The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-04
FOR CUBA L!BRE.
Patriotic Sermon to the Junior
Order Of Mechanics
DELIVERED BY REV. B. B. EVANS
Ys,',rdar horninE A. the Fan. street 81.
". Church. The Mschanie, Attended III
Body-,ir. Evan, declare. That abs
sta', no Free by the Iislpor God nnd.,hr
United sts'ss-sp.in', shameful R.ubiHdi
a. Master of Cubs Detailed.

q 49, - Naihs " y W ifF q u FINNt vi
the topic. "My Duty as a clllxsu," a
large part OF the discourse rclatingIto
thc present revolution In the fair Island
OF Cuba. which the speaker declared
must be freed by the help OF God and the
United States. The several local coun-
els Of the Junior Order Of American
Mechanics turned ont In . body and &C.
cuplcd seats at the front.
Mr.. Evans text was: BE strong and
OF good courage: fear not nor be afraid
OF them. for the Lord thy God. lie It is
that gocth with thee. He will no. fail
thee nor forsdkc thee"
lie said In the course OF his discourse:
Possibly no greater statesman ever
lived than the author of my text. His
HE is divided Into three great periods ot
forty years each. Tho first was spent In
P~haraoh's, where lie acquired all the
learning and wisdom Of the Egyptians.
The second was In the land OF Mcdians.
in the state OF preparation for his great
and important mission. The third, he
led and governed the Israelitcs under
the direction and authority OF God. This
statesman lived 10 a great age. The
ages rolled together at his feet az he
brushed the dust on Jordan's bank. His
manner reminds one of what tradition
say about the swan which livtS to a
great agc,and which AS Its end approaches
: sings wonderful song and dies. As
Moses drew near TO the end OF his lie,
being Inspired by God ne sang the song
OF our text. God led him away Into
Ne6o's fastness where he dad, bur his
great words and greater deeds will never
die. What Moses said to Joshua on that
memorable day he would say 20 tho poo
ing the island lying off the coast of
Florida.
War is RICH. when other nations prey
upon a people, insult their flag, destroy
their property, and even not make re-
paratlon. This Spain has done for the
United States for. the reason that we
have only tried to help a suffering
brother. Let us examine Spain's treat
ment OF Cuba and thcu determine our
duty as citizens. There arc many other
chapters In SPANS history which are as
dark as this one. Cuba's long immunity
from oppression was due to the fact that
Il Is an agricultural Island. The discov-
cry and conquest of Mexico and Peru,
with their vast deposits of gold and sill
yer. caused official greed for gain to de-
spise the beautiful island that laid in
the wake of west bound vessels. Hava-
ma was the only harbor used by Span
iards out OF thirty tina; indent the coast
and they grudEcd tho time spent there
to deliver mall and In taking OF passen-
gers and freight. Official dispatches
We're frequently sent 20 Havana. As
late as 1856 rewards were offered from
Madrid for the determination Of foxes.
ferrets. wolves and other beasts OF prey
I'm Cuba, animals tha. have never been
discovered In the Island. so little did
Spain know about its last American
possession. With the loss OF South and
Central America, the importance of Gu
oa as a source of revenue began 20 be
understood, and Il was soon discovered
that the despiscd sugar and tobacco
fields could pour more revenue into the
treasury OF Spain than the mines Of Ell
dorado.
Under official structures. the, natural
wealth OF the island was developed rap
idly. but never so fast as 20 keep pace
with The greed OF Spain. From 1918.
4whcn'the ha:lr0rs OF cuba were opened
to foreign commerce until the present
day. Spanish rule on the island has
meant political slavery, and economic
spoilation. The opinion freely expressed
in English and Continental papers that
the loss OF Cuba would mean banlirupt-
cy for Spain and the reduction of that
coun;ry 10 insIgnliicance. Is eloquent
proof .of the drain on the Islands re-
sources.
CUbn's Revenues.
The production OF Cuba has been in
creased teu-fold in a half century but
primitive conditions of living remain.
n the next revenue Of an?- year has
been Inadequate 20 satisfy Spanish rapa-
city. All those enterprises which at
tract foreign capital have been carefully
suppressed. AS all the land from the
straits of Magellan TO Texas vas onee
considered n mine. so all Cuba Is a farm.
The sole business Is 20 produce sugar
and tobacco 10 be taxed by Spain. The
story of the Millions Of money annually
raised 'or Spain in Cuba Is Interesting.
Every year this island, $50 miles long
and eighty miles wide. contributes 10
Spain S36. 100. 900 for various purposes, OF
which sum less than SIj0.00O remains on
the island. OF the fund for education
rot a cent goes to a fund FOR primary
schools. and the amount set apart for
internal Improvements Is largely absorb
ed by official; who are supposed to be
learning ot impro 7emen:s TO be made.
BESIDES the sums that 20 direct TO the
Spanish treasury, custom duties yield
Sl2,00O, 600 more to Spanish merchants,
yet this Is said not to he all. for as the
result OF creating the division between
the Span!ard and the native Cuban. the
former comes TO the island to make a
fortune and then returns to his native
land. carrying with him every cent earn
cd. no. leaving a memen:o OF his stay on
the island.
From $4,000. 600 to $40 900, 900 are taken
from Cuba In this way every year. The
total population is 2,0O0.0 900. counting
Spanish. Cnbans and negroes, both
women and children. The entire burden
OF taxation falls on the a00.O 900 Cubans,
or the 100000 brcad-winners among
them. Nearly 5000 Is the average annual
tax paid BY :he Cuban proprietor. not
one In ten Of whom exercises the right OF
franchise. Socially. the Cuban gentle
man has sunk to the position accorded
him BY the Spanish officials, bu: n grade
above the black and the half brecd.
These are the seeds that have grownr re-
bell!on.
The Cuban has never patiently sub-
mittcd 10. oppression. In South and
Central America similar conditions
grew. In Cuba they were Imposed on 4
people who mad developed The island.
and almost from the hour when Spnln
awnRc TO n sense OF ;hc importance Of
Cuba as a source OF revenue, Its inhabl-
tants have resisted Spanish rule. War
there ii sevcnty-ilvc years old. Three
generations OF rebels have awaited The
call TO arms. ready 20 obey from early