The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11

and others, are Christian men and realize
that the victory is theirs under Almighty
God.
I'VE rejoice again over our history One
hundred and twenty-five years ago brave
and far-seeing men signed the Declaration
of Independence. We were striving for that
freedom-political and personai-for which
the Cubans have been struggling so long.
The colonists waged an uphill war for al
most eight years. 1t was a splendid pace
which our forefathers ret FOR the genera
lions following, but thanks he unto his
name, who is worthy of all praise, that pace
has been kept up in the wars of 1872, during
the sixties and at the present time. Even in
times of peace our people have been indus
trious, intelligent and far-sighted The
morality of the Hebrews; the patriotism of
the Greeks, the strength of the Romans
have been combined with Anglo-Saxon in
telligence and have given US, may we be
pardoned for the egotism, the most enlight-
ened conception of citizenship and a nation
al mission We believe in the largest i 'berty
and opportunities for the individual: in
making the nation power for the uplift
of humanity. 1t has never been necessary
for us to maintain such tremendous stand
ing armies as are maintained by France,
Germany, Italy and Russia Our energy has
been given to the development of our phys-
cal, intellectual and moral resources. Sixty
per cent. of the German people earn less
than one hundred dollars per year. Ninety
five per cent. earn less than one dollar a
day. Our people would think they were
starving to death on such wages. In vi
emma there has been more than one suicide
to each thirty-seven hundred people, while
in Tammany-ridden New York there las
been only about one suicide to each ten
thousand seven hundred people In Russia
the lower classes are sent from the cities
to the country by the military in order to
prevent starvation, and it requires a stand
ing army Of fifty thousand men, double our
whole army to protect the person of the
Car. When we compare our condition
even with the nations of Europe. which are
far in advance of the nations of Asia and
Africa, we have infinite cause for thanks
giving. Our present war has ample justifi-
cation. When we remember that a million
and a half of poor people in Cuba were
taxed from twenty-five to twenty-eight mil
lions of dollars annually, and that in addi-
ton to this the people were taxed ppon
each window, pane of glass in each window,
chimney, door, note, check, bill, draft, re-
ceipt deed mortgage, and for every kind
of occupation, privilege, right. or franchise,
we do not wonder at the rebellion of the
people, and this too, without any cOrre-
spending remuneration on the part of the
Spanish government Spain gave to Cuba
practically no personal liberty. no schools
ror government worth mentioning, nor SAN
itaton. Then she introduced a murderous
policy during the war which meant prac~
tical determination. Being a stronger race
and being our brothers keeper, we were
bound to intercede in the name of humaTi-
ty and all that is good. We have no apollo
gy to make for the war, and I believe we
have right to pray for the victory of our
armies and to offer up thanksgiving to AL
mighty God when the victory is ours