The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-15
CUBA LIBRE.

arms and keeping their powder dry. We have them
under all the restraint and veXation OF military gov
eminent They have no voice in the simplest police
regulation, none in the imposition OF taxes. The
fragments OF Poland are cowed under the
German, the Austrian and the Cossack, than Cuba
under the flag OF the free
We have quoted already from the official declara
tons binding the United States, made in the speeches
OF Representatives and Senators in our Congress one
year ago. These declarations cannot be forgotten
They cannot be concealed. They cannot be de
stroyed.
Senator Morgan, referring on February %, 1903 to
former resolution OF belligerency, said: AT the
time OF that declaration the proceeding of extermina
ton by military order that had been instituted in the
island OF Cuba by General Weyler just in process
OF development. Many of cast anxious eyes to
the future and saw or thought the terrible
disaster that about to fall upon the Cuban people
in virtue of that military order But the method OF
conducting that war by the Spanish Government
never imposed upon us requirement that should
declare that state OF war existed in the island of
Cuba, for we could not reckon among the ideas of
civilized and christanized men that determination
OF women and children was really state of 1t
was cruel barbarity.
The Senator then described the substitution of
Blanco for Weyler as Captain General and OF auton-
has caused this result but the of Cuba? What
but Gomez and his soldiers? Not the United States
Government 1t is the arms OF Gomez, his strategy,
his great genius followed by men who are willing to
die for liberty, that have produced this offer the
part OF Spain OF autonomy, approxmatlng II 1t does
not equal that which the Canadian Government holds
under the crown OF Great Britain The Cubans alone
have fought and the revolution. Mr. President,
there has been in the history OF nations scarcely any
event which equals that in its Importance and | may
say in its grandeur The Cubans have fought their
revolutionary and won it Nothing remains for
them but to hold out until the proud kingdom OF
Spain will be Obliged to say In place OF autonomy
We grant you independence SO the Cubans have
not fought in vain. would much prefer witness the
final triumph OF the Cuban arms and the establish
ment OF their independence in the spirit that ami
mated fathers than have the intervention OF
the United States to assist them had the in
terventIon OF France to assist in getting in
dependence As far back as 1896 the Senate passed
this concurrent resolution: That a condition OF
public war exists in Cuba between the Government OF
Spain and the Government OF Cuba that the
friendly offices OF the United States should be offered
by the President to the Spanish Government for the
recognition OF the independence OF Cuba To this
the House added: Believing that the only perma-
nent solution OF the contest equally in the interest OF
be in the establishment OF government by the choice
OF the people of Cuba, it is the sense OF Congress
that the Government of the United States should use
its good Offices and friendly influence to that end"
These expressions OF the House and the Senate were
quoted and approved by Senators Lodge, Teller
Morgan Ihurston, Foraker and others Concerning
Cuban independence Thurston said the American
people ought to be at their affairs praying for it. ST
lently solemnly with their consciences before God"
Senator Stewart, declaring that refusing bel
ligerent rights Cuba which would permit her full
acquisition and OF arms, helping SPAIN said:
Cuban independence is assured as soon as she has
belligerent rights that she defend them. 1t is
said Cuba had no ships. If the United States take
its hands off, the world stands ready to sell her
ships She has the richest island in the world she
is practically OF debt and they would be eager to
sell her ships and munitions OF from every part
OF the world
Concerning the then in the hands of the
Cubans, Senator Mason submitted documentary
proof that every rife had cost the Cubans $500 He
drew picture OF nation compelled by the denial OF
begerent rights to pay that enormous price for the
guns with which to shoot its way to independence
All this little more than year ago Now
we have taken SPANS place in the military govern
ment of that island and the American people are
asked to send there army large enough to com
pei the OuDdnS 10 QlSdrrn ana surrender the rifles
which cost them $500 apiece.
We desire to say these things now, before Ameri-
can volunteers fighting in the ever-smitten
swamps of Cuba to complete the work OF subjugaton
which Spain abandoned when she offered autonomy
The imperialis party in this country wants war in
Cuba 1t wants the people goaded into armed pro-
test 1t wants them provoked into firing on the
flag" in order that it may make holow-hearted ap-
peal to American patriotism. But over against this
stand the unbroken line OF official pledges legisa-
tive and executive, to the independence and self
government OF the island Close behind these events
walks the Genius of History. Her pen recorded the
name OF Lafayette in living light. 1t wrote that of
Washington in letters that will be read until the last
day of time 1t put in words that never die Ameri-
can sympathy for the Irish rebels of o. for the pa
tliots of Europe who in I848 broke thrones and
crowns from Skager Rack to the Adratic and for the
Suiote the Sepoy, the Bedoun, when they struck
bindly for freedom Let freemen who were reared
and nurtured in the principles OF the Declaration of