Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-10

age soldiery of Spain.
When at the close of the last century
the reconcentrado lifted to heaven the
arms withered by famine and implored
the great nation that had won peace to
save him and his from destruction and
despair, there was an answer at last in
the boom of cannon. Brave ships cross
ed the water. The strong had taken I'M
der the shelter of his might the weak
and downtrodden. The Cuban flag was
given the right to fly over free Cuban
people. Out of conditions little better
than anarchy came the stable form of
order, and they who had struggled for
many decade found their efforts
crowned with the freedom of their de-
sire. Then the benefactor Withdrew,
leaving to an emancipated people the
problem of their own destiny. That the
new republic should not have remained
quiet is not surprising.
Many Americans know little Of the
Cuba of fifty years ago. To them the
Gem Of the Antilles has been but spot
In the map, made vivid for the first
time when the United States, Mortified
at continued cruelty, drove forth the
tyrant The cruelty was nothing new
In Cuban history; it had made Cuban
history. Before the climax that lower.
ed the Spanish pride and the Spanish
banner in the West, for decades the
prayer for recognition as belligerents
went unheeded.
Cuba in revolt displayed concep-
ton Of Justice that would have been an
honor to any people. An early move
was the freeing of the slaves held under
Spanish rule directly in violation of
treaty. SPANS pretense of emancipa-
ton had been nothing more. BY royal
decree the slave was freed when he had
reached his Goth year, or Just wnen
he would have been helpless to care for
himself. At one time out of 100000 ne
groes in Cuba 36S, 1000 were slaves, many
Of these being natives of Africa. When
the revolutionIsts freed them large
number became soldiers, and some won
their way to Important command.
y In 1926, but for the veto of the Unit.
ed Statss. Bolivar, valiant and futile,
might have won tue nnnse. of CUBA. But
The cause was not killed. The South
Isricans possessions of the Spanish
were 1eSSmitted to break their allie.
1sgIsnce, but Cuba, suffering oppressed
crying out with a great voice and witt
Its blood sealing the sincerity Of Its as
pirations, was permitted to langulsh Ii
| thrall.
In lS4S the struggle for independence,
took definite form again. At that tim,
Cuba was recognized as republic BY
Peru, and there was promise of coop
GRAFTON from neighborlng governments
but that of the United States could no
be won, and the promise was not full
filled. Yet with failure, and in tn,
face of opposition from those who nigh
have been neutral, and of Indifference
from those whose impulses should have
been friendly, the faith of the Cubans
never faltered.
When $4,000 Cuban lives had beer
sacrificed to the fury Of a falling des
potism nearly 100000 Spanish had Der
ished on the same altar. At one time
the Cubans oyerran the island from the
eastern extremity to Colon on the west
The enemy was shut in Its strongholds
but the enemy held the sea. The Cubar
armies were made Of tried fighters
The Spanish were raw levies. constant
ly renewed. Production of sugar begar
to lessen, and agriculture generally was
on the wane. Spanish reforms took the
shape of more obnoxious taxes, unit
the Cuban paid $84 yearly, while the
Spanish in their own land paid 81.
In 1871 the Cubans had Issued al