Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-12-17

procsaration OF Spanish detese may nos havs
been oflefaIly and definitely announced hut
IN truth and fact the submission OF Cuba wiz
never again be yielded - of old The tribute
Of IS 10000 70 sc. 000o01 annually, so long exc
acted, will never again replenish the treasury
Of Spain The struggles OF 1895 and 1926 may
sadly cripple Cuba. but they win ruin Spain
Cuba. with Us wonderful soil and climate and
its unparalleled capabilities, via regain In
material wealth and growth under benign fn-
huences far more than she has lost.
The blood OF her people spilled upon her soil
viii yield growth Of independent citizenship
consecrated TO liberty. This age is not an age
Of retrogression. The world OF to-day is not
welded TO barbarism IN order TO pe=petaate
tyranny or relieve tottering dynasties- What
ever may be said regarding our duty as g ma
ton toward q friendly power which is striving
to suppress an insurrection in Cuba, still no
one, either in America or Europe, misunder-
stands the situation Every humane
heart. American or foreign. sympathizes
deeply and sincerely, not with the rapine
and pillage by which the insurgents in Cuba
seek to weaken thei= enemies, but with the
spirit which leads them to look constantly
and with hope toward the star OF liberty
which they believe will lead them to Cuba
1ibre.
II repeat that Cuba is already lost to Spain.
Geographically Cuba is in American waters.
and politically it is entitled to statehood in the
continent Of American republics. This great
continental question. therefore. when stripped
OF all its complications becomes in plain
This country will never consent to the trans
formation Of Cuba into a slave pen for the
holding in Servitude OF the captured patriots
and insurgents who are fighting for the dearest
rights Of man I believe it TO be the duty OF
the United States to use the great power at
taching to the nation to declare and to main
tain, as a prerogative Of right. belonging
generally to republicanism, and specifically
to this republic, that no eharnaI house
OF ruin shall be continued in the West
Indian waters, whose waves break at
our very front gate any longer than the time
it shall require TO break 1t up. And IL tha
duty Of suppressing this daEzSing bios and
erasing it forever from sight shall fall alone
upon the United States, SO be Ii.
I'VE shall not wage any warfare for the &C.
QUESTION of territory for ourselves. We shah
not claim Cuba as a reward for saving her
from the slaughter, but we will not see that
fair island turned again to the mercies OF wild
beasts and vGltureS of war whose only stimv-
ius is gain. Cuba libre--free Cuba-fs the re-
ward, and what glorious reward will that pc.
"a settlement Is to be had. settlement must
be made. The account has been open and run
ming long enough-yeS, far too long. To Its
settlement we may properly invite the CO.
operation of all the republics OF the American
continent. But the end of the devastation
must be determined. The United States must
furnish the occasion, If 1t does not
OIASf"ISe arise. otner means Iali'
we may consider the propriety of a
fair purchase of Cuba. That method
| has had its share of consideration under pre-
vious administrations It is not that we want
the territory, but We mean that the trouble
shall meet just settlement and conclusion.
Let the end come, and come quickly. Let the
blOodshed cease and let freedom and humanity
be glorified. The wisdom and discre-
| ton OF an American president and cab
| met can certainly find a way to deter
| mine the trouble without imperiiling the in
| terestS OF our country or our people. I have
| little choice or preference to the particular
method, but do want and L know the public
| expects settlement on q humane and just
basis. The United States can do no less than
to initiate this effort for humanity and liberty