The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-21
Our Duty to Cuba; Let 1t Be Per-
formed.


the senate committee on foreign affairs
in deciding to report to the senate, for
its consideration after the holidays, a
resolution recognizing the independence
of the republic of Cuba, and pledgins
the friendly offices of the United States
government with the government of
Spain to bring the war between Spain
and Cuba to a close, it becomes proper
to consider, as far as we can, the prob
able consequences of the adoption or
such a resolution. The intimation of
Secretary Olney that the president
would ignore such a resolution If passed
involves a separate subject of inquiry
which will for the present he waived.
In the first place, we should lose the
right to claim damages from Spain for
subsequent losses to American property
in Cuba. But it is plausibly argued
that there is small prospect of secur-
ing any damages now, while II as
result of our recognition and moral aid
the Cubans should win. We might In
course of time reasonably expect re-
Enumeration from them. Spain would
still he liable for losses sustained by
our citizens uo to the moment of such
recognition. Secondly, Spain would
gain the right to search our vessels for
cOntraband of war; and in the exercise
of this right might easily provoke war.
on the other hand Cuba, on the strength
of our recognition, would gain official
representation at Washington, and
could in all probability float war loan,
buy and openly ship munitions of war,
and possibly secure war ships with
which to prey on Spain's commerce.
The third consequence most discussed
Is the possibility of an ebullition of
Spanish temper which would directly
lead to war. This is freely predicted
on all sides. But let us ask ourselves
the question whether it is cOnsonant
with the dignity and the manhood of
the first nation in the Western hemis-
phere to be stopped from the perform
ance of a moral duty by the charac-
teristic irritability of decadent and
notoriOusly disreputable foreign power.
We claim that the result of our action
in this matter, so far as Spain is con-
cerned Is not for us to consider, so
long as we offer to Spain no interna-
tional indignity and keep fully within
the scope of our treaty obligations.
The recognition of Cuba Is not casus
belli. If war should come because of
ii. it could only come through Spanish
h,t of
we believe that it would be in the in
terest of higher civilization to have
the sovereignty of Spain forever elm |
mated from this hemisphere.
The only point fairly open to honest |
difference of opinion is whether the Gu |
bans have yet progressed sufficiently |
far toward the establishment of a re-
publican form of government to war
rant it's formal recognition by the Uni
ted States Upon this point we have |
the negative assertion of the president |
and secretary of state opposed to the |
affirmative voice of every member of
the senate committee on foreign af-
fairs. There Is no fact before Messrs.
Cleveland and Olney which has not also
received full and careful consideration
by the members of the senate commit
tee. On the other hand, the senators
cite numerous prece dents to show that
the United States has from time to
time acknowledged the independence of
South American republics on less sub
stantial grounds than now appear in
Cuba behalf. If this be trlie-and the
probability is that neither President
Cleveland nor Secretary Olncy has paid
much attention to the precedents-it
certainly seems reasonable to expect
that this republic. which owes its own
life to the recognition and help of dis
tant France. Droifercd ut a time when
we had, as sign of civil government.
only continental congress resting for
its authority upon the voluntary con-
sent of the constituent Thirteen Colon
les, will be willing, i'm behalf Of justice.
to deal as generously with little Cuba
lying in bondage at its very door.
There is reason for early action in
this matter, and it Is authOritatively
supplied in the presidents own state
ment that an additional year of strug-
gle in Cuba would probably ruin that
beautiful island for all time to come.
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