The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-17
Gossip For Home People,.

ment realize they must let go. or XIII off
the Cuban race.
The American people are of the unan-
imous opinion that there is a barbarous
policy in vogue 10 render the Cuban race
extinct, and believe further that this calls
for the Intervention of every civilized ma
ton, and as we are nearest TO and have
large interests in Cuba, it is our duty, in
the interest OF humanity, civilization and
the enjoyment Of our property rights, to
intervene; and as Spain has attempted to
adopt the alternative of killing off the
Cuban race rather than lose Cuba, Cuba
must become free and independent ma
ton.
AS d Spaniard you viii doubtless resent
the proposition that il is the policy OF
your nation to kill off the Cuban race.
We have every evidence that it is The
Bishop of Havana has reported to His
Holiness, the pope, that there are 100000
interments in Cuba during the last year.
a decrease in thu population of a third.
you know the Catholic church records
all interments). Most of these are wo-
men and children-the hope Of Cuban pos
terity-who have been corralled behind
barbed wire fences and starved to death
The sword of Omar was never guilty of
such cruelty. The slaughter Of the Mar
meluke prisoners by Napoleon; ST. Bar
tholemew's Eve; the extinction of the
Incas; the killing of half the population Of
the city Of Mexico at a feast on the Ala
media, would be considered mere incidents
Of merciful executions, by a Cuban
1Yrff
little of all written history, and in it
there is not parallel Death to those
in the Black Hole of Calcutta came in
few hours, and was by asphyxiation, and
was painless; and even that was not re-
peated the second day. Its excuse was
negligence. No nation was responsible for
it. And yet it has heretofore been pointed
to in all civilized nations, as the most
horrible instance in modern or ancient
war. At the commencement of the twen-
ueth century, under the supervision Of
Captain General Weyler, il seems TO the
Americans that all the virus of cruelty
and humanity has concentrated in the
beautiful Antilles, where four hundred
years before, the first germs of European
civilization We're imported to the Ameri-
mark in history shuts out everything
heinous which has gone before, and I'M
less the responsibility for it is repudated
by the Spanish people, for all time an
undying odium will ever rest upon the
nation which during the last five hundred
years has had the opportunity of giving
her melodious language to half the world. !
and permanently extending her empire to
every shore.
Il Spain had recognized the political !
rights of man in her colonies the world |
would be great partnership Of Span /,
ish states today. If Spain had recognized !
the religious rights of man and had not !
to fasten upon the Catholic |
church the Spanish Inquisition, there !
would never have been division Of Chris |
tan organization, and the dissentions of |
creeds would not cause the perplexity and
religious anguish, and perhaps some would |
say the eternal damnation Of millions Of
lnbeiievers. But one man in all the
world can prevent the obliteration of
Spain. He is doing his best; but the pre-
lentionation of the Spanish nation may
prevent him. If he viii appeal to the
people of Spain and disregard the ichor of
oval blood, l believe the Spanish people
an save your nation; but nothing else
an. Where Spain planted her first stand
ard on American soil, there is a fitting
Dlace to haul down her last. It is a pen
Atty she pays because her rulers have
Violated the laws of the brotherhood of !
nan.
1t is not the Spanish people we hate:
t is the HidaIgo Grandee idea that the
common people are base cattle. and that
Inferior races may he Intentionally exter-
minated The position of our govern
nent and of the Spanish government rest
N different principles. Your rulers be-
ieve in a centralized favorite government
~ divine right, while Americans generally
believe in a decentralized government
With equal rights and exact justice to all,
md special privileges to none. The JEFF
ersOnian principle has made us the veal
hest and the most populous white nation.
While the doctrine inflicted on YOU has
made your nation one Of lost opportuni-
les and constant disaster The moral is,
IS we see it, you had better change The
ynasty, or what is better, establish a re-
,ubhc. where each working man, mer-
hant. farmer and manufacturer is a SOW
reign.
This letter may not reach you. If it
Ices not. whoever translates my hand
writing will be edited with what believe
o be the idea which is at present iniiu-
ncing us common people in America.
I hope you VIII not think this letter
rom a comparative stranger is presump-
uous; before you read it we may be at
var. If proprieties viii admit it would
lease me very much under any circum-
oncernIng these matters.
Respectfully.
FRED ". BENTLEY.
DEFENDS THE MESSIAH.
A 4 Nau-rou I-are,vss |