St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-05-03

the American military governor OF
the island. Gomez is in the business
for what there is to be made, and
has no more regard for the people OF
Cuba than has the King of Spain.
He poses as a hgurehead patriot,
and jumps up and issues an average
of one bombastic manifesto a day,
or as often as his employers pull the
string.
This government graciously gives
the forty odd thousand Cuban sol
diers three million dollars, to be ap-
portioned by Gomez, he and his
favorites taking the lions share
rather the share of the ass in the
lions skin. This would be nearly
enough to give each of the soldiers OF
the rank and file very cheap suit OF
clothes, if it ever reached them. The
only legal government which Cuba
ever had apart from Spain is entirely
ignored.
Here are the plain facts in the case:
For years the Cuban army has been
fighting a desperate battle for free
dom and independence, living on
what would not keep an army OF
American sparrows and clothed with
very little except tight waistband
to suppress the pains of hunger,
short sword and straw hat. The
land, the island, belonged to them as
soon as the Spanish government
formally relinquished it. They have
several years pay legally due them,
and the land they fought for should
be holden for it. Many are invalided
and crippled. They are in all equity
and justice entitled to pension.
The Cubans now ask that they be
allowed to bond themselves with
their island and it's revenues as Sc
curity in moderate and reasonable
sum to raise money enough to enable
them to secure a new start in life,
new foothold in the race for exis-
tence. They ask to be permitted to
issue bonds secured by what belongs
to them and which they have every
right to pledge, and are willing to
work to pay the interest and prin-
cipal. They want what they have
earned and what they are entitled to
in the way of pay. They want what
they have earned to purchase homes
and food and clothing and furniture
and stock and agricultural imple-
ments.
Let us put ourselves in their places,
as we were after the Revolution and
after the Civil War. Let US allow
them to do themselves justice in the
name of justice and honor and equity
and right. Why not?
But Gomez speaking through
Brooke, and Brooke speaking
through the government here, thus
far refuses. 1t is apparently our pre-
sent intention to force the gift o.
three million dollars on them, which
they don't want, and if they stant
for their rights and ask to be permit
ted to regulate their internal affairs
according to our implied promise tt
them, then they must be suppressed
as disorderly and turbulent.
Under the present conditions ant
=. with the present uncertainty the de
-. velopment and prosperity of the is
land is at standstill. The Cuban
have no capital with which to d
business and outside investors wi
not bring in money until they kno,
r if and when permanent and stab
:, government is going to be establish
;, ed and who is going to establish an
maintain it. This is natural an
, reasonable of course
= The facts have stated know
be such, if representative Cuba1
here and others on the inside can |
depended upon as knowing the a
tual conditions. The reasonir
based on the facts | submit to yol
fairness and sense of justice.
=, / am wholesale annexationis
- and imperialist if you please. T.
- American union can provide for
:. family OF any size, and do it wi
., credit and honor. No American w
ever see his country too large. T
White Mans Burden and duty W
- eternally prevent us from becomi
selfish. We cannot be the Gilman
~ of the western hemisphere. The fl
- is the advance agent of every pow
for good. Let it never be ting
49, with injustice or dishonor.