The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-04-16
Cuba, the Land Of Starvation and OF
Sorrow.

On the 10th of March Hon. Jacob Fl
Gallinger, Of New Hampshire, and other
senator's and members of congress land
ed In Havana TO learn as eye witnesses
the situation there. On the 23rd day OF
March. after his return, he delivered a
speech. telling In part what he saw and
experienced. We extract from the
speech as follows:
The number Of people who have been starved
In Cuba viii never be definitely known. II ia es.
timaied that 10000 were driven from their
homes into the cities and towns. had II from
Spanish authority that according to their hg-
ures 40 600 have already persisted; but 1t is said
that the Red Cross society Is in possession of &.
ufes showing that $4,000 Cubans have died as a
result OF Spanish cruelty from starvation. and
| that 10000 more must Inevitably die, making
an aggregate ofe25 900. or almost twice the popu-
latlon of the District Of Columbia or the state OF
New Hampshire. DR.. Lesser. an authority on
the results of famine. who Is on the ground.
| says that OF the $4,000 not taken into the
| account above at least 5 per cent OF them will
die, making a grand total Of 6s4 600 deaths OF
men women and children a. the result OF
weylers inhuman and barbarous decree.
What a picture Ia that 50 miles from our
| shores And yet this great nation folds Its
| arms and officially asks, Am | my brothers
| keeper
Thank Heaven the government OF France did
not reason that way when Lafayette stood side
by aide with Washington and stark and Mad
| Anthony Wayne when our forefathers were
lighting for human freedom and independence!
II may be that the government of Spain and
the cities of Havana aud Matanzas are doing
something to relieve this terrible suffering but
| II so did not see any evidences Of it. The hope
| Of the poor remaining sufferers is In this grea
government and. Heaven be thanked. oui
people are reaching out the hand Of sympathy
and arectionate interest In the shape OF food
medicine and clothingl
WHAT OF THE NAIsE2
have been asked many times. What OF tn.
! Manner
do not know.
This, however do not know. A nation tina
will deliberately starve 10000 Of Its own peopl,
| will do pretty much anything. Applause IN
the galleries..
If the ship was blown up from the outside
what should our government do2
Perhaps / should forbear to discuss that qucs
ton now. but this will venture to say; Human
life, pnrposely taken, can not be paid for In gold
or silver. Applause In the galleries. MARI
my words. 'purposely taken" And II II shall
| appear that such was the fate of 20 bray,
American sailors. then Heaven pity the guilty
parties. twill not be question for arbitration
but a question involving the dIguity and horol
Of this great Republic
JISeo
OF course for these words / will be called q
lingo, whatever that may mean, but. ~ 1 hav,
! said on former occasions. now repeat would
infinitely rather be lingo than 4 Tory; would
Infinitely rather stand here as the defender o
human rights than as the apologist of cruelty
and oppression. A vigorous foreign policy /,
necessary to the strength and dignity Of any
nation. and II is the best possible assurance Of
peace that can be given.
CUBAN syMPArHizERs EVERYWHERE.
There is little real loyalty to Spain In Cuba a,
will be demonstrated when the hour Of tria
comes. Cuban sympathizers are found every
where. On the cars between Havana anf
| Manianzas a prominent business man Of tn,
latter city openly expressed his deep sympathy
for Cuba. and drawing from his pocket littl,
package asked me II | would not like pictur,
Gomez, the grand and intrepid leader OF tn,
| Cuban army. The picture Ia here--a treasur,
with which would not lightly part
] do not believe that Spain can snbdue tn,
insurgents.
Already the war has cost Spain the lives Of a
least 10000 soldiers and vast amount o
treasure. and the approaching rainy season viii
decimate the spanish ranks at fearful rate
The cubans have been oppressed SO long tina
they prefer death To continued Spanish rule. ant
why should they not9
EFFEcrs or SPANISH RULE
Mr.. President has this senate any idea wha
Spanish rule in Cuba really mesns9
Let US look at the matter of taxation.
was told by reliable persons in Havana tina,
in addition 10 all direct and Indirect taxes OF
real estate, there is n tax on every door. ever!
window. and every chimney in the house.
There is tax on every letter 10 every bust
ness sign.
There Is tax on every name on every hote
register tis an edifying sight Mr. President
to open the register Of any hotel In Havana and
CHANGING down the page. to find tar staml
opposite each signature
Licenses are required to build houses and 4
paint houses.
There is a tax on food animals as a whole. an
also special taxes ON the horns, the boots, an,
the hide
la addition 10 all this the interest on the deb
Is a tremendous burden this salaries Of spanisl
officials arr beyond all reason, aud the amour
OF money wrang from the Cubans TO keep In
Madrid government from complete insolyenc,
is simply ruvrmOus