Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-01-11
THE USETED Es AND

Tile rtr4or THAT we, arc on the eve of a
war With Srain growing out Of the Cuban
complications, is steadily gaining ground,
aitiEueh there has. been no official coDfr-
NATION of7the reports. Indeed the only
information we have on the subject from
an official source, is in the shape of a de-
NAL bytLe heads Of the Departments at
Washington OF any serious trouble with
spain being Imminent. Notwithstanding
al this, Che actitity recently displayed in
the Navy and War Departments, in fttirg
out war vessels and in calling for reports
sstothe cenditionz Of iour coast defeEces
has excited the suspicious of leading news
paper men throughout the country that
tie war cloud % long gathering in the
Sosth-east, is about to burst upon us.
Whatever course the Administration
MAJ see proper to pursue in the premises
it is high time some steps were taken to
check the growing insolence of the Spani-
ards and in the name of humanity to put
aAstop TO tie fearful outrages that are be-
ing committed in Cuba. That unhappy
Island has been for the past two yearsthe
theater of operations that for cold -blooded
a~trocity have never been surpassed in any
age or country. The history of these out
RACES rccounted from time to time has
shocked the civilized world and it has been
. matter of surprise among men of all
shades of political opinion in this country
that the United States have not taken
some action toward suppressing them.
The excuse has heretofore been that the
rebellion had not assumed such proper
lions as would cntitlc it to notice at the
hands of the nation. However this may
be, one thing is certain it has shown it
self to possess sufficient strength to battle
and defy the whole power of Spain to put
it down for two years, and they seem no
nearer to the accomplishment of their pur-
pose now than when it commenced. 1t has
also been claimed that Spain is not direct
ly responsible for many of the outrages
committed. That they were done by the
Cuban volunteers without the sanction of
the Spanish Government. Admitting for
the sake of argument that this is true,
which it really is not, it is only another
proof of SPANS weakness and inability to
govern either element of the population
that ~iconiposcs that Province. Meanwhile
our commercial interests suffer by the
continuation of the struggle. Our citizens
residing on the Island are daily outraged
and insulted, our merchant vessels arc
boarded and searched by Spanish Men of
War, and the most cruel atrocities and IN
called for acts are committed, that ever
disgraced the history of a nation. While
aud patriotism of the Administration. is
il not time that this Government while
showing a commendable anxiety to avoid
giving offence to other nations b. observ-
ing a strict neutrality, should assert it's
own dignity, and show its ability and will
TO protect its own citizens if it
goes no farther? The people of this
are getting restless under the
prolonged silence of the Government with
reference to this matter, and in our opin-
ion tho Administration will gain ground
by acting promptly. instead of treating it
with a silent contempt which the gravity
u the case by no means justi6es.