National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-04
THE CUBAN QUESTION

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THE CUBAN QUESTION:
Since the adjournment of Congress the
newspapers of the country have been en-
gagged in discussing the Cuban question,
and the result has been the development Of
a popular sympathy in behalf of the insur-
gents which has existed for years, but
which now finds expression in most forci.
bic language. The six years of revolution
on the Island, Of struggle against superior
strength, and Of battle for independence,
has been watched by the American people
with anxiety and heartfelt hopes that the
patriots will finally succeed. At the same
time the patriots themselves have been
anxiously looking TO our people for aid, and,
relying upon our generous impulses, have
expected that we would extend to them an
earnest indication Of our friendship. Unfor-
tunstely for them, however, the policy of
the Government, influenced by peculiar sur
roundings, and by the emergencies of COM
plications which are well understood, has
been averse to q direct recognition Of their
existence as an independent power. The
efforts made by the friends of Cuba to OBJ
tain this recognition have ever been met
with cordial response, and If the patriots
had at any time been able to show that
they held possession Of single seaport, no
true American would have hesitated q mo-
ment TO accord every reasonable demand
made by them. But that the question has
been revived, and in view of the fact that the
instruction has been maintained with vigor
for six long and weary years, a feeling is
asserting itself that, notwithstanding the
arbitrary and technical requirements of
diplomatic usage, it is due to the dignity of
the foremost republic Of the world that
they should receive some definite and posi-
tive recognition at our hands. For exam
pie, the Chicago Inter Ocean, the leading
Republican journal Of the Northwest, ar
CUES the case as follows:
"For nearly six years Cuba has now been
the scene Of bloodshed, misery and ruin. There
can hardly be more than one opinion concern
ing those who are doing the fighting on the
patriot side, and that is that they are about as
plucky and indomitable a little band as ever
struggled on year after year against almost
overwhelming dlscouragements. Several fights
have recently taken place between the opposing
forces, and though, like all which thus far
have been chrOnicled, they were little more
than skirmishes, the moral and actual victory
remained with the insurgents. The result has
been to stimulate still more the revolutionary
spirit, even in some portions of the island hith-
erto unaffected by it, and the prospects of re-
establishing Spain's supremacy seem further
distant at present than they were when the
Cubans first declared their independence.
"Row long is this bootless struggle to con-
tinue? Cuba occupies toward Spain to-day
precisely the position which the American col
onies occupied in the last century toward Great
Britain. In fact, the misrule in the Antilles
has been infinitely worse than the worst Anglo
Saxon misrule ever known. The island has
been used by Spain simply as a gold mine. So
far as those toiling in 1t are concerned, she has
displayed an indifference similar TO that which
resulted In the destruction Of her West India
population three centuries ago. The Cubans
have been taxed without representation, shot
down if they demonstrated, and Knocked by
acts Of the Cortes, granting relief which 1t was
never intended to afford them, but which for
time served in some degree to throw dust in
the eyes Of Europe. Such has been the history
of Cuba up to this date. There is a strong
feeling for the patriots in this country, and al
though our Government has heretofore deemed
1t undesirable to interfere, there must be
limit to this forbearauce. Indeed, Secretary
Fish's letter to Mr.. Sickles (Oct. go, 1922
clearly indicated that such contingency might
arise. Believing that the present Ministry
writes Mr. Fish, lis In q sufficiently confirmed
position of power to carry out the measures
which 1t announces and the reforms which have
been promised, and not doubling the sincerity
Of the assurances given, the United States look
confidently to those hopes, which have been
encouraged by repeated promises, that all
causes for arrangement or for the interruption
Of those friendly feelings which are traditional,
as they are sincere, on the part of this Govern
ment toward Spain, will be speedily and for
ever removed The measures and reforms
alluded to in the dispatch of Oct. 20, 1879, re-
fer, Of course, to the abolition Of slavery and
the pacifcation of the colony by the Madrid
authorities.
considering that Spain has neither abOl-
ished slavery nor paciied Cuba, many people
naturally begin to think that the period WHEEL
forbearance ceased TO be virtue has come,
and that our Government should at least recoF
nize the patriots as entitled to belligerenl
rights. But as there appears to be difference
Of opinion on the subject, and the Washington
Cablnet-Perhaps wisely for American inter-
ests-ShoWs no disposition (for the present at
least) to adopt such q course, It might be ad-
Visable to try active mediation between Spain
and Cuba. There is no reason why the quarrel
between the mother country and the colony
could not be apicably arranged, and with the
same ease as our own Alabama difficulties
were settled with Great Britain. Washington
might be substituted for Geneva, and some dis
tinguished American jurist could readily be
found to preside over a court Of arbitration
in which both parties are represented by counsel.
Many Cubans, it is true, are disposed at this
moment to declare that the time has quite gone
by for compromise, but we doubt this state
meut. Cuba and Spain have been united for