The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-02-18
FRED FUNSTON TALKS.
rlide Very Interesting Talk on Cuba
to the High School.

uN6 ueLuDeTs vi INC nleh SOhOOii III
viting Col. Fred Funston to make a
short address. The invitation await
ed his arrival. He was met upon
his arrival and having signified his
willingness to comply with the re-
quest was Immediately escorted to
the school, stopping few minutes to
shake uands with old acquaintance
whom he met on the way. Every
thing being in readiness, the eighth,
seventh and fifth grades marched in
to the high school room, filling it com
pletely. The teachers of the other
grades dismissed school and the teach
ers were present and heard the adj
dress. When Mr.. Funston appeared
in the room he was heartily cheered
by all. He made a short address
about the Cuban .,rebellion saying
nothing whatever about any per-
sonal adventures. He brought up the
trouble from the first attempt to rev.
olutionize the island in 1875; told how
the insurrectionists had been subdued
after ten years struggle only by
reason of many promises made by the
Spauiards, and how these were soon
broken and hostile feelipgs.again be-
gan to grow. The seed of revolution
being thoroughly sown were, germin'
ating and on Feb. "a, 1895 the Cubans
again went to arms, having given up
all hopes of gaining even reasonable
amount of liberty by any other means.
Within week there were 10000 men
in the field so thoroughly had the Sc
cret work been planned.
The character of this war Is entirely
different from that of our late civil
war or even the Revolutionary war.
In nearly every struggle between the
Cubans and Spaniards, the latter
out-numbered from two to five. over
200. 900 women and children have
starved to death in the towns; those
living further into the rural districts,
however, Jared somewhat better hav-
! ing something to eat although scarce
ly ever enough. Gen. Weyler, the
brutal commander sent over by the
Spaniards, had as many ofthe women
aud children as possible brought into
the cities knowing the disadvantages
they would have under these circum-
stances. Even the Spaniards were
heartily glad when he was recalled.
The present prospect of Cuban vic
tory Is very good indeed. Spain
recognizes this and Ia now trying to
make treaty similar to that made
by england with Canada. But II is
too late, the settlement must be made
by the bullet. No Cuban is willing
to lay down his arms until he has
gained his freedom.
In the Cuban army are men similar
in nationality to those of the United
States, being about three fourths OF
them whites the rest cOlored. The
army ia not composed OF a conglomer'
alton Of blood Indians and whites as
in Mexico as is sometimes supposed
The only trouble with the Cubans
is their lack of discipline but they are
brave, every one of them. While
the Spaniards seem at times TO be
Drawer, 1t Is only due to their disci'
pline. In the Spanish forces are
: guerillas, hired men from the island
paid $50 month to do the dastardly
work done by the guerillss in our late
civil war. These receive no mercy a.
the hands of the Cubans, when ont
Is captured he is always killed. More
mercy is shown to the captured Span
iards, they being released as soon al
disarmed, because of the fact tina
they are men pressed into service b!
their own country. Tho officers o
the Cuban army are men similar II
position to those who would compos
the officers in volunteer regimen
>, in the United States.
OF the hundreds Of thousands q
dollars paid annually as taxes by tn
Cubans only about one per cent !
retained, the balance being taken t
I Spain. The whole country is take,
= to death. a man cannot Kill bee
Y without being taxed so, or no
d without tax of s. being attached
=. No flour can be exported except fror
r. Spain which can only supply n sma
l. portion, the rest being shipped
II spain from the United States after
Is large duty has been paid in orde
d that it may he again shipped. 1t
is sent to Cuba and for the scant
l. amount received about five times tn
ie price of flour in the United state
d has to be paid.
). In conclusion Mr.. Funston said tha
lr If there were any who had in the
minds taken sides with Spain Ii