The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-07

| OF october, 91U0 IN November, anu l2,Uuu II
December They have now 20, 900 well armet
men. There are 10000 enrolled and drilled
but without arms, and they claim that with :
supply of arms they can put into the felt
100000 fighting men-citizens, farmers ant
emancipated bIacks-men Of the country fight
| ing for its liberties These hostile forces have
not forgotten the objects for which they were
organized. From the declaration of Cuban in
dependence at Yara to this hour there has moi
been week, scarcely a day, which has moi
been marked In the calendar of war by fierce
a more constant and determined struggle.
Although the Cubans were undisciplined and
unaccustomed to the use Of arms, Of which In
the beginning they had few or none, and their
enemy was composed of the best troops Of the
army and navy Of Spain, whose places In the
military posts of the island had been supplied
by the resident Spaniards organized as vollln-
ready to meet their foes In skirmish, combat
or battle, and have shown themselves as brave
in attack as defence. A record of nearly all
raids, skIrmishes, combats and engagements
and battles occurring from the ilth of October,
1858, to the defeat Of Pueblo and Goyeneche,
which terminated the campaign of December,
1869, and January, 1870, give an honorable dis
pendence that would In no wise discredit q
people long accustomed to self-government
and trained to the use Of arms.
The report then gives review of the inhu-
man course Of the Spanards toward the insur-
gents, and after elaborate comments on the
character of the struggle as civil war, and
the duty Of nations to belligerents, claims
that proclamation of strict neutrality on the
part of this government is demanded, aud
asks:
What objections can Spain make tp procla-
nation of neutrality in the case Of Cuba iden-
tical with her own prompt decision and
friendly action" in the case OF the United
States! What objection can the European ma
tions, who instantly proclaimed their neutrali-
ty in the civil war In this country, urge against
the neutrality Of the United States in the
war between Spain and Cuba, after
the unparalleled atrocities of eighteen
of American citizens and repeated insults to
our consular and commercial agents Great
Britain declared her purpose In regard to the
American rebellion In the House of Commons,
the 9Th ofMay, 1861, twenty-three days after the
attack on Fort Sumter, and before a single life
had been sacrificed or drop of blood had been
shed, except in the conflict between soldiers
and citizens in Baltimore on the 10Th OF April,
1861. Spain issued her proclamation OF neu-
trality, describing the contestants as belliger-
ents, the 18th day ofJune, slxty-fve days after
the fall of Fort Sumter, and before single
life had been sacrificed, except at Baltimore.
What objection can Spain make TO declara-
ton Of neutrality on the part Of the United
States in the Cuban contest after bloody and
brutal civil war of year and half p
The committee distinctly defines Its position
as follows:
We ask only that in the armed contest In
Cuba, the existence Of which 1t would be O
crime to question, the neutrality OF the. United
States shall be proclaimed and enforced. We
ask for Cuba nothing but justice.that Justice
mankind. 1t Is q msconceptlon Of fact to as
sumo that by q declaration OF neutrality we
grant belligerent rights to the Cubans. They
have an inalIenable and natural right, admit
ted of all men, to fight against oppression Tor
the liberty OF their race. 1t would be inhuman
for us to strengthen the hand OF the oppressor.
II we cannot espouse the cause OF liberty, we
ought at least to stand neutral. When we
recognize that q contest exists, the law OF ma
tions-the enlightened code of The civilized
worN-defines the rights and applies the law
of belligerents. It localizes the war, restrains
the power OF the conqueror, protects the van
oulshed, and substitutes for the rapine and
murder OF barbarous ages the restraints Wnlch
nre now everywhere enforced by Chrlstiad ma
tiOns.
1t is likely that the report will be amended
In some Of Its particulars before being sub
mltted to the House, it having been prepared
by General Banks in April last, prior to the
occurrence of events of considerable impor-
tance. No recommendation is made regard
ing the murdered Americans, Wyatt and
Speakman, although 1t denounces In strong
terms the cruelty and cowardce which caused
their deaths, and it is considered probable thai
resolution will be reported authorizing and
instructing the Executive to demand prompt
indemnity from the Spanish Government.