The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-04

With One Exception Ministers
of Wichita
WANT THE CUBANS FREE
Immediately Even if it Takes
Fighting.

Yesterday the war sentiment crept into
the churches OF the city. Everywhere
the ministers prayed that war might he
averted. il it could be done honorably, but
they were all for war II it takes war to
free cuba.
Rev. g T. Smith. Of the South Side
United Brethren church, said it was his
opinion that war would come and that it
ought to cone unless the CuJans were
permitted 10 20 from under the Spanish
yoke.
Rev. c. II. Warehom, OF the Baptist
church. was probably the strongest in his
talk against Spain. He said: TIE gov
eminent OF the United States ought not
10 wait amy longer or srant any more
favorable terms than that already offered
tor the settlement Of The CUBAN question
Spain is only trying TO get OUT Of this
matter and retain her present possessions.
That government will never grant any
privileges to C,7ba until il is compelled 10.
II is useless to wait longer. We have seen
what Spain has done, and she will only
continue until f0rcibly driven 10 another
POSITION. Peace IS desirable; it is Valu-
able. but + is not worth liberty. l am in
favor OF. peace. but 7 am in favor OF lib
errv more. The Cubaus must have their
independence. 1t is criminal to wait long
er to help them
Rev. il. /. Thayer, Of The Congrega-
tional church, was conservative to a de-
gree amounting to an opposition to war
at any very close day. I'VE cannot afford
TO rush into q great international war"
he said. If the United states takes up
this fight for the Cubans 1t may involve
the greater part Of the world, and the re-
sponsibility for that if prcmatureIy
brought on, would be more than that for
Cuba. It is a cause for gratitude that in
our executive chair is a man who has
learned to bring the sentiments Of Justice
and clamors of humanity under the con-
troll Of reason. Il is the natural feeling
TO wish to redress wrong. We must be
touched by the woes of dying men and
women but large interests are at stake,
and the respect of nations must be Won at
this time. Our executive has proven him
self one who can be in the crowd and yet
be alone The multitude can cry Io- hasty
action, but in the quiet Of his own heart,
with God inspiring his conscience, he will
act and We shall all say he was the Wisest
and best and in the end most humane.
The matter viii end right Il we wait and
pray"
Rev. Won Herrlich, st. Johns: "I believe
that Weyler and his co-conspirato-s are
in some way responsible for the destruc-
tion of the battleship Maine. Spain is
blot upon civilization. It's Ireachery, its
cruelty. its corruption in high places is
condemnation enough. The stories of
Spanish brutality in Cuba are a shame TO
the Caucasian race. A quarter Of a mil
lion of reconcentradoes starved to death.
This government must help. Cuba must
be free
"Spain viii never concede a whit Of her
power A monarchy viii not allow the
development Of individual liberty except
by force. Cuba is source of profit to
Spain. The cause of Cuba is just and
fair and as good or even better than
America had when she threw off the yoke
of Great Britain. If the Cubans prefer
death and starvation TO their present con-
dition they must be in Il very deplorable
condition. As has been seen by previous
revolutions in Cuba. it is evident tnat they
have been overtaXed and downt-oGde1 Tor
years. The Spanish may call the Cubers
nothing but a mob. but Victor Hugo SAYS
The mob is generally the human race in
misery. Everyone knows ne real interest
in Cuba on the part Of Spain is % Grind
all the revenue possible out Of it until they
were nothing but slaves toning to keep
up luxurious monarchy il Spain.
Spain has robbed the Cubans o. ali
that life is worth, until they prefer death
to their present condition. No people if
> subjected to the injustice and robbery hat
has existed In Cuba for years would 1e-
main in that condition unless they had
lost all heroism and feeling and become
race Of towards. I repeat il. Cuba must
be free. Let war come if it must, but
Cuba must be a free republic"