Evening journal., 1899-02-07
rHE OOWlARDfS ADVOClArrIE.


for its diatribe in defense OF the APP
pointment of Ralph De Soto to Gus
toms inspectorship az Havana
5usifies the change.
We have no desire to inject into
this controversy personalities Affecting
this defense, but the Coward's Advo-
cate has taken the iead IN tnat direc-
tion and we are disposed to follow.
We shall flrst consider the motives
which inpelled the cowards Advocate
to come out in defense OF Ralph De
Soto. For many years the owner OF
the Cowards Advocate ana Ra.ph De
Soto have been bosom friends. They
dined together; they played at cards
together; they moved in the same set
together; they worked for Cuban teas
and bazaars together; they howled for
war together; they posed before the
community together; they looked
bloodthirsty together; they entwined
the American and Cuban fiags to-
gether; when the Maine was destroyed
they cried 'ero armsl" together, and,
when war came. they remained at
home together. They had mutual ar
finity for the blessings and safety OF
peace. We think that the public will
understand. The personal friendship
Of one coward for another led the
Coward's Advocate to take up the
cauee OF Ralph De Scto It was
mutual matter. One felt the burden
of shame OF the other and was dis
posed to unloed IL. n there is one
member OF THE wilmington Cuban junta
who enlisted when war came let him
stand forth, that he may oe dlstiR-
guished from the pack of pink tea
and woman's bazaar towards, who did
the bowling for war and then dropped
out OF sight and left others to do the
fighting. It Is one thing 70 be danc-
ing attendance upon sympathetic wo-
men; to be assisting III tacnng up and
tying up bunting; TO be arranging re-
freshment Tables; to be rolling ice
cream freezers around a room; to be
dishing ice cream; 70 be cutting lady
cake; TO be wishing spoons and sall-
GERS in the cause OF Cuban liberty and
American honor, ana another to put
on the blue, say goodbye to the loved
ones at home and march out to live
Cor months under canvas, with no as
surance that death from wound OF dis
ease will not be the portion in store
We repeat to this Cuban Junta to
stand up and show It's enlistment pa
pers; to show it's papers OF honorable
discharge from the service OF the
United States. II cannot escape by
pink tea and bazaar tickets. Some
thing more Is demanded, and It cam
not be shown. When President Nc
FNnley called for volunteers the meml
bers Of this Cuban junia ran up the
white flag and got down on theii
knees; prayed to God that the exi-
gencies OF the occasion would not b,
such as TO warrant draft, and won.
dered where in the world they would
obtain the money needed TO buy sub.
stitutes in such an eventuality. Tn,
owner OF the Coward's Advocate wa.
among the number; Ralph De Sot,
was among the number; and com
munity OF interest has made then
wondrous kind in their feeling on
for the other II is time when COW
ards must stand together; when the,
need an organ 70 voice their excuses
and they have found It in the Cow
ards Advocate. All the excuses /
may ofer will not shrive them in th
eyes OF an outraged people. The NOR
they endeavor to excuse themselves
the worse the light In wnlcn they ap
pear. In no instance will the descend
ants OF one OF this junta be in a posi-
ton to point with pride. II win be
Chapter Of local history so deeply EN-
bedded in the slough OF shame tha
posterity will consider II charity nc
to uncover It.
We have denounced the appointment
Of Ralph De Soto. A greater outras
was never perpetrated upon the pee
pie Of the city OF Wilmins
ton. A greater insult was neve
hurried in the face OF tn
people OF the United States The ide
OF a Republican president sending
Havana a native-born Cuban who wa
too much OF a coward 10 answer II
call to volunteer and too little OF a
American citizen 10 register and vot
at the last general election when in
portuned to do so by the Republica
representatives in the Firty-ffth ele
fion district OF the city Of Wilminl
ton. The roster Of troops will sho
that this man De Soto did not volui
teer; and the registration books OF Il
Fifty-ffth election district will she
that he neither registered nor vote
Here is the material upon which Il
Cowards Advocate has to base its d