The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-02-12
island OF Cuba

following preamble:
WHEREAS. u war between Spain and the
Insurgents OF Cuba has cOntin lei until all
ChriStendOm is shocked by its barbIritieS. Pre-
tended autonomy has been offered by Spain and
refused by the CubauS in arms. The SpIniaf1.
as Il war measure. burned tn" homes and drove
the women and children (Siure known as
concentraiocS) into fortified towns. wher-
some of them have been starved. 9TH
erS have been murdered. and women
and children have been dcbauched and treated
beyond the power OF language to describe.
Daughters of inSur-cat soldiers have been sold
into houses of infamy. and boys of tender years
have been shot as spies. under the form Of
civilized war. American citizens have been
driven into the towns and refused an OPP
portunity to work. and left TO starve, As a
part of the Spanish war measure, I'M
til we were compelled to take. by
npprOpriating funds of the people of the United
States. large sums of money TO feed and clothe
our ciJiZens'and to return them to our country
and now, has the Spanish war measure of con-
ccntratiOn continued 50 far that thu
concentrates are unfed and starving
naked and filthy, inSomuch that dis
ease and death is among them AMI
has spread into our own country. Hundreds OF
thousands have periShedi in this way and by this
means. The unhOly work of determination
goes on the slaughter of. innOcentS and nom
COlllDdlllllf - -OtS Jl. lu@ Hi- O 4 truce Has bcCu
abandoned and determination or independence
OF the insurgents must be the final outcome.
The people of the United States are sending
money. food AMI clothing to Cuba TO aid the dy-
ing CubanS whici ought to be furnished by
Spain. for the reason that the concentrates
are the legitimate wards Of Spain. having been
put in their present starving condition As Il
Spanish war measure. and Their care would de-
volve upon Spain. AM would b. 50 regarded
bv pNspr- riviIiyni plfiOp in the world In
der the present charity-Seeking Of the
administration charitabiy-diSpoSeJ citizens OF
the United States can not contribute money,
medicine. food or clothing to the insurgents in
the field or hospital, and should any attempt be
made to do 50. it would be captured and pre-
vented by order OF the government of the
United States. All parties declared before the
last election in favor of the independence OF
Cuba, and the republican party emphasized it,
opinion aS follows:
From the hour o; achieving their own indie
pendencc. the people of the United States have
regarded with sympathy the struggles of other
American peoples To free themselves from Eu-
rOpean domination. We watch with deep and
abiding interest the battles OF the Cuban patri-
OTIS against cruelty and oppression. And our
best hopes go out for the full success
OF their determined contest for liberty.
The government of Spain having lost
control of Cuba. and being unable to protect
the property or lives of resident American citi-
zenS. or to comply with its treaty obligations,
we believe that the government OF the United
States should actively use its influence and
good offices to restore peace and give i~sdepen-
dence to the island"
lCulAn plank in the republican platform
adopted by the Republican national convention
at st. Louis. June Is, 1895
The people of the United States do not seek
to acquire title to Cuba. nor do they seek to
gain advantage in any way. directly or Indirect
ly. of any nation by reason of this barbarism
called war. They do not complain of our losSOf
trade with Cuba. and have patiently borne the
assault on the health of the people by the filth y
Spanish rule in Cuba. They seek no redress for
loss Of business or health or money. They
have patiently waited. not wishing (evcn in
Directly to interfere with the affairs OF other
nations. until the stencil on our very borders
has passed endurance. and the barbarOuS situa-
ton in Cuba has become Il stain upon our
continent and II blot upon our Christian
civilization. The people OF the United
States. demanding no personal profit,
having no fear and seeking no favor. clear and
conscious as to.the justice Of our position. do,
in the presence of the civilized nations of the
world. and in the .ame of justice and liberty,
demand that the so-called war in Cuba must
raasp