Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-23

ures and in Armenia rs the result Of re-
ligious fanaticism, but6 here in Cuba is a
famine Of cold calculation with fertile
land on every side ready to produce abund-
ant food in response to the demand Of hui
man labor. That labor has been withheld
in accordance with the program laid down
by heartless military ruler, and now the
lands are uncultivated and the people
starving.
1.-The number Of people who have starved
in Cuba will never be definitely known. 1t
Is estimated that 100000 were driven from
their homes into the eitiesrand towns I
mad 1t from Spanish authority that, accord
ing to their figures, 225,0O0 have already
persisted; but it is said that the Red Cross
Society is in possession of figures showing
that $4,000 Cubans have died as a result
of Spanish cruelty from starvation and
that 100000 more must inevitably die, max
ing an aggregate of 625,000, or almost twice
the population of the District of Columbia
or the state of New Hampshire. Dr. Les
ser, authority on the results of famine
who is on the ground. says that of the 49,
Goo not taken into account above at least
5 per cent of them will die, making a grand
total of 600 deaths of men, women and
children as the result of Weyler's inhuman
and barbarous decree.
What i, picture is that, eighty miles
from our Shores And yet this great nation
folds its arms, and officially asks, Am
government of France did not reason that
way when Lafayette fought side by side
with Washington and Stark and Mad An
thony Wayne, when our forefathers were
fighting for human freedom and indepen-
dence.
TT may be that the government of Spain,
and the cities of Havana and Matanzas
are doing something to relieve this terrible
denceS Of it. The hope OF the poor remain
ing sufferers is in this great government,
and heaven be thanked our people are
reaching out the hand of sympathy and af-
fectiOnata interest in the Sha of op5
medicine and clothing.
Destruction of the Maine.
81 have been asked many times, What
of the Manner I do not know. This how
ever I do know: A government that will
deliberately starve 100000 of it's own peo-
pie will do pretty much anything If the
ship was blown up from the outside what
should our government do? Perhaps 1
should forbear to discuss that question now
but this l will venture to say Human life,
purposely taken, cannot be paid for in gold
or silver. Mark my words, 'purposely TAX
en- And if it shall appear that such was
the fate of $50 brave American sailors then
heaven pity the guilty parties. 1t will not
be a question for arbitration, but a ques-
ton involving the dignity and honor of this
great republic. OF course for these words
l will be called jiI go. whatever that may
mean; but I would infinitely rather be
jirgo than a tory. A vigorous foreign pol
Icy is necessary to the strength and dig
nifty Of any ration, and it is the best pos
sible assurance of peace that can be given.
There is little real loyalty to Spain in
Cuba, as will be demonstrated when the
hour of trial comes. Cuban sympathizers
are found everywhere. On the cars be-
tween Habana and Matanzas prominent
business man of the latter city openly ex-
pressed his deep sympathy for Cuba, and,
drawing from his pocket a little package,
asked me If l would not like a picture of
Gomez the grand and intrepid leader of
the Cuban army. The picture is here,
treasure with which 1 would not lightly
part.
Il do not believe that Spain can subdue
the insurgents. Already the war has cost
Spain the lives of at least 100000 soldiers
and vast amount of treasure, and the ap-
preaching rainy season will decimate the
Spanish ranks at fearful rate. The Gu
bans have been oppressed SO long that
they prefer death to continued Spanish rule
and why should they not?
Taxation in Cuba.
'Mr. President, has this Senate any idea
what Spanish rule in Cuba really means?
Let us look at the matter of taxation In
addition to all direct and indirect taxes on
real estate there is tax on every door,
every window and every chimney in every
house; there Is a tax every letter in
every business sign; there is tax on every
name on every hotel register Licenses are
required to build houses and to paint houses
There is a tax on food animals as whole,
and also special taxes on the horns, the
hoofs and the hide. In addition to all this
the interest on the debt is tremendous
burden the salaries of Spanish officials are
beyond all reason, anu the amount of mon
ey Wrung from the Cubans to keep the
Madrid government from complete insolv-
ency is simply enormous.
What would we think of such a govern
ment as that?
mo people on the face Of the earth have
been so oppressed, the treasury of Spain
being literally supplied from the revenues
extorted from Cuba and the Philippine Is
lands.
Time for Spain to Retire.
Mr.. President. as far 1 know, no
one in this country desires war with SPAIN
but the people Of this country have come
to the conclusion that the time has come
for Spain to retire from the western hem
isphere. She has by misgovernment and
cruelty forfeited every claim upon the
Gem of the Antilles, and in the interests
OF a common humanity this country should
intervene and stop the war
MIR. President, 1t will be remembered
that one hundred years ago Spain owned
large part of what is now the United
States all of Mexico, most of Central and
South America, and many ~of the West
India Islands. Within hundred years, as
the result of misgovernment and misrule
she has lost all of her territory the
Cuba and Porto Rico, and if any one can
tell me why she should be allowed to
longer retain control of Cuba the infor-
nation will be gratefully received. 1 GER
tainly know of no reason.
Il may be wrong, but it seems to me
that 1t Is reproach to the civilization of
the age that a bankrupt and corrupt gov
eminent like Spain should be permitted to
hold in bondage on this continent people
who have aspirations fer the same liber-
ty that we enjoy.
Our forefathcrs went to war because
the mother country put a tax on tea. Cuba
has ten thousand more reasons than we
had for rebellion, and she deserves the
sympathy and help of every true Amer
lean.
IF have read history correctly, not
since the downfall of the Roman empire
has there been such a story of the rise
to greatness and the fall to helplessness of
a great power e.s in this instance of Spain.
"One after one of Spains possessions
have fallen away, like bricks from mold
ering wall, until today she stands alone.
bankrupt in resources, but still clinging
to that policy of cruelty, of oppression
and determination which has been her
only known method of dealing for four
hundred years, until finally forced to con-
front the republic of freedom of equality,
OF Justice. of humanity, of civilization.