_Question_. What do you think, Colonel, of the Cuban question?
_Answer_. What I know about this question is known by all. I
suppose that the President has information that I know nothing
about. Of course, all my sympathies are with the Cubans. They
are making a desperate--an heroic struggle for their freedom. For
many years they have been robbed and trampled under foot. Spain
is, and always has been, a terrible master--heartless and infamous.
There is no language with which to tell what Cuba has suffered.
In my judgment, this country should assist the Cubans. We ought
to acknowledge the independence of that island, and we ought to
feed the starving victims of Spain. For years we have been helping
Spain. Cleveland did all he could to prevent the Cubans from
getting arms and men. This was a criminal mistake--a mistake that
even Spain did not appreciate. All this should instantly be
reversed, and we should give aid to Cuba. The war that Spain is
waging shocks every civilized man. Spain has always been the same.
In Holland, in Peru, in Mexico, she was infinitely cruel, and she
is the same to-day. She loves to torture, to imprison, to degrade,
to kill. Her idea of perfect happiness is to shed blood. Spain
is a legacy of the Dark Ages. She belongs to the den, the cave
period. She has no business to exist. She is a blot, a stain on
the map of the world. Of course there are some good Spaniards,
but they are not in control.
I want Cuba to be free. I want Spain driven from the Western World.
She has already starved five hundred thousand Cubans--poor, helpless
non-combatants. Among the helpless she is like a hyena--a tiger
among lambs. This country ought to stop this gigantic crime. We
should do this in the name of humanity--for the sake of the starving,
the dying.
_Question_. Do you think we are going to have war with Spain?
_Answer_. I do not think there will be war. Unless Spain is
insane, she will not attack the United States. She is bankrupt.
No nation will assist her. A civilized nation would be ashamed to
take her hand, to be her friend. She has not the power to put down
the rebellion in Cuba. How then can she hope to conquer this
country? She is full of brag and bluster. Of course she will play
her hand for all it is worth, so far as talk goes. She will double
her fists and make motions. She will assume the attitude of war,
but she will never fight. Should she commence hostilities, the
war would be short. She would lose her navy. The little commerce
she has would be driven from the sea. She would drink to the dregs
the cup of humiliation and disgrace. I do not believe that Spain
is insane enough to fire upon our flag. I know that there is
nothing too mean, too cruel for her to do, but still she must have
sense enough to try and save her own life. No, I think there will
be no war, but I believe that Cuba will be free. My opinion is
that the Maine was blown up from the outside--blown up by Spanish
officers, and I think the report of the Board will be to that
effect. Such a crime ought to redden even the cheeks of Spain.
As soon as this fact is known, other nations will regard Spain with
hatred and horror. If the Maine was destroyed by Spain we will
ask for indemnity. The people insist that the account be settled
and at once. Possibly we may attack Spain. There is the only
danger of war. We must avenge that crime. The destruction of two
hundred and fifty-nine Americans must be avenged. Free Cuba must
be their monument. I hope for the sake of human nature that the
Spanish did not destroy the Maine. I hope it was the result of an
accident. I hope there is to be no war, but Spain must be driven
from the New World.
_Question_. What about Zola's trial and conviction?
_Answer_. It was one of the most infamous trials in the history
of the world. Zola is a great man, a genius, the best man in
France. His trial was a travesty on justice. The judge acted like
a bandit. The proceedings were a disgrace to human nature. The
jurors must have been ignorant beasts. The French have disgraced
themselves. Long live Zola.
_Question_. Having expressed yourself less upon the subject of
Theosophy than upon other religious beliefs, and as Theosophy denies
the existence of a God as worshiped by Christianity, what is your
idea of the creed?
_Answer_. Insanity. I think it is a mild form of delusion and
illusion; vague, misty, obscure, half dream, mixed with other
mistakes and fragments of facts--a little philosophy, absurdity--
a few impossibilities--some improbabilities--some accounts of events
that never happened--some prophecies that will not come to pass--
a structure without foundation. But the Theosophists are good
people; kind and honest. Theosophy is based on the supernatural
and is just as absurd as the orthodox creeds.
--_The Courier-Journal_, Louisville, Ky., February, 1898.