The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-07-09
PEARL OF THE ANTILLES.
Grafton BY Mr.. Leo w. Bach at Commence
ment Exercises,

Never before in the history OF
America have such outrages been per.
petfated as those from which Cuba
suffers. Had the United States not
interviewed, the island would not have
ceased to exist; but as it is, Cuba will
be free and our good name will be for
ever linked with her history.
Not only is Cuba situated in the
tropics, but she has a soil that can not
be surpassed in fertility. She has a
powerful, generous, liberty loving PEG.
pie, worthy to DO called Americans.
The little Pearl has already drawn TO
her fruitful bosom population Of
freedmen, larger than historic Sparta,
when she ruled Greece; more than
Athens crowded within her walls,
When her sons, under Miltiades, won
liberty for mankind on the field of
Marathon; more than Rome protected
behind her gates, when, under her
Kings, she inaugurated the rule which
afterwards embraced the whole world;
more than London when she carried
the English banner to victory at Crecy
and Agincourt, and conquered her
rival, France.
Against this little island, thus for
tunate in position and population,
crime has been committed, which has
had no parallel in civilized times.
Speaking in the age of advancement
and in Gland of constitutional liberty"
where the secret ballot is placed among
the highest triumphs of civilization, /
say without fear, that the wrongs of
much abused Sicily, memorable in his.
tory, were insignificant compared with
those of Cuba. Their affairs more sac
red than any heather shrines have
been burned to the ground; Spaniards
In authority have misrepresented to
the Cubans again and again, and the
cry of the creOles, "Cuba for the Gu.
bans" has been stitled by outrages
most horrible. Are you opposed to
sacrilege? l hold it up to your exc.
Grafton. Are you opposed to robbery
l hold 1t up to your scorn. Are YOU
for the protection OF American rights.
l show you how the Cubans have been
deprived of their dearest privileges.
while tyrant is drawing the lifeblood
from their veins by sapping their re-
sources and devastating their planta- |
tions.
The wickedness in Cuba has been
heaped up by the motive which promp-
ted It, Not in the motive of Justice
did this crime originate, but in the
degradation of slavery, forced on her
by her mother, Spain. Yes, force has
been at work both openly and secretly
compelling the Queen of the Antilles"
to submit to this state of wretchedness
aud starvation, merely for the sake of
political power. This crime, although
it seems small makes all other public
crimes appear as public virtues"
II Is IL vain that the mind attempts
to measure the enOrmity of this wick.
edness. At the present time signs of
coming calamities are visible ON all
sides threatening with anarchy the
Spanish peninsula which is already rife
with mutterings of civil war; while
parties in Spain are trying to
wreck vengeance on the helpless little
island, Cuba.
The rife is no longer national. but
International. The calm determine.
ton that the Cubans ought to be free
IS spreading daily, while on the other
hand, marshalling with the hostile
divisions of Spain, some of her bond,
holders say: at is none of your BUSH
ness, Cuba is ours, we will do as We
please with the island" This fore
shadows strife, which unless happily
averted by the triumphs of freedom.
VIII become war-fratricidal, parrici.
ial war, with an accumulated wicked
less beyond that of any conflict re-
corded in the annals Of history
Justly arousing the vengeance of
lmighty God. \
Such is the crime against Cuba. But
re must also bring to light the crimi.
al, that we may see and measure the
over by which all the wrong is sus.
aimed. 1t could not proceed from any 7
ommon source. There is needed for
le perpetration Of such a deed, a sor
d ambition which would hesitate a,