The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-04-21
NO Is.

be beaten IN such mn unequal struggle,
in spite OF the valor of their sailors. In
either case the enemy, master of these
waters would blockade or invade Cuba
And let nobody say this invasion will
be on n small scale, relying on the fact
that the American army amounts to
scarcely 1000 men, for the adventurers,
native and European, who are so numer.
ons In That country, and the people OF
the south and west who are so deeply
Interested in the conquest of our island,
will furnish powerful invaders
Most certainly the Spanish govern
ment would make desperate defense
but with its commerce obstructed,
whole families leaving the country,
capital taking flight, with revenues in.
sufficient to meet the ordinary expenses
of the island and the extraordinary ex.
penses OF the war, prompt reinforce
ments from Spain being impossible he,
canse OF the distance and later reinforce.
ments being rendered equally impossible
by the blockade. Cuba would not only
be completely ruined within few
months but. in addition, all her shores
would lie open to the invading legions,
which would seize every important po-
sition. S1ch must be the inevitable re.
suit OF the war If Spain wages it alone
against the United States. The occn.
patton OF Cuba by the Americans would
be II fact Of transcendnnt importance.
All the powers which have colonies in
America snre interested in averting il,
and particularly England and France.
Cuba clamors for administrative and
political reforms, and, while 1t is not
my desire that foreigners should come
in to settle our domestic troubles yet
wonld be deeply grieved ii France and
England were to forget the noble mis-.
sion which they fulfill in the world aad
lend their name and powerful influence
to perpetuate, in Cuba, certain institn.
tions which they have abolished in their
own colonies. II Cuba were English
she would have enjoyed liberal institu-
tions since the Sixteenth or Seventeenth
century but her fate was to be Spanish,
and. although the flag of CASTLE has
waved over her shores for BAL years. she
not only drays the chain of slavery still,
but even the hope of one day being free
is denied her Her fortunes or her mis-
fortunes are Ia the hands of the govern
luent, and while II is not to be imagined
that they will listen to threats or to el-
oquence In behalf Of the nation which
they rule, let them hear what Ia told to
them for the last time by a Cuban who
has never fattered them and never lied
10 them either Spain must grant Cuba
political rights, or Cuba IL lost to Spain.
But II, for any reason. Cuba shall be
severed from the trunk to which she
belongs, / shall hope that she may DO
eft to the Cubans, and not fall to for.
sign race. Let rs never forget" (asI
wrote few months since to one of my
iearest friends) that the Anglo-Saxon
race differs widely from our own In it's
'riyin, It's language. its religion, it's
labits and customs and that, AZ soon
IL they find themselves strong enough
o outweigh the number Of Cnbans.
hey will aspire to the political control
II all Cuban affairs And they will
ucceed not only because OF their nu-
nerical strength, but because they will
consider themselves ~ our tutors or
guardians, much further advanced than
w In all matters Of government. They
viii succeed, repeat, bnt without using
my violence against ns and by exer.
Using the mine rights which we, too,
hall possess. The North Americans
viii 20 to the polls we shall appear
here also They will vote for their own
'eople we for Ours. But, as the Amer
cai's will bein the minority, the Cubans
will be excluded, for the same reason,
rom all, or almost all, public positions,
nd there Is sure TO be seen the painful
pecMcle Of the sons OF the soil. its
ishtfnl masters, releYated to the rear
y MI invading race. have seen this
u other places, and know that | shall
ee 1t in my own country as well and.
erhaps, IL will be seen, too, that the
giving way to grief and de-.
pair VIII resort u arms and will pro.
eke civil war. Many will censure
hese ideas ~ exaggerated, and will
ven regard them M Insane rawlings. Be