Washington sentinel., 1899-01-28

NOT 10 WlAdh VIII ANS~
history, but what will win votes in
Iooo-a man without CONVICTIONS
ami with the name Jt God forever
on his lips, a student only OF pop
ular currents. Out with Gomez,
YOU see this President ready to
give official effect to whatever the
national pride and that lust tor
power which accompanies strength
may momentarily suggest to the
populace. You see him with one
ear yielded to the crowd and the
other to the men who, OF all, are
the worst qualified to point the
way for a nations feet to travel
the greedy rich. They have put
him where he is, and their own
profit and not the common welfare
prompts their advice to him.
They see Cuba at our mercy, and,
uncomprehending of the lofty
spirit that impelled the American
people to demand the intervention
OF the Government between Cuba
and bloodthirsty Spain, even at
the cost oi war which means
human lite and money-they
counsel robbery.
A Cuban, and out with Gomez,
you see seveatY-6ve million Amer
leans subject to the rule OF hand
iul Of men, not wiser than the
mass, but more energetic, whose
luck in finding themselves empow-
cred to plunder their fellows in
toxicates them with a sense Of
superior ability and merit the like
oi which the world has net seen
since Rome's Senate, when pious
thanked the gods for delivering
the provinces into their hands.
The mobiles of France, circusing
at Versailles and taking the black
bread out of the mouths Of twenty
six million fellow countrymen to
pay the cost OF the spree, are diff
ferent exploiters relatively to these
in humanity, AT least
the misunderstanding French
were bent only on their
pleasure, and not on safe-hiving
profit. They did not amass for
tunes, but squandered them.
Being Cuban, and thinking OF
your country's tate, you would
see Hanna, and ask yourself
whether a republic lacking the in
telhgence needlul for the removal
of conditions responsible Tor him
and his like could be trusted to
hold honor above the opportuni-
ties for money making offered by
the lands OF Cuba and the fran
chises for public utilities, OF which
its law making power, whether
or native, has the gift.
Yet the Cuban, refused partici
patton with his war worn machete
in the ceremonies that marked the
enforced exit of Spain from Hav-
ana and the hemisphere, is not
man whose judgment is altogether
true. He sees Hanna behind Nc
Kinley, and he fears the outcome;
but behind Hanna, as we know,
there is a greater power than he
typihes.
The American conscience. 1t
exists. Democracy-the hatred
OF kings and tyranny.-"is alive.
The Hannas, the Rockelellers, the
Ouays, the Platts the system
which surrenders the natural re-
sources Of the country and its
highways to private citizens, and
in politics puts wealth upon its de-
fence against blackmail. is still
new. The old spirit, the American
spirit, still responds to challenges
and is regnant.
the French are not the only
people who sacrifice material in
terests to ideas.
The ordinary American is not
Hanna.
Cuba is weak; we are strong.
Noblesse oblIge.
The nations word is pledged.
That noble fact erects itself above
the boiling, rip tide waters OF bus
mess. 1t rises to refuse the allur-
ing invitations to gainful viii
lany.
But the American people are
many and their motive is unselhsh,
whereas the Hannas are few and
their motive is profit. What the
decent many desire the few, to
whom business opportunity is
more mandatory than the voice Of
God, are justified by experience IN
thinking they can deny.
So, were l a Cuban, ! would
hold on to my machete and stay
out in the hills with Gomez, the
soldier Of liberty, who, in his ven
erable age. retains the capacity