The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03
II IS Tine to
Free @uba.

From Senator GaninRer-s Recent Speech.
As far as 1 know no one in this
country desires war with Spain. but
the people OF his country nave come
10 the ~conclustcnS that the time has
come foe Spain 10 retire from the west
ern hernisphere. she has by misgov-
ernment and cruelty forfeited every
claim upon the Gem of the Antilles,
and I'm the Interests of a common hui
manity this country should intervene
and otop the 1t will be remem-
bere1 that n hundred years g
Spain owned a 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 a hundred years. as the result
of miegcvernment and misrule. she has
lost all of her territory on the western
hemisphere except the islands OF Cubs
and Puerto Rico, and IL any one can
tell me why she should be allowed to
longer retain control of Cuba, the in
formation will be gratefully received.
i certainly know of no reason.
I may be wrong. but II seems TO me
that IL is a reproach to the civilization
OF the age that a bankrupt and corrupt
government like Spain should be per-
United to hold in bondage on this con
tinent a people who have aspirations
for the same liberty hat we enjoy. II
I 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 q great power as in this instance OF
Spain. Ii is one of the striking COIN
cidences of history that Spain to-day.
finding herself menaced with the loss
of her last American possessions
through a conflict with the great Amer
her power from the year 1872. in which
the discovery of Columbus led to the
ultimate establishment of the United
States. The year which gave the west
ern hemisphere to Spain witnessed the
expulsion OF the Moors from Grenada
one united country. Its first king. Fer
dinand Of Aragon. whose marriage
with Isabella OF CASTLE in 1869 marked
the beginning of a real Spanish king
dom. was also the last Spanish king,
for at his death. in 1916. the succession
burgs. with sad and melancholy con-
sequences for the civilized world.
F! During the four hundred years of
this rise and fall it's invariable record
has been one Of cruelty. of persecution.
OF bigotry. of hostility to every enti-
tice and enlightenment. The slavery to
which II doomed its subjects I'm the
western hemisphere was not more cruel
than its oppression OF Holland or its
tyranny over its W people at home.
The bigotry. the fanaticism. the intol-
erance and the gloomy superstition Of
its tone of mind are unrelieved by one
single CLEAN of recognition of human
rights. just as the ~disgraceful record
OF its decay and downfall is unrelieved
by one single triumph of genius in
craftsmanship or OF prowess in battle
against an armed enemy.
One after another SPANS possessions
have fallen away, like bricks from a
moldering wall. until to-day she stands
alone. bankrupt i'm but still
clinging to hat policy Of cruelty. of
and determination. which
has been her only known method of
dealing for four hundred years. until
finally forced to confront the republic
of freedom. of equality. of justice. of
humanity. of civilization. IL is not ac-
cident or nance which has brought
about the present situation. II is mex
orable destiny. which DEGREES that the
last Of SPANS ill-gotten possessions i'm
this hemisphere will be lifted to free
dom by the one republic which repre-
sents everything that Spain has antag-
onized during her hole history.
Fortunately the people Of this great
republic are thoroughly aroused to the
situation. and the great heart of the
American populace is i'm full sympathy |
with cuba. Religion and humanity de-
mand that this unholy war shall cease