Evening star., 1895-06-14
THE CASE OF CUBA|E DENCE ALL IN
What Some Think Would Be the Result of
Claim for Damages.
Spain Would Probably Accept a Prop
OsitiOn From This Government for
the Purchase of the Island.

The opinion is held in certain quarters
where the Cuban question has been care
fully considered, that nothing would SO
facilitate the cession of Cuba to the United
States as a claim for damages presented
by Spain to this government in the mat
ter of the present revolt.
The case. for the arguments sake is put
in extreme form 1t Is assumed that Spain,
after long siege, has re7established full
authority the island. The Cuban lead
ers have either been killed, captured CT
driven beyond seas. Their correspondence
and other indisputable Memoranda are in
the hands of the Spanish authorities. The
papers, under careful examination, show
conclusvely that very material assistance
was rendered to the Cuban cause by citi-
zens of the United States: that Cuban
leaders did use these shores as recruiting
ground and naval station that the neu-
trality laws were repeatedly and even flag
rantly violated Spain foots up her bill of
expenses, smarts under the 'demnition"
total, decides that the United States owes
her, and presents a claim. She asks for a
tribunal of arbitration and adjudication.
Such a court is appointed, the cases are
presented, Spain proves her claim and the
United States is mulcted in a stiff sum Of
money.
The Need for Cuba.
Here, then, according to the opinion ad-
vanced, would develop the necessity for
a definite move on the part of this govern
ment for the acquisition of Cuba. Over
lures would have to be made, and they
might be conveyed by Urcle Sam in some
such terms as these:
You can for yourself my Spanish
friend, how difficult the case is for both of
u.s. Cuba is very far from you and very
close to me. Size wants to join my family,
and many members of my family are
- lo,-o boz rr,;tk hos hnn
shown by the very correspondence you have
presented in your suit against me how in
innate the relations already are that bind
Cuba to my household. Many of her i'm
portant dealings are with US, and these
things make strong bcrd Come, now,
let's settle the matter amicably. You can
continue to hold her if you can do so, but
it is plain it will cost you another large
thing more. You have merely achieved a
temporary triumph on the island. You
have not crushed the spirit of independence
there, or what is the same thing, the de-
sire of the people there for union with
this country. You ought not to want to
make any further outlay of money in that
direction, and can assure you that dom t
intend to. We can settle the question on
take for Cuba? Name a reasonable sum,
and up will go the stars and stripes on the
island and all fear of further friction be-
tween US will disappear"
A Business View.
1t is of course the merest conjecture as to
what Spain would be likely to say to such
a proposition. But that it would appeal
strongly to a practical business view of
matters is firmly believed The talk that
Spain is holding on to Cuba because of
sentimental reasons-reasons relating to
former Spanish adventures ard conquests-
carries little weight in this country. What
ever Spain once was, it is plain enough
what she now is She is a decaying power.
Her days of adventure and conquest are
cver and she is much too poor to be in
dulging in expensive sentiment 1t is re-
garded as plain enough that if Cuba is to
continue to cost large sums of money In
the effort to keep her orderly and obedient
Spain must dispose of her IN some way, or
be forced to part with her without COM
pensation at all. The United States, for
every reason, could afford to pay more
than any other country, and therefore the
opinion follows that sooner or later Cuba
will become American territory.