The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-11
BRITISH COMMENT.
How London Editors View the Latest
Phase of the Cuban Question.

How London Editors View the Latest
Phase of the Cuban Question.
LONDON, May 10.-The Daily News says
in an editorial regarding the case Of the
Competitor captives at Havana: THE
serious news from Cuba places the Spanish
government between two fires. 1t is diff
cult TO see how either side can recede. If
the Spanish government sacrifices General
Weyler 1t will probably have to sacrifice its
own life. Public opinion in Madrid Is hardly
we'll informed enough to profit by the Vir-
ginius case in 1873. The Spaniards ought to
distrust their own natural ferocity in cases
of this SORT The butchery of the men of
the Virginius which many OF them ep-
plauded at the time as fine and spirite
act. was received with horror and execra-
ton throughout the world"
The Standard has an editorial commenting
upon the sentences to death of the men cap
tured on board the Competitor. which says:
THE situation is undoubtedly grave, but dis
pute involves a direct issue of fact. or at the
utmost a conflicting Interpretation of inter-
national law, which may furnish a means
of escape from a position Of extreme diff
Guilty. The opinion seems to prevail that the
sentence Of the British subject CWilliam Gill
deal will be committed in recognition Of
Great Britain's friendly attitude. But this
Will be impossible, as the exercises OF mercy
in one instance would render denial in
the others more invidious. The position of
the Spanish government must attract gem
eral sympathy 1t has choice of evils, but
it cannot be doubted which it will choose,
provided it is possible TO avoid hostilities
consistently with the Spanish conception Of
national dignity, and II the Washington gov
eminent is in earnest, which Is always un.
certain on the eve OF a presidential election.
The Chronicle says in an editorial: 1.-The
storm-cloud which has been so long hang
ing over the Spanish dominion in Cuba is
breaking at last. The significant words of
Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer viii have prepared our
readers for the alarming news. The real
cause of the dispute lies deeper than the
question Immediately at issue. Free Cuba
has long been the eager desire of large
body of American opinion. The present in
cident may or may not be tided over; but
it seems TO be the beginning of the end.
President Cleveland has an admirable OPP
portunity We will not regret If he has
bly, strike the Imagination of the electorate
as the emancipation OF Cuba. There cannot
be any doubt as to the merits
of the case. We. assume that there
is obvious to all that the Spanish
rule in Cuba is inapt and abominable.
Its rulers have learned nothing from prog
ress, and less than nothing from disaster.
Their cup is full, and. unless some marvel
intervenes to save them again from their
own folly, Ii seems inevitable that the end
win come, soon" After picturing the prob
might even, it thinks, eventually ask to be
Incorporated into the United States in order
to ward off English competition, the Chron-
Washington presses this thing Spain is pow
erless. War is ugly thing at the best.
and we should be the last to invoke it. But
an American ultimatum in the present case
would not be the beginning of a war, but
would be the end of an interminable guer-
rilla fight"