Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
It Neither Gained Nor Lost by the
Senate Resolutions.
SPAIN'S ANSWER Can NOW Be WRITTEN
No Likelihood Of Acquiescing in
Either Proposition.
SHE HAS TIE ADVANTAGE

The cause Of Cuba gains nothing by the
action of the Senate committee on foreign
relations. But 1t loses nothing. The Star
On Monday quoted an American gentle
man who was just from Havana to the
effect that the insurgent leaders had abat-
ed much Of their expectation of assistance
from this government, and were governing
themselves accordingly. The Senate conf
mittee's action therefore will not affect
the Cuban leaders as surprise. The
necessity Of going it alone will simply be
confirmed to them, and, so confirmed, will
develop to the fall all of their restricted
resources and intensity their courage.
Spnin's Probable Answer.
The friends of Cuba suggest that Spain's
answer to both the majority and the
minority propositions of the Senate commit
tee can now be written. The majority
proposition is that Spain recognize the
bellfgerency of the insurgents and accord
them corresponding treatment. Spain has
just passed upon that point by recalling
Gen. Campos. her own soldier, who pro-
posed something on that line, and appoint
ing in his place Gen. Weyler, who is under
stood to be a man of fiercer nature. Cam
pos went to Cuba with instructions to
administer heroic treatment to those in
arms against the Spanish rule. After an
investigation of the situation he refused to
carry out such policy. and even used all
of his influence with the home government
in an effort to induce a change of policy.
But the Madrid politicians were deaf to
him. They tried to bully him into obedi-
ence, and failing in that they stripped him
of his Office and ordered him home. Gen.
Weyler is understood to be in sympathy
with the Madrid junta. Will he he able
to make the work bloody enough? He
will If he has a stomach for it, and at the
same time be able to hide the bulk of his
operations. With rigid press censorship
in force on the island-and such procedure
can be made very rigid-how are the real
facts about what may be going on to be
obtained? Could not the roll of victims in
Cuba be made as difficult Of verification as
that Of victims in Armenia? Could not
slaughter proceed and be denied and con-
cealed in the one case as it has proceeded
and been denied and partly concealed in
the other?
Will Refuse Independence.
AS for the second proposition, that Spain
release her hold on Cuba ard allow the es-
tablishment of sovereignty there, 1t is SO
intimately associated with mere business
considerations. and so unlikely of accept
ance, 1t seems strange that it should have
been brought forward. Spain talks senti-
lines. 1t is a rich province, worth holding.
Spain values 1t highly. as is evidenced by
the large amount Of money she has eX-
pended at one time or another to maintain
USF tneTe. one mas invested mill
lions in the past. and is Investing millions
row, to keep her yoke riveaed on the
island. The talk of independence is based
upon the proposition that the people of
Cuba not only desire Independence, but are
worthy Of it, and that this war IS the legit-
innate expression of that desire. Spain
speers at this. She insists that Gomez and
Maceo are only cutthroats, and are leading
cutthroats; that the representative people
of Cuba do not desire separation from the
mother country, and are not helping along
the present revolt. Cuba, therefore, in her
eyes, is a rich plantation. where the
hands have rebelled against the mistress
and the overseer, and where heroic meas
uIeS are the only ones worthy Of applca-
ton. A parley would dignity the rascals,
and talk Of handing over the property to
them is an insult. This, in substance has
been the deliverance in the past, and there
seems to be no reason to suppose that she
will change her tone now.
The Advantage With Spain.
If the House has nothing more effective
to propose on the subject, the insurgents,
1t is plain, will find it very difficult to win.
The advantages are all with Spain--money,
men, communication with the outside
world. The friends Of Cuba in this country
stand with their hands tied. There are
money and sympathy both here, but in a
large measure powerless. Nothing can be
done except at great risk and under thick
cover, and this leads to the embarkirg Of
men and treasure on rotten ships and to
diSaSte