The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-19


shall We SO gecogntxey
This IL 4 grave question which, It -
believed, can be answered n the anlfua-
tive. A people who for nearly four CEN
turtles have sough, 10 strike the shacklss
Of slavery from their limbs. while as q
mass they have not shcre in civil STARS
possibly because they have rad no cppor-
tanfty, have manifested Sufficient fniesii-
gence and seis-government 70 circumvent
the armed force sent hy Spain 10 snb5ugate
them.
Sance the year fs1i-ninesesn years after
fha discovery OF the izaand BY Christopher
Columbus Cuba has been more or less IN
rebeiaSon against Spanish authority. Span
ish misruie and Spanish fiendishness. The
terriers OF the awful inasiisifion. the black
est page OF the hsood-stained history or
Spain, ware first invoked. as far as known.
IN 1874 by cruel and malignant Spanish
capsaiE-general, tte provocasion being an
alleged threatened uprising OF the suga.
plantation slaves. Through tbs snstru-
mentality Of horrible torture nearly 2.eeo
white and black men and women were
convicted OF fomsnting conspiracy. OF
these seventy-eight were brutality shot 10
death. and over l.eOo Others were vigorously
punished Never before or since in the
annals Of nations have there ever been
crowded into such brief span of time 50
much brutality as that period 70 which
reference has just been made IL the year
1855 is eliminated from the history or the
beautiful isle. In the present year have
been displayed 50 much az snhumlnity
and so much of brutality that human
reason can hardly grasp all the details OF
the atrocities committed under the flag OF
Spain and with the sanction of lis high
authorities.
The winter OF 1895 witnessed the begin
ming OF the rebellion now practically DOM
mating two-.hirds OF the island. For
nearly four. years hatfield. half-armed and
half-csothed patriots have baffied and
overcome The minions Of Spain. commando
ed BIZ her most notorious butcher thus
paving the way toward liberty and inde-
pendence. During these four years of
battle and privation fully 90 Spaaiards
have vainly sought to conquer Maxine
Gomez and his patriotic army. by the use
OF the torch and the ssiietto Of the assas
sin. by attempted bribery. and lastly and
feebly by armed force
That the Cuhans have richly earned
their freedom from despotism every patri-
OF throughout our own free land and every
lover of freedom. wherever he may d. in
this round word of ours. heartily be-
lieyes. Naturally the despo's of Europe
aud wherever else the heel OF tyranny
presses the soil. doubt the wisdom Of en-
nobling the Cuban people by permitting
them 10 efeNaIe themselves 10 Tue
plane OF nations. Why not object? Why
not buster and threaten the great repuh-
lie Of America because our people SYM
pathize with and extend a helping hand
to the struggling patriots? Success in
Cuba by Cubans means the overthrow OF
another monarchical system 1t means the
creation OF another republic. 1t means
that the western hemisphere Is inimcal
10 the rule OF kings. queens and other
MT tot rA aA
Cubans should be denied the right OF self
government, il might be well in this con-
necton to add that should they not ba at
the present moment amply qualified for
that condition. It would not be many
months after having attained their free
dom before they would be educated In that
direction. To history one must turn for
an exemplifica,ion of the Development OF
man-to the expanding OF nations.
The general tendency of all peoples. In
all ages before and since the birth of the
Redeemer of the world. has been toward
higher civilization. Witness the advance
ment OF the Greeks from a ssmi-civisized
savage condition TO that Of the exalted
civilization aptly described by the phil
osopher. Thucydides The transformation
of the Romans from an exceedingly low
order TO the brilliant condition in the era
known as the Augustan Is familiar 70 all
students OF ancient history. No less re-
markabie was the metamorphosis of Arab
hordes from nearly the lowest strata
known TO humanity to the magnificent and
cultured era that gave to the world the
glories of the Alhambra. History IS re-
plete with the great progress made to-
ward higher civilization hy peoples who
have suddenly arisen from comparative
obscurity TO commanding positions.
Tho Cuban people have never had oppcr-
tunity TO discover TO the world their exact
mental attainment save "a planters or In
the direction OF war. In their struggle for
freedom they have made greater sacrifices
than any other people who have fought
for independence. These campaigns will
soon be crowned with success thanks
10 the fostering care OF the great Amer
lean peopia-but not entirely due to IT,
and the experiment Of seif-goyernment
viii begin and every step In Ii will be
watched with great solicitude throughout
this country. That the Cuban people have
plenty OF able representative men Il would
be folly TO question That these men are
thoroughly competent to steer the ship OF
state safely by the shoals and rocks with
which the course of the new republic Is
surrounded no one save monarehist or
an enemy OF the republic can have any
reason 10 doubt. In this conclusion. that
which gives II strength ard FEASIBILITY.
Is the fact that the brains which have
carried tho Cuban cause thus far safely
must be OF an order sufficient to warrant
the conduct Of the Cuban republic on an
intelligent and Ole gauge II has been
no small undertaking 10 organize an army
that has been generally successful In the
face of a largely superior force OF the
ensrny-to find the means 20 feed ana
cioths such n force and 10 provide rnu-
millions OF war. ana in the meantime 10
interest as great a country az the United
states in the Efforts OF a pesple TO gain
the Miza Of se.f-govsrnment A high
order Of intelligence has been absolutely
necessary 10 attain these ends, The Cuban
people as a whole may not be graduates
or Yale Harvard or PrIncetoT-rcr are
they "a ignorant as the Hoftentot or the
American savage. III Is sufficient TO know
that they are OF The human race that
seeks to bow the knee to liberty and that
asDsres TO the attaionent of freedom ana
the right 20 take place among tne na-
items 81 the world. Men who have fought
so n3hiy. men who have sacrificed so
much fer liberty and the overthrow OF
the most absolute desposism on the North
American continent. have learned by heart
through blood and great prsvaflons The
lessons Of sserss-and il they know ire
value OF liberty. the lessoa I. iinp-esses