Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-02-06
TWO KINDS OF REBELS.

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thing for the United States Sen
ate to include in any resolution
that it may pass on the Cuban
question a request that Spair
should agree to exchange prise
ners with the so-called rebels. ;
This is a subject upon which oul
government would better keep
mum" for it cannot be supposed
that the Spaniards are Ignorant
of the fact that for twelve
months or more, and this at the
very crisis Of affairs, the United
States refused to exchange pris-
oners with the Confederates.
People who live in glass houses
should not throw stones. A mas
tion that compassed the death OF
thousands of prisoners by violat-
ing the cartel and refusing to
continue exchanges, as it had
agreed to do, should not go out
Of it's way to preach to Spain her
duties with respect to the ameni-
ties of civilized warfare.
Not only did Mr.. Lincoln and
General GRAFT compel US TO keep
their prisoners when we hadn't
the food with which to feed
them, but they delayed for three
months to send for their priso-
ners after we had informed them
that we would release them
without demanding man for man.
Furthermore, Lincoln and Grant
declared that medicines for the
sick and wounded Confederates
were contraband of war and
could not come into our terri-
tory.
Considering how harsh was
the treatment Of US by the Fed
eral Government, we are graft
fled and amazed at the tenderness
exhibited toward the Cuban
rebels. It makes the position of
the United States Govern
ment very inconsistent one;
still we must say that it is in the
right now, and we trust that it
will do all that it can to obtain
for the Cuban rebels those priv
ileges, connected with the ex-
change Of prisoners and care CT
sick and wounded which it de-
MED to the Confederates.
Furthermore, we wish to see
our government acknowledge
the belligerency of the Cuban
rebels as soon as it may be done
with propriety. We believe that
the most that stands in the way
of this action is the alleged fact
that the rebels have not been
able to establish a capital and
maintain a stable government.
Well, as to the government. that
of the rebels has been almost as
stable as that of the royalists in
Cuba, and as for capital, why
the rebels hope soon to take pos
session of Havana-the rightful
capital of the Cuban people.
The Spanish Government is
head over heels in debt and has
little credit, and cannot continue
to hold Cuba at the price it is
now paying. The Pearl Of the
Antilles has come to possess
sion that costs more than it
comes too, Of course Spanish
national pride revolts at the
idea Of parting with Cuba, but
national pride will not float new
loans TO raise new armies to
be sacrificed in the swamps OF
Cuba.
Sooner or later Cuba will be
free. And it ought to be free.
By arms the Spanish colors
were planted upon that island
and by arms they will be re-
moved,
We who came in 20 national ex>
istence through rebellion cannot
bat sympathize with the Cuban
patriots who are now, waging
war upon their tyrant rulers.
We would have the United States
go as far as it may with propris
ETY. go to secure for the patriots
such terms as will lessen the Sc
verities of war; but we warn the
Washington authorities not to
''lay themselves open" as the
resolution reported from the
Senate committee would do-to
be reminded by Spain that Grant
and Lincoln cut short the ex-
change of prisoners at a time
when it meant death to thousands
of men.--Richmond Dispatch.