CHAPTER II. AMERICA, CUBA'S CHAMPION. Abortive insurrection of the past-American sympathizers on the roll of martyrdom-President Grant's indignation-National convention of both parties sympathetic-Woodford's effective protest against Weyler-General Fitzhugh Lee's vigorous Americanism-Personal observations of United States Senators -Humane shrinking from the inevitable conflict-President McKinley's historical message-The Congressional resolutions-The ultimatum sent to Woodford-Woodford's summary dismissal-President McKinley's call for volunteers-Another message--War declared. T would be strange, indeed, did not America's sympathy go out toward the people near our shores who are struggling for independence and nationality, for in 1776 she was passing through the same ordeal. During the insurrections in 1823, 1829, 1835 and 1844 in Cuba, the American people watched with increasing interest the efforts of the Cubans to shake off the burdens that Spanish tyranny imposed; and in 1850 occurred the noted Lopez and Crittenden expedition, in which the latter, who was a graduate of West Point and a Mexican war hero, was shot by the Spaniards, and the former was executed with the garrote at Havana. The case of Captain Joseph Fry, the Cuban Martyr," caused intense feeling throughout the United States twenty-five years ago. At Port au Prince, October 7, 1873, he took on board the "Virginius" a large amount of war material, and while the vessel was bound for Cuba she was run down by the Spanish gunboat "Tornado," and although Captain Fry protested that his papers were regular and that the "Virginius Virginius" was "an American ship, carrying American colors and papers, with an American captain and an American crew," she was taken as a prize to Santiago de Cuba, and the prisoners were condemned to be shot to death, Fry declaring: "If I die, it will be for the Cuban cause." On the afternoon of November 7, 1873, Captain Fry and fifty-two of his men were shot; and it was only through the heroic intervention of Captain Sir Lampton Lorraine, of the British steamer "Niobe," that the massacre of the other ninety-three prisoners was prevented. The Spaniards, by means of certain technical rights, escaped the severe punishment that should have been visited upon them for this shocking wholesale murder; but the dreadful affair produced a profound impression upon this country, increasing the antipathy for Spain and sympathy for the Cubans. In his Annual Message to Congress, December, 1875, President Grant wrote these strong words: "The past year has furnished no evidence of an approaching termination of the ruinous conflict which has been waging for seven years in the neighboring island of Cuba. The same disregard of the laws of civilized warfare and of the just demands of humanity, which has heretofore called forth expressions of condemnation from the nations of Christendom, has continued to blacken the sad scene. Desolation, ruin and pillage are pervading the rich fields of one of the most fertile and productive regions of earth, and the incendiary's torch, firing plantations and valuable factories and buildings, is the agent marking the alternate advance or retreat of contending parties. . . I have hoped that Spain would be able to establish peace in her colony, to afford security to the property and the interests of our citizens, and allow legitimate scope to trade and commerce and the natural productions of the island. . . . Thus far all the efforts of Spain have proved abortive, and time has marked no improvement in the situation." By diplomatic tricks, at which the government at Madrid has always been an adept expert, the Cuban question was side-tracked; promises of reforms were made; and as so often it has happened in her dealings with the United States, she gained her point, while at the same time seemingly yielding to our HON. JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary of State. requests. In tricks that are vain the Chinee does not hold a monopoly of power. The Spaniard can give him several points in the art of not doing what the uninitiated thinks he is doing! But the interest of the United States in the struggling Cubans grew apace. The last conventions of the two great political parties of America met while the present insurrection was eliciting the sympathetic interest of our people, and in both gatherings there were declarations of no uncertain sound. President McKinley was elected on a platform one of the planks in which was dedicated to the freedom. of Cuba. The appointment of the late Minister to Madrid looked to this, and Mr. Woodford left this country with the distinct understanding that he was to introduce the subject of a change of affairs in Cuba to the government of the Queen Regent. The agitation of this matter resulted in the recall of the murderous Weyler, the deposition of the Spanish Minister at Washington, and the promise of autonomy under the direction of General Blanco. It is interesting to note how the inevitable approached. Events of importance followed quick upon each others' heels, and it soon became apparent that Congress would not adjourn until the crisis was reached and perhaps passed. President McKinley readily recognized that the sending of General Fitzhugh Lee to Havana by his predecessor, Mr. Cleveland, was an eminently wise act, and after his recall to Washington for a conference with the President he was returned to Cuba, doubtless with specific directions. With a thorough knowledge of military matters, knowing no such thing as fear, possessing the elements of a typical Southern gentleman, and being a loyal, loving American, General Lee was the right man in the right place. During the opening days of this year it was clearly apparent that the new move by Spain to establish what she was pleased to call an autonomy, or condition of self-government in Cuba, was destined to fail; that the milder methods of the new Captain-General, General Blanco, were received with no more respect by the determined insurgents than the iron and bloody rule of Weyler; that the devastation on the island was on the increase; that the miserable reconcentrados, although aided by American charity, were dying by the thousands from disease and starvation; and that the insurgents, instead of being conquered or brought to terms, were fighting more heroically than ever, and |