Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-28
A Warcry Which Has Found
Ready Response In the Heart
Of Every True American.

ed upon us to relieve them of their de-
plorable condition. But of Puerto Rico
we have known little. and Its people
have not had the torture and starvation
that have been meted out to their broth
ers in the sister isle to the west OF them.
They have had their wrongs and justly
felt the need OF independence from a ty-
rant government, but no such state of
| constant misery has been inflicted upon
| them as has crushed Cuba.
The mentioned imbroglio which nearly
caused war between this country and
Spain in 1873. was one OF those incidents
which are likely at any moment to oc-
cur In troublous times. In 1873 the Vir-
ginius, ship flying the American flag
was captured by a Spanish man of-war
| near Jamaica under the suspicion that
she was filibuster and was conveying
men and warlike material TO Cuba to
aid the insurgents during the Ten
Years war then going on.
The ship was taken to a Cuban port.
and Captain Joseph Fry, an ex-Confed-
crate soldier, and Sc of his crew were
shot in Santiago de Cuba by the Span
ish authorities. The affair made an i'm
mense sensation at the time. and the
demand was Immediately forwarded by
our government to Spain for the re-
lease of the vessel and of the survivors
! of the crew and indemnity for the lives
of those who had been put to death.
A long controversy ensued, resulting
| finally in the giving UP of the ship and
| the men by the Spanish authorities, who
| disclaimed any intention OF insulting
our flag. The vessel sank on the voy-
| age between Cuba and New York. 1t is
supposed to have been scuttled or rem
! dered unseaworthy by the Spaniards,
and the incident closed with apologies
and reparation by Spain.
If these two islands of the West In
| dies are left in the same condition there
will be added two new republican ma
lions to the waters OF the Caribbean
sea. But of their future there is much
troublous doubt If they only develop
the same incapacity for stable self gov
eminent that is typical of so many of
| the Central American and South Amer
| lean states, they will be n menace to
the commercial interests of the world.
Like soorned Haiti. they will be con-
| stantly subject to reprsals and humili-
atoms from more powerful nations or,
| II prosperous and thriving, will excite
the cupidity of some European powers
who will attempt upon slight pretext to
|
| TIMES. There are many who believe
they will become sturdy little republics
like San Marine, Andorra and Switzer-
land, of such Inherent strength and
strong character as to be free from out
side complications or internal dissen-
| sions.
| It is the opinion of others that there
| VIII be a succession OF revolutions
among themselves that, lessening their
military capacity and destroying their
own financial strength and by that
means coming into the possession of
their foreign bondholders, will ultimate
ly compel the United States to interfere
| for the preservation of Its own inter
ests. and that annexation is the only
true solution Of the problem. sim both
| Puerto Rico and Cuba may have an
other Diaz who will prove fortress Of
| strength. II these two islands are to
be constantly involved in controversies
with other nations and always presum-
ably certain monarchical powers of Eu-
rope and the United States is to be
continuously called upon to act as ar
| btrator, 1t will find this undignifed po-
sition in the course OF tiaie intoierable,