The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-30

sacrificed brutality, in the closing day
of the Nineteenth century, al the yer,
gates of the great nation which stand
so high in modern culture-sacrificet
thereby. dreading European monarchy
which has had the sad glory of setting
forth the horrors Of the middle ages.
Our struggle with Spain has an es
pect very interesting to that humanity
of which you are so noble an exemplar
and 10 this aspect / wish to call your Il
lustrious attention
Look through the world and you vii
see how all people. with the possible ex
ception of the Americans. contemplate
with indifference, or with sentimental
platonism, the war which makes red the
! beautiful fields of fertile Cuba, as If II
were a thing foreign to their interests
and to those of modern culture. as II i
were not a crime to forget in this man
ner the duties of social brotherhood
! "But you know it is not Cuba alone; I,
| is America, it is all the Christianhood,
| it is all humanity, that sees itself out
ragged by SPANS horrible barbarity.
well it is said that the Spanish
| struggle with desperation and that they
are ashamed to explain the methods
they employ in this war. But We know
.nem and We expect them.
eve accept it all as a fresh sacrifice on
The altar OF Cuban independence.
at is logical that such should be the
oonduc. OF the nation that expelled the
Jews ard the Moors; that instituted and
built up the terrible Inquisition; that es-
traoIished the tribunals of blood in the
Netherlands; that annihilated the In
dams and exterminated the forest set
tiers of Cuba; that assassinated thous-
ands of her subjects in the wars OF
South American independence, and that
filed the cup of iniquity in the last war
in Cuba.
ut is natural that people should pro-
coed thus, who. by dint of superstitious
and fanatical education, and through
the vicissitudes of it's social and poilti-
cal life, have fallen into a sort Of
psychological deterioration which has
caused it to fall back whole centuries on
the ladder Of civilization.
at is not strange that such people
should proclaim murder as system and
as a means of putting down war caus-
ed by its desires for money and power.
To kill the suspect, to kill the criminal,
to kill the defenseless prisoners, TO kill
the helpless wounded. to kill all who are
able TO impede it's desolating action. all
this is comprehensive as the way that
the Spaniards have always understood
and carried on warfare.
but not TO pause at the holy and VEN
Grated hearth, personlfication Of all most
peaceful and most noble, also women,
emblem of weakness, nor children, over
wheiming symbol of inoffensive inno-
cence. To bring upon this destruction.
ruin, and murder, constant and cruel.
All. sir, how horrible this is. The pen
falls from my kand when I think Of It.
and 1 doubt at times, human nature, in
contemplating with my eyes, dim with
tears, so many hearths outraged. so
many women sacrificed, so many chill |
dren cruelty and uselessly destroyed by |
the Spanish columns.
"The Spanish, unable to exercise acts |
Of sovereignty over the interior of Cuba. |
have forced the peasants to concentrate
IN villages. where. it is hoped, misery
will force them to serve in the armies of
a government which they abhor. Not
only are those unhappy ones forced to
abandon the only means by which they
IAN live; not only are they forced 10 die
IF starvation. but they are branded as
decided supporters of our arms, and
against them, their wives and children,
5 directed a fearful and cruel persecu-
ion.
"Ought such facts to be tolerated by a
civilized people? Can human powers,
the fundamental principles of
Christian community, permit these
hings to go on? Is it possible that CIV
lized people will consent to the sacrifice
f unarmed and defenseless men? Can
he American people view with culpable
Indifference, the slow but complete ex-
ermination of thousands Of innocent |
americans? No; you have declared that
hey cannot; that such acts of barbaryty
ugnt not to be permitted nor tolerated.
We see the brilliant initiative you have
aiken in protesting strongly against the
illing Of Europeans and Christians in I
.rmena. and in China, denounc,ng them
nth evidence of heartfelt energy.
Knowing this. I, today, frankly and (
agaliy, appeal to you, and declare that s
cannot completely prevent the acts of {
andalis1n that deplore.
TT does not suffice that I protect the &
antilles of Cubans who join US. and
lat my troops, following the example
civilization, respect and put at imme- r
late liberty prisoners of war. stop the 4,
1emies wounded and prevent reprsals. 7
still appears that the Spaniards are 7
nendable 10 no form of persuasion :
lat is not backed up by force. :
"Ah. sir, the vicisstudes of this strug- ,
e have caused much pain to the heart | +
an old and unfortunatet father, but r
Othing has made me suffer so much as !;
lie horrors which I recte. unless 1t is =
see that you remain Indifferent to
lem.
Say TO the Spaniards that they may
ruggle with US, and treat US as they ,
ease. but that they must respect the :,
acific population. that they must not =
Itrage women nor butcher innocent 2
lildren.
you have high and beautiful pre- :.
dent for such action. Read the sadly :
nous proclamation of the Spanish =
neral, Balmaceda. OF 1859. proclaim :,
e practically the reproduction of this =
ar. and remember the honorable and y
gh-minded protes; that the secretary :.
state formulated against IL =
The American people march kgiti- | =
ately at the head Of the western CONT -
mt, and they should not longer tolerate
9 cold and systematic assassination OF
fenseless Americans. lest history i'm =.
lie 70 them a participation in these :.
Tocities.