News and Miscellany

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1873

News and Miscellany.

“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

Cuban Affairs.

A mass meeting was held in New York, Nov. 17, to give expression to the public feeling in regard to the recent executions in Cuba, in which Hon. Wm. M. Evarts and S. S. Cox made speeches. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted:—

“Whereas, The war for the suppression of the Cuban rebellion and the perpetuation of human slavery has been going on for over five years without any visible evidence that it will be successful, and

“Whereas, This war has from the beginning been conducted by the Spanish volunteers by methods abhorrent to humanity and the usages of civilized conflicts, and

“Whereas, The Spanish volunteers have repeatedly outraged the rights and persons of American citizens without any redress or security against future outrages being given, and

“Whereas, For years past the Spanish Government has shown itself impotent to restrain, punish, or prevent, the cruelties and barbarities of its agents in Cuba, or to enforce its own liberal legislation, and

“Whereas, The culminating horrors of the successive executions of the captives taken from the Virginius have shown a deliberate purpose on the part of the Spanish volunteers to disobey or anticipate any orders from Madrid, and a determination to insult and defy our own Government and people, and

“Whereas, The Government of Spain has neither submitted to the assumption that she was prosecuting a war in Cuba, nor tolerated its recognition by our Government, but has acted with unlicensed self-will, both in the conduct of the war and in her treatment of our Government, availing herself of all the irresponsibility of illegitimate warfare, and claiming all the immunities of lawful warfare, and

“Whereas, It has become evident to all the world that Cuba is now a part of the outlying realm of Spain which has so completely lapsed into anarchy and is so entirely uncontrollable by Spain that the nearest civilized power has the right and is in duty bound, in the interests of civilization and humanity, and for the protection of its own citizens, to use forcible means to obtain from the real masters of the situation in Cuba ‘indemnity for the past and security for the future,’ provided the power of Spain be not immediately put forth successfully to redress past wrongs, and guarantee the world, and the United States especially, against their repetition; therefore,

“Resolved, That the people of the United States look to the great soldier who now presides over our Government to take the promptest and most decisive action that is consistent with the dignity and with the past precedents of our Government; that we adopt the language of Thomas Jefferson in 1793, when he, as Secretary of State, wrote to the Spanish representatives in regard to outrages committed by Creek Indians, in the then Spanish territory of Florida, upon American Citizens:—

“If we are disappointed in this appeal, if we are to be forced into a contrary order of things, our mind is made up. We shall meet it with firmness. The necessity of our position will supersede all appeal to calculation now, as it has done heretofore. We confide in our own strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others without fearing it. If we cannot otherwise prevail on the Creeks to discontinue their depredations, we will attack them in force. If Spain chooses to consider our defense against savage butchery as a cause of war to her, we must meet her also in war, with regret, but without fear.”

Great excitement exists in England as well as the United States. It is reported that several of the passengers of the Virginius, who were executed, were British subjects. The London Daily Telegraph of Nov. 18 says:—

“Considerations of policy and humanity would lead England to view favorably the annexation of Cuba to the United States. That the American Government will wait the assembling of Congress before taking action on the Virginius matter is evidence that its policy will not be governed by popular clamor. We do not despair of a peaceful solution of the question. In view of the difficulty the United States would experience in retaining possession of Cuba if annexed, we would advise the Government of that country to acknowledge the belligerency of the insurgents, and ultimately guarantee the independence of the island, asking in return the abolition of slavery.”

Paris, Nov. 16.—The Italian Parliament was opened yesterday by King Victor Emanuel in person. In his speech from the throne, the king said he hoped “for a continuance of the work of internal organization, that thus Italy might increase her prosperity amid order and safety, the two indispensable conditions of industry and progress. It had been shown that Rome might become the capital without encroaching upon the independence of the pope or the exercise of the spiritual functions and relations of the Catholic world. We will respect his religious sentiments and his liberty, but will not permit attacks upon the nation and its institutions.”

“Our relations with all foreign powers are friendly. Testimonials of the affection of the emperors and peoples of Austria and Germany have been addressed to Italy, which has conquered her rightful place among the nations. Since the causes of war between Austria and Italy have disappeared, there remains nothing but the confidence of mutual interests and a sure friendship, in harmony with those family affections which an imperious duty has made me subdue, but cannot extinguish. We wish to live in harmony with all nations, but we will firmly guard the rights and dignity of our own.”

The king asks for bills to perfect the organization of the army and navy, and to improve the finances. In concluding his speech, the king said: “I have confidence in the nation, and feel that the nation has confidence in me.” The speech was greeted with frequent and enthusiastic demonstrations of approval.

A LADY who had charge of a young ladies’ Bible-class, speaking of defective home training, said that her best pupil, eighteen years of age, had caused her the most acute anxiety. Rain or shine, she was always at her post. The girl’s whole soul seemed to be absorbed in the straightening out of intricate theological problems; “and yet,” said the teacher, “the girl was so pale and wan that I was afraid every Sabbath would be her last in the class. One day she fainted, and in trying to restore her I loosened her dress, and what do you think I found? Corsets so tightly drawn that a full respiration was impossible. I removed them, and found that her ribs actually lapped! I took her to her mother, a very prominent and useful church member, and stated the case, without reserve.” “Well, you see,” said the parent, “Fanny never had any figure. I should not be surprised if the lacings were drawn a little too tight. Her waist is naturally so large that it is almost impossible to make anything fit genteelly on her. How is your class prospering, Miss ——? I hope you are drawing many souls to Christ.”

THE Savannah (Ga.) News has the following report of the run on the Savannah banks: “A remarkable feature of the occasion—amounting, indeed, to almost a phenomenon—was the strange manner in which men who had been successful in drawing their money were affected. They would wait calmly in the crush and heat, sweating serenely till their turn came, and then, after getting their deposits, they would fall to shaking and trembling as though they had been stricken with the palsy. One man, rather coarsely dressed, who drew out quite a large amount, seemed to be particularly affected. He shook and trembled from head to foot, put his money in his pocket, and then took it out again, and finally tied it up in his handkerchief, his hand shaking all the while as though he had an ague.”