The times., 1897-11-23

States, has issued the following address E1
members OF the league:
The Cuban problem which has so long
rested a blight upon the conscience
Of our people approaches its solution. In
uepe8draDe I0l tme suffering Patriots nov
within our timely action rounds Out their
years OF trial with deserved reconpense.
This great consummation the American
people should foIIn with demand from their
political representatives. The cowardice
OF wealth seduclug our officials t. inaction
while murder has been done, the lnsin-
ceIity OF rulers inventing special pleas
To cover their treachery to national duty,
the open and unnecessary interference
with the legal commerce OF the country
as an act OF grace to brutal Spain, and
making US her any agains; those Following
our historic teaching, have all run their
courses to the wouDding OF national pride,
and To our utterly exhausted patience.
but time and the Cuban sword have
brought the crisis which roreruns final
cure, In Cuban Independence. THIS is
the hour OF American opportunity.
Effective woIk can be done, which II
well done VIII go far TO excuse our past
neglect. Congress is the objective point
Cuba should lie put on equal terms with
Spain regarding supplies from our bur
dened magazines. I loUr, cattle, horses,
ana arms from American soil, 10y night
aud day, go in steady rush TO the Cuban
shores for the support Of the forces Of
Inonarchicai Spain; none OF these can 20
hence To feed the starving patriots OF
repubEcsr Cuba. The soldiers we nave
thus fed use the life we give them TO
erase from the earth an entire popula-
ton, by deeds OF horror whose recitals
freeze the heart of the civilized world.
Unmoved, We have so far heard tie wall
Of the victims OF have furnished new
blades for Spanish hands to insure the
work Of Cuban defamation
BelIigerent rights to Cuba VIII quickly
change this brutal panorama. The SEN
ate has alread ordered its verdict Tor such
rights, and the lower house should respond
before the new year comes in. The Cuban
League OF America now calls upon its
entire family OF 600 branches 10 unite as
one voice in a demand upon their Con-
Eress fonal represents tivcs TO vote this
way. All other organized friends and
also indiy Id uals. OF whom there are hun
dreds of thousands ympathizinE with
Cuba, are urged TO the same activity.
Following belligerent rights, indepen'I
ence is assured. Pc not deceived by the
ignorance or The hypocrisy uf those who
argue against this remedy.
There are other cures, but belligerent
rights is now the most availa BILE, and the
most effective. This VIII enable Cuba 10
draw support from Us, a Spain has done,
and un equal terms Our neutrality Ia ws
cover belligerents with tie same shield.
Cunning sympath thiZers with Spanish bar
harity affect to see danger TO Cuba in
this but the facts and the laws EXPOSE
their inSincerity. With the grant OF tel
lieerency from US. American generosity
and patriotism would crowd Cuba with
hiIIocks of munitions of war for the
patriots and for the utter destruction OF
her oppressors. We are told that this
gives 10 Spain the right 10 search our
ships.
Lerit he granted: but what damaa o. can
result To our commerce when this search
must be limited TO the coast OF Cuba, and
then for the contrabands OF war prohibited
after Spanish proclamation OF blockade;
which, by the way has never vet been
given? Unreasona ble or unnecessary sea rCh,
clearly for the annoyance OF American
commerce, is as much forbidden after
beIigerency as before. Let such baSeless
apprehensions die in the utterance. Since
no Official notice OF war, nor or blockade
OF Cuban ports, has been given 10 this
nation, there Is not, nor has there been, any
legal restrictions upon our free commerce
with even the insurgents; yet, as q ma L
ter OF grace and As a special favor 10
Spain our Executives have mterfeTed with
cur peaceful and legal commerce TO the
is it not time to change these methods?
With an Executive who knows his duty
and is willing 10 do IL, ali this may be
rightly changed as our statutes are now
formulated. In the absence Of any off
cIal knowledge OF war in Cuta, call hoIIe
our police OF the seas and permit legfti-
mate trade TO run its course. This policy
OF doing nothing with our gunboats 20
tranmel our trade viii set Cuba free, let
ting loose as it would the floodgates Of
American generosity toward the insur
gents. But, this plain road Of duty
seems too much 10 expect from American
Executives, then belIigerent rights. when
granted by Congress, viii surely bring the
victory TO Cuba for which the heart of
Christendom has prayed.
But autonomy IL interposed 10 stay the
hand OF destiny Too late! Too latei Spain
by perfidious diplomacy now tries 10 win
the triumph her sword has failed To gain.
1t an impudent attempt TO repeat history.
Twenty years ago, practically this same
offer Of autonomy was de- and yieid-
ing 10 the tempter, the insurgents then laid
DOWN their arms. How basely that promise
was betrayed by Spain, the world knows
and the present revolution certifies. This
scheme OF fniquity surely cannot succeed
the second time Spain extends the hand
of pretended kindness because she is COM
PEELED TO do so, and granting 5 little as
possible, she VIII rulriIl even that under
compulsiUn only. When this compulsion is
dissolved by peace. then will cume the be-
trayal, and then gain another revolution.
Spain is on her knees; why not keep her
there, poweTless for future mischief to mar
kind over the past she seeks 10 spread a
garment spangled with pledges OF re-
pentance, but with this she cannot give
back the lives she has needlessy destroyed
nor blot from memory the unuttera ble
horrors which crimson her record Th
viper is known to exist still beneath the
cloth OF tinsel.
II would be the most wicked chapter OF
the century TO permit rehabilitation tC
Spain In Cuba. The burglar foiled in his
viIlainy is not the man To pla ce in charge
of the bank he would have ruined And
the America, whether an official or 4
private citizen, who lends his aid TO tins
scheme of Spanish perfidy JeOpardiZes
his reputation asanhonest man. Autonomy
is only another name for imposition and
fraud. SO say those who have the besI
claim TO speak for Cuban interests. The
statesmen OF Cuba repudiate it,
Her commanders in the field say In.
dependence or DEATH" And lately the
eNIles nf Cuba, who together represent more
than half OF the property values Of the
entire island, merchants, bankers, and
planters, who today bear the burdens
of the war by their contributions to its
treasury, a mass meeting held in thi
city in very decided language declared
that no offer from Spain viii be consid.
cred short Of absolute independence.
The threat or war is put forth at times
To check the generous impulses Of uul
people. Here the insinceTe craven 4
betrayed again by the absUrdity Of the
proposition. There cannot be any wal
with Spain, because we grant belligeTenl
rights, since in all history this has never
been considered as a casus beln betweer
nations Spain granted bellgeTent right
In thp Confederate States but our nafioI