Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-07

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 q 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 1t 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 belllgerents
went unheeded.
Cuba in revolt displayed conccp-
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. Spain's pretense of emancipa-
ton had been nothing more. BY royal
decree the slave was freed when he hsd
reached his Goth year, or JUST wnen
he would have been helpless to care for
himself. At one time out Of 6OO,OOO ne
groes in Cuba 36S,OOO were slaves, many
Of these being natives of Africa. When
the revolutionists freed them a large
number became soldiers, and some won
their way to Important command.
In 1926, but for the veto of the Unit.
ed States, Bolivar. valiant and futile,
might have won the cause of CUBA. But
the cause was not killed. The South
American possessions of the Spanish
were permitted to break their allie
glance, but Cuba, suffering, oppressed.
crying out with great voice and with
its blood sealing the sincerity of Its as
pirations, was permitted to langulsh In
thrall.
In 1S4S the struggle for independence
took definite form again. At that time
Cuba was recognized as a republic by
Peru, and there was promise Of COOP.
Grafton from neighbOring governments,
but that Of the United States could not
be won, and the promise was not full.
filed. Yet with failure, and in the
face of opposition from those who might
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 been
sacrificed to the fury Of a falling dies.
potism nearly 100000 Spanish had Ter.
ished on the same altar. At one time
the Cubans overran the island frop, the
eastern extremity to Colon on the west.
The enemy was shut in Its strong holds,
but the enemy held the sea. The tMban
armies were made Of tried fighters.
The Spanish were raw levies. constant
.ly renewed. Production Of sugar began
to lessen. and agriculture generally was
on the wane. Spanish reforms took the
shape of more obnoxious taxes. until
the Cuban paid $S4 yearly. while the
Spanish in their own land paid 81.
In 1871 the Cubans had Issued an