OCR Text |
Show THE CUBAN REVOLUTION, I The treatment of the Cuban patriots by our government is extraordinarily anomalous- It illustrates the policy that might make3 right, and the aouiitration of this free Republic throws the weight of its influence in favor of brutal and despotic might in its endeavor to crush freedom in Cuba, to rivet faster the chains of the slaves on that island, and to uphold Spanish brutality in massacreiug in cold blood people whoso only crime is fighting for liberty. The complaint of Cespedes the prcsideut of the Cuban revolutionary revolution-ary republic, against the conduct of our government with respect to the war for Cuban independence is painfully just. Uo does not ask our assistance, assist-ance, but is astounded that we should not at least extend to a people fighting for freedom an equal sympathy with that extended to their oppressors, and claims that if we had done so, Cuba would now be lree. We nave retuscd to recognize the belligerency of the Cubans, a measure merely humane, to entitle them when captured to be treated treat-ed as prisoners of war, and we rigor-' rigor-' ously enforce the neutrality laws against them, and wink at a violation of the same taws by their enemies. The belligerency of the Cubans ought 10 have been long since recognized by our government, and the time has arrived ar-rived wheu in the interest of Christianity Christian-ity and civilization we ought to recognize recog-nize their independence. Confiued to an island of less than 30,000 square miles; surrounded by Spanish eiuisers; cxor:ised by the common interest that binds kings together, (turn all aid and sVLiipadiy from without; almost definite defi-nite of implements and numinous of war; without a ireaury, uu-l wanting a!! the ueces.-aius in so great and unequal a content, except a dotcniimaliun to W tVte, they have fcr ui re than time years carried on tie- war ot ii-Jej-eudenec against Spain, LeiiaUt:g at no sacritices either j of life or property; an when with the sympathies of the old world won ! archies against them, they turn 10 us . and a?k in the name of liberty for im- partial treatment, as between them-sov-js and the Spaniards, wc do worse ! :ban spurn the requet we pretend j " vujpathy and recognition to intensify I the cruelty of denial. Surely these people ctu-ht to be free. ' The Spaniards are entitled to no fiver at out handa, especially to our assistance, assist-ance, direct or iodireet, to enable them to continue to enchain in slavery a people peo-ple who have been inspired by our example ex-ample to attempt their enfranchisement. enfranchise-ment. They have placed themselves outside of the pale of human sym-; pathy by their cold-bloodi d holiday butchery of young students in Havana, and by offering capitation rewards for the arrreat of revolutionists. They are savsres by nature and education, al proved by the bloody character of their pastimes. The commonality of them I are brutes, and the upper classes but little better than bleached Apaches. |