The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-23
AN HONORABLE DISEASE.

The Republicans have discovered
what they consider a new disease in
Cuba. though as a matter of fact it is
very old ailment, as history clearly
shows.
Mr.. Albert G. Robinson writes to tho
New York Tribune from Havana that
1.-THE demand of the Cubans for irde-
pendence and their idea of that condi-
ton are. little short of a mental disease
with them
Touching this diagnosis, the Balti-
more Sun remarks that if it is correct,
and the desire of the Cubans for in
dependence is really a symptom of men,
tai disease, the world must revise its
opinion of some historical characters
concerning whom it has heretofore held
very positive views. The Sun then goes
on to say:
For instance, Patrick Henry, whose
impassioned appeal, give me liberty
or give me DEATH" was the keynote Ct
the Revolution, was not the ardent,
impulsive, disinterested patriot we have
heretofore imagined him, but a gifted
orator mentally unbalanced, who would
never have thought of revolving against
British rule if he had been of sound
mind. His appeal for liberty was
symptomatic of a diseased mind, not
of a man who wanted and was entitled
to a voice in his own government
Tot no
draft of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, was, according to Mr.. Robinson's
theory, more an object of pity than of
admiration. If his mental condition
had been normal he would doubtless
have written Declaration of Servitude.
Judged by Mr.. Robinson's test, the
Sage of Monticello was no sage at all,
as far as his theories eof government
were concerned, but poor deludeG
creature. George Washington, r the
great military leader of the Revolu-
ton, the man of iron will, of few words
and perfect self-control, was not really
what he seemed to be, but victim of
Authorizations whose mind was warp
ed and twisted by absurd prejudices
against alien government.
George III, that British King whoml
Americans have been taught for more
than a century to regard as tyrant.
was, according to Mr. Robinson
theory, a really enlightened monarch,
whose misfortune it was to deal with
a revolt instigated by his mentally dis
eased subjects in the Colonies. All that
unprejudiced historians have written
about the British King, all the elo-
quence of those distinguished English.
men who protested in Parliament
against the war upon the Colonies-all
these things must be revised in the
light of Mr.. Robinson's discovery IN
Cuba. The revolt in France against
monarchical oppression was sheer in
sanity, the leaders Of the Revolution
which sent "a French King to the gull
lotine ought to have been in a mad
house instead of at the head of politi-
cal movement which convulsed EuGope.
The Englishmen who, under Crom-
wells lead, sent Charles to the scat
fold and established a commonwealth
on the ruins of the monarchy We're
mentally diseased" Indeed, there has
not been a movement in the worlds
history for free government or for ma
tional independence that, judged By
Mr.. Robinson's standard was not syrnp-
tomato of mental disorder.
The Cubans ought not to feel as
grieved at Mr. Robinson's contempt
uous estimate of them. If their desire
for Independence is mental disease"
they are in good company. The pages
of history are full of the names of men
who would now be regarded as ravmg
lunatics If. in their day, a demand fol
independence had been considered con-
elusive evidence of an unsound mind"