Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-29
ROMANCE AND POLITICS.
Deplorabie Death 81 = ChivHIrous
soldier OF Liberty,

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The South Carolina tragedy. In which
Narciso q. Gonzales. editor OF tho Column
bia State. was assassinatcd by Lieutenant
Governor Tillman. recalls the earlier move
ments for the freedom Of Cuba. and Incl
IDENTIFY shows the vast assimilatiug power
which American life has over an the ele-
monts OF the country's population. Am
brose Jose Gonzales, the father Of the MUIR
dered editor. was the second in mi
In the first flibustering expedition ever
sent from the United States to Cuba. that
which, under the command OF Narciso
Lopez, landed in that island in 1919. Com
zales was with Lopez In two expeditions,
but was not with him in that Of 1851, in
which Lopez was captured and executed by
the Spaniards. Seeing that there was no
chance, at least at that time, for Wrestling
Cuba from Spain. Gonzales, who was a
native OF Cuba, settled in South Carolina.
Identified himself actively with that states
interests, entered the confederate army in
1861, and served through the war. being
Joe Johnston's chief Of artillery at the
surrender in 1865.
In one respect did the younger Gonzales,
who was born just before South Carolina
seeded, differ from the rest Of the South
Carolinians of education, character and
balance. Through his father he inherited
a devotion to the interests OF Cuba, but
he wanted Cuba to become part Of the
United States. For q short time he had a
connection with the rebellion which began
in 1895, serving under Gomez in 1898, when
the Americans were driving the Spaniards
out Of the island. He was active in the
social and political life of South Carolina,
and belonged to the conservative element
Of It's people, that which was represented
nv nrt1aN a,A I,W,-s., -. - ----.. -
the latter days, and which was assalled by
Tillman. the present senator. who led the
revolt which overthrow the old regime and
put an entirely new order Of men in con-
troll in the states local and national af-
fairs.
Gonzales had a foreign sound to those ac-
customed to the Anglo. Saxon names. but
there was nothing foreign about the man
whom South Cardinals recent lieutenant
governor assassinated. The nowspaper
which he published at South Carolino's
capital was conservative, sane and thor
oughly American I'm tone. He himself
stood with the ingredient Of the population
which gave that state its leading place I'm
the days when IL was n powerful force in
the politics OF the country. No more pub
lic-spirited and patriotic person could be
found in the country than this son of the
old Cuban insurgent of half a century ago.
NO Smith, Brown or Jones was more thor
oughly assimilated by the Americanizing
influences of his environment than was this
man with the Spanish name, whose first in
production to the great mass Of his coun-
trymen was through the tragedy which
ended his life. There are no lines of de-
marcation in the populace Of the United
states, The men of the second generation
OF residents in this country, and in many
instances those Of the first generation, the
naturalized citizens of foreign birth, are
usually as thoroughly infused with the
American spirit as are the descendants of
those who came over in the Mayaower.