Washington sentinel., 1898-04-23
Our Position.

We are for driving out the cruel
murderers from the Western Hemi-
sphere. The millions of people
whom they have slaughtered, burnt
alive, tortured or starved to death,
cry for revenge. We will give
few examples:
Hayti had, in 1899, 10000 in
habitants. Ten years later, in
1903, all had been destroyed.
The Bahama Islands had 40, 900
inhabitants. In 1890, a pious Span
lard, Pedro de Isla, collected to-
gether the last eleven, to protect
them from his countrvmen.
In Porto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba
and other West Indian Islands, the
natives were destroyed IN the same
way. The Indians who were
peaceful and good hearted, were
driven to wholesale self-destruc-
tion to escape the Spanish tigers.
In a few wears the native popula-
ton on the West India Islands had
disappeared.
After that they went to the
American Continent. The humane
Bishop Las Casas wrote that the
Indians were mild, good hearted
and trusting people, among whom
the Spaniards rushed like wild
tigers, wolves and lions. 81 dare
to assert" he said, "that on the
continent the Spaniards cruelty
slaughtered in 40 years twelve mil
lions of people," In fact it will not
be disputed that fifty millions OF
people during that time were mis-
erably destroyed. "What sources
OF tears have my countrymen
opened, how many streams OF
blood have they shedl" he ex-
claimed, nothing is left me but to
pity my home, Spain, most deeply,
because l must most positively as
sumo that God, IN consideration of
the immense crimes, which my
countrymen have committed in the
New World, will punish it with
total destruction"
In 1875 the census Of the Vice
King OF Peru showed that the pop
ulation OF Peru had dwindled down
from 40 or o millions to 8 millions.
The censuc Of 1894 found but 6o8, =
600 left.
And they did not only destroy
lives, but also the civilization and
culture of the Indians far superior
to their own! Only native Span
iards, as those now in Cuba, could
hold Office. Those born in Amer
ica (creoles) we're entirely en-
slaved. Every thing they needed
from abroad they had to import at
enormous prices from Spain.
AT last the provinces on the con-
tinent, led by Bolivar, Martin and
Hidalgo, liberated themselves from
the Spanish yoke. Only Cuba and
Porto Rico, being islands, re-
NAMED under sway, though in
CUBA they have been fighting for
liberty since ISao.
The time has come when every
remnant Of the four hundred years
OF barbarism must be destroyed on
this hemisphere.
Spanish gold here at Washing
ton under different Administra-
tions has prevented the Cubans
from gaining their indep ndence.
Spanish bonds have even now frus-
trated their recognition. But the
time has cOmel Spain must gol
We we're not for war against
Spain until the destruction by
starvation OF half a million people
and the blowing up of the Maine
We were always of the opinion
that il we would give the Cubans
equal treatment in our ports with
the SpaniArds by granting them
belligerent rights, they alone
would rid themselves Of their op-
pressors. Even now, give the
Cubans belligerent rights and Yor
need not move a soldier on you
own account
Nearly fifty years ago we left oui
native home to live in free coun
try. The sentiments with which
we bade goodbye to the old father
land, our love OF liberty, have
never diminished in our bosom