Speech #430078736

Hence the unfortunate Cubans being illegallyjroseeu ted iid thrown into esile or executed by military comissions in times of peace. hence their being kept from publie meetings aid forbidden to speakeorwrito oi oaffairs of stateI hence their remonstrances against the evils that afflict them being looled uOion as the proceeilin~e of rebels. from the fact that they are bound to lep silence and ohcy. hence tie neveroniting plague of hungry oicicls from Spain to devour the product of their industry end labor. henco their exclusion from pnlblic stario id wmt of opportunityto skill theniolves in the art of government heuatherostrictions to which public instaction with them is subject. in order co eep disc so iguorant as not to be able to know and enforce their rights in any shape or form whatever. hence the navy and stlading army which are kept upon theircountry at en enormous expenditurefrom their own wealtlt to make them bond their Indes nld submit their necks to the iron yoke that disgraces them. hence the grinding taxstion under which they labor and which woeld make them al arish in misery but for the narvelmsfertiity of tlir sell. Oi tisi other hai. Cu a cannot pspr as she obght to. because white immigration. that suits her best. is artfully kcptfrom her shores by the Spanish govoroment And as Spain has many a time promised us Cubans t respect our nhtn without having hitherto fulfilod her promises. as she continues to tax es heavily. and by no doing is likely to destroy our wealth. as we are in danger of losing our property. our Uves. and our honor under further Spanish domination. as we have roacod a depth of degrradation utterly rovolting to manhood. as great nations have sprung from revor against a similar disgrace after exhausted pleadings for relief. as we despair of justice from Spain through reasoiiug. and cannot longer live deprived of the rights which other people enjoy. we ar constraiied to appeal to armsto assort our rights In the hattiefield. cherishing the hope that our grievances will be a sufficient excuse for this last resort to redress them. and secure our future welfare. To the God of our conscience and to ali civilized nations we submit the sincerity of oar purpose. Vengeanoe does not mislead us. nor is ambition our guide.