The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-01-08
SYMPATHY FOR CUBA
INTEREST IN THE REsELLIoN BY The
ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS.
a May Be Necessary For This Govern
ment to Change Its Policy The Span
iards Have Made q had stsrt-Question
Of BeIiigerent Rights.

dependence exists here without regard 10
political party " y siso true that the be-
lief IN tine success of that movement ~
gaining ground. | happen TO know that
In the state department, where two months
ago II was thought the government would
be able TO put Gown the rebellion speedily,
there Is now a contrary view. The Span
ish minister here, Senior de LONE, has for
several months made the greatest efforts 60
convince President Cleveland and Score
tary OiDey that the government would
suppress the Instruction In short order
after tho rainy season was over. II is true.
rs know, that on Senior de Lome's plead
Ing that during the wet season his govern
ment had had no chance to carry on mill
tary operations, and on his assurance that
just as soon as the state of the country
permitted aggressive campaigning the rev
olution would be brought to an end, the
president decided not to interfere In any
way al this time. 1t was felt to be no more
than just that Spain should have fair
chance TO demonstrate her ability to rule
the islands and 10 secure order and protect
property. AT the same time an intimation
was given the Spanish minister that I'M
less his government carried out its promise
TO suppress the revolution during the win
ter II might be necessary for this govern
ment TO change its policy. | have reasons
for believing that Senior de LONE under
stands very well that IL the winter passes
without pretty complete success Of the
Spanish arms the United States will inter
vene. also have reasons for saying that
this is perfectly understood In Madrid and
also by General Martinez Campos I'm Ha
vana.
Cuba's Chances
All through the summer the Spanish
government was busy making elaborate
preparations for stamping out the revolt.
Re-enforcemcnts Of troops were sent across
the Atlantic in great numbers. The
Spanish feet In Cuban waters was In
creased. Ammunition and field guns
were sent forward in vast quantities.
We were told that after the rains ceased
and active campaigning became possible
the Cubans would be driven to corner
The fleets were TO patrol the coast and
render the landing of expeditions aud am
intuition for the insurgents impossible
1Ie Zen erH, y ~. - -. -
the eastern end of the island and there de-
stroyed. or they were TO be forced TO seek
refuge in the mountains. All this was
promised President Cleveland and Secre-
Six weeks have now passed since the
state Of the weather permitted the Spanish
troops 70 assume the offensive, and what
has occurred meanwhileg Instead OF the
insurgents being driven to the mountains
and TO the eastern end of the island they
have made steady advances to the west
ward They have themselves assumed the
offensive and have actually approached to
within 100 miles of the Cuban capital
They have seized number of important
towns and had IL In their power about two
weeks ago to make an attack upon Havana.
Serious Matter.
II is my good fortune to be familiar
with the view of the matter taken In high
official circles and this is that the Span
iards have made a very bad start with
their winter campaign; that they have
shown lack of pluck and courage; that the
revolution Is apparently much more seri-
Gus than Senior de LONE has been willing
to admit; that the revolutionists have been
able to secure all the supplies and ammu-
milton their funds enabled them TO buy,
not a single important instance OF seizure
Of an expedition having come to the notice
Of the authorities here. One Of the most
serious aspects Of the case, considered from
Dur standpoint, Is that the insurgents
have now overrun fully one-half Of the
sland. They have destroyed crops and
plantations and paralyzed commerce.
They are not blamed for doing this, since
II is generally recognized that destruction
II the industries of the island is the most
Elective sort OF warfare they can carry on.
But the question that Is now demanding
attention here Is, How much longer Is the
United States to permit this warfare and
destruction TO continue without interior
ncef How much more time ought Spain
o have in which TO demonstrate either her
.bility 10 cope with the difficulty or her
liter failure as the ruling power In Cubas
Question of Belligerent Rights.
AS nearly as ! can ascertain the view
AIKEN in administration circles Is that
spain should be permitted TO 90 on for
ONE weeks longer. II by the first or
middle of March she has not made great
roadway with her task of suppressing the
evolution, l firmly believe President
,leveland will intervene Senior DE LONE
aid his government would crush the In
direction in three months. About one
alf OF that period has already elapsed,
nd the revolution has grown In size and
romise. IL Is the belief OF the president
hat II this goes on much longer 1t will be
Is duty, in the interests OF humanity, to
IKE some action looking TO n solution OF
be problem. The president is a fra De
ever in the theory that nations. particu-
lrly the strong ones, have some response
ility for the welfare OF peoples living he
ond their own borders. Action under
his responsibility should be cautiously
nd most deliberately taken, but there
ray soon come crisis In the affairs OF
'uba which will demand intervention by
bis government, just as the sad state OF
fairs In Armenia demanded Intervention
y the powers OF Europe.
In congress the strong sympathy with
uba has prompted number OF rcsolu-
IONS for recognition of the bclligerent
ghts Of the Cubans, but the president
oes not believe the time has come for such
elton. He prefers Intervention, probably
moral Intervention made with such firm
oss as TO foresindow stronger measures
hould these fail of their purpose. I am
cquaintcd with prominent Cubans here
rho indorse the view Of the president and
rho say that recognition of belligcrent
lights would do the cause OF Cuban indie
endence moro harm than good do not
hink congress will take any extreme ac-
Ion, but | do believe the president Will
make an important movement toward Sc
urlng peace ln Cuba within the ncxt 90
n 90 days WALTER NkllMAS.