Washington sentinel., 1899-01-28
IL You were a Cuban?

II were a Cuban l Voulu hOlu
on to my machete and stay out IN
the hills with Gomez. l would
have admiration for the great
Anglo. Saxon republic ofthe North
and much gratitude for its service
in expelling Spain from my island
but / would hold on to my mach
etc.
AS a soldier Of Gomez, even II
YOU were a halt caste, or negro
or any other inferior kind OF
human being in rags who had
fought for liberty against the Span
lard, you could not but get this
country in perspective. Atar-even
from the short distan &c OF eighty
miles from Key West-our own
opinion Of ourselves is confirmed.
We are an immensely rich and
strong people, generous. a high
minded people, but, in the Perspec-
tive, we have our limitations. Our
instinct is to do right, to give prac-
tical effect to the inspiring gener-
alties of the Declaration of lnde-
pendeuce, to scorn sordidness, to
put self interest under foot when
ever it conflicts with the demo-
cratic principle.
But if you were a Cuban you
should not lay down your machete'
You should not come into camp
and make your submission to Gen,
Brooke at Havana or to Gen.
Wood at Santiago. The American
people and the American Govern
ment are two different things.
Fancy yourself a Cuban-elther
a once-rich planter, with a soul
above sugar, or a low browed
brutal black with nothing but your
life to contribute to your country's
war for Misunderstanding, sim
ply, that you are a Cuban patriot,
as earnest in the cause Of freedom
as the American minority was IN
1916. and as Jealous for nationality
as the Northern majority was in
1901. Then what would you think
of the Government that appointed
the Garcia-insulting Shaiter as its
representative and sent military
men OF better sort to rule over
your Brooke and Wood you
would perceive TO be gentlemen
and not staggering bullies like the
gross and dense Shaiter; but you
would, perhaps, ask yourself
whether, after all, that frank bad
barian was not a true expression Of
the intention OF the American Gov
trnment.
AS a Cuban you would inherit
traditions, as glorious to You as
the fight at Concord Bridge, the
Yorktown surrender, and the Fare
well Address OF Washington are to
Americans. Names scarcely to
the rest Of the world known are
vivid with splendid meaning and
sacred to the Cuban. They blazon
the dauntless struggles OF the race
for separation from Spain.
And then here comes this alien
people, foreign in blood and spirit,
from the Northern republic, and
Gusts your hereditary foe. Your
impulse is to initiate the Cuban
aborigine when the whites first
emerged out OF the unknown--to
fall on your knees and stretch out
your hands in a transport OF graft
tude.
But you are not an aborlgine, to
whom the explosion of gunpowder
is heavens thunder and the voice
of God. You are Cuban of 1899,
a modern man. You know that
an honest human sentiment OF
sympathy moved the American
people to demand of their Govern
ment that it unleash its army and
navy against Spain, the opPressor,
in support of bands OF guerilla
patriots, much resembling our own
tattered forefathers IN Valley
Forge. That is splendid and thrills
your veins, bu- as a Cuban OF this
age, as a modern man, you are
somewhat distrusttul OF sentiment
and have a common sense desire
to be guided by iacts--whrch con-
troll events
With your surrendered machete
in hand, out in the hills with
Gomez, you have an elevation
which gives you a comprehensive
view.
These" your Cuban mind says,
"are awelI meaning people. Their
wish is to give us freedom. But
can they deliver the goodse Is
their Government their servant, or
are they powerless against their
Governments will2 What can
they do save to roar and threaten
hostile votes il Washington fails