated, the follow
ing from Consul General Lee is in evi.
dence:
1 must obey instructions from headquar
ters. The department authorizes me to act
a certain way, and but carry out my or
ders. I came here unprejudiced and deter
mined to form my opinions by what came
directly under my observation. From the
moment I landed my American blood be-
gan to boil, and il stay here much Longer
and am forced to witness all the iudignitiet
hesped upon my countrymen without re-
straint, it will literally all boil away. They
trample on our flag, hiss US on the streets
Americans are murdered, robbed and i'm
prisoned; indignities are heaped upon oul
women, and every atrocity conceivable FOL
Spaniard to put on Americans is thrus,
upon us.
Nevertheless, these barbarous crimes
against American citizenship, and
against humanity itself, are the sub
jects of sneers and ridicule and "jocu.
larity," by class of people-among
them Senators like Hosr of Massachu.
sets and Hale of Maine-who stand in
about the same attitude TO the Cuban
struggle and American interest in it, az
did the Tories of the Revolution 10 the
rebellion against the tyranny of Great
Britain. The public heart responds
to the words and sentiments of Lodge
and Morgan and Sherman. These pat
riotic words, among other emphatic
declarations on the subject of Spanish
outrages in Cuba, by the coming Secre-
tary of State, drawn out by the heart
less taunts of Senator White of Cali
fornia in the debate on the Sanguily
resolution, are reassuring to Americans
whose blood boils, like Gen. Lees, over
Spanish atrocities and the supineness
of the American government:
! "I trust in God the time will never come
, when 1 shall see an American citizen
wronged of his rights and prosecuted
and prosecuted uniustly by any power
great or small. That is the way 1
feel now. am in favor Of protecting this
particular American citizen, although he is
a naturalized citizen, in all the rights of
man. / would not see him destroyed or
driven to the fate of another naturalized
citizen who was killed in custody. I am
Opposed to wrong and violence and tyranny
wherever it is exercised, and when it is in
fiicted upon citizen of the United States,
I will stand by him If am alone"
In the language of the street." that's
the stuff" and if Mr.. Sherman puts it
into practice, in his official capacity, a
great multitude of American people
will stand with him.