New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-05
done. or to prevent any dangerous legislat'oh' a.
the extra session he proposes to call.
CTH4y FILIBCSTEEIN".

81 tho organization of Cuban fill
h,,a.or;n, exredtion have been in circulation
for several weeks. Key West Is the paSe Vi
operations and the force OF re'oiu''o"'''' on
has been recruited there is said " eAceeu 'V.
men. Probably the reports OF inc acu'i'' VI
the leaders. Marti and Aguela' nave oeen GA
aooerated and no campaign III the isiaho His
boon seriously contemplated. ouii' thc Gus
toms authorities in Key West have conSidereu
II NECESSARY +, be OH their guard against viola-
tion of neutrality laws. A revenue cutter j.
kent in readiness night and daS lof Vigorous
operations against any craft "hch may w
manned with fibusters. Ii IS also proDaoic
th,t tho Government will find it prudent 10
strenotbcn the revenue service there with
view TO pleycntng any invasion OF the lsianu
from American soil This is indeed its PLAIN
duty under treaty engagements ana ''''e'i''
,ional law The United States government Gun
do much for Cuba in the future, but II cannot
be expected to connive at fllbusterlns eApeu,-
lions organized on American territory. oucn
onerations arc opposed to American la" anu
treaty obligations.
The Cuban flibuster has always been q
picturesque figure, but never useful lrlehu u,
the island. Many expeditions were orsaniZeu
before the civil war for the dellverance OF 0"o''
from Spanish rule, but in no instance was evi-
dcnce afforded of cooperation when the HI
busters landed. Small detachmcnts OF armed
men succeeded more than once in raising the
standard of revolt on the island, but supporters
never rallied about them. Expeditions Ior
which elaborate preparations had been h'aoo
inevitably failed not so much from bad leaaeF.
shin a. from the Indifference and apathy OF
the Cuban population. The foolhardy NIL
busters were invariably either beaten back 10
their boats or surrounded, captured and shot
without mercy. The only serious attempt for
The liberation OF Cuba was the rat lot war when
the islanders undertook t. do for themselves
What ill-organizcd and hastily recruited lcvles
Of adyenturers from American ports had al
,yays failed TO do. Flibustcring is indeed a
lost art. II does not comport with the condI-
tons CT law and diplomacy in the nineteenth
century 1t is as much of an anThronsm as
buccancerng or slavc-raiding
While the United States Government cannot
lend any support to such campaigns as are
projected by the light hearted Cuban advent
urcrs in the coiTee-rooms Of Key West, it can
deal very strongly with all questions relating
IN tho future of the island. The commerce OF
the Spanish West Indies is now almost wholly
With American ports and is regulated by the
Reciprocity Convention. so long a that con-
vcnion remains in operation the Washington
Government has the power of promoting the
rr,sperity of the island. IL can protest against
the farming ont Of the revenues TO European
syndicatcs, and can successfully obstruct many
Of the schemes Of plumber which corrupt span
ish officials now have in mind. During Pr ST.
dent Clcveands first term he brought Spain
very quickly to terms by his proclamation IN
relation TO equality of flags. That was blow
which mcnaccd tho Spanish commercial marine
vi h ruin and filled the Government officials
in Havana with dread of a second revolution.
The same strong stand should be taken when
over there is the slightest disposition manifested
in Madrid or Havana TO override American in
tcre,ts grounded upon treaty law.
Filibustcrng expeditions will be rs unsuc-
cossful in the future dS they have failed in the
past The island cannot be emancipatcd by
piritical RAIDS which the American Government
liycrancc can only be accomplished by the
Cubans themselves uniting FIR Il common pur-
pose and for representation whenever they
find that their very lives are ground ont of
them by official rapacity and systematic viola
lions Of economic laws.