St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-22
MAY FORCE US TO ACT.
zero.

While we have even less desire for
war on it's own account with Spain
than with Great Britain, circumstances
are so shaping themselves that the
active Intervention of the United
States in the matter of Cuba is not an
tmpossibilfty. Our relation to the trou-
bles In that unhappy island will pres
emily become. practically the same as
that of England to the wretched Ar
menians. Without any direct response
bility, it may rest with us whether or
not a series of inhuman atrocities shall
be continued Indefinitely. We in COM
mon with the rest Of, the world, believe
that England has brought upon herself
an indeIible disgrace by refusing to
Jeopardize financial and other mate
rial interests in order to put a check
to the Armenian outrages We have
held, as every people ought to hold,
that the call Of humanity rises supe-
rior to parties and policies Just as a
man who is worthy Of the name rushes
to the rescue when he hears a cry of
thought of the possible consequences
to himself, so must a nation that sees
a whole people subjected by stronger
power to cruel torture, and threatened
with determination because of it's inno-
cence and he1plessness, either come to
its support or prove itself unworthy to
exist.
This condition is approaching rapidly
in the case Of the Cuban instruction.
JAS long as Gen. Campos was in charge
Of the Spanish forces, and observed the
rules of civilized warfare, there was
nothing for us to do, however keen
our sympathies, but to maintain the
attitude of neutrality. Gen. Weyler's
reputation and the proclamations
(which he has issued threaten to put
td1fferent. face upon affairs. He has
the repute Of butcher, and the in
lstruetions that he has given to his
ESubordinates and the threats that he
has leveled against the Cuban patriots
indicate that he intends to deal with
the insurgents as If they were mere
bandits. 1t may as we'll be under
STOOD first as last that this is some
thing which the United States will not
tolerate. The interest which we have
in political developments upon this con-
tinent and the islands adjacent to it
iss joined to our common humanity to
Jleclare that no such crimes can be
committed at our doors and in our
sight without provoking not only re-
monstrance, but intervention. We want
no war with Spain. We have no wish.
to abandon the position of strict neu-
frality. But we would be unworthy
to maintain our own freedom. or to
boast of either enlightenment or ordf
nary manhood, if we sat quietly down
while a whole people were being ex-
terminated by blood-thirsty foe, for
no greater crime than the demand for
a voice in the administration Of their
own affairs. -7sess
The debates in congress are verging
clearly to this point, and for once
those debates express the sentiments
and wishes of the people. It is not
for us to interfere impertinently in the
relations of Spain and her colony by
requesting her to recognize the patri-
OTIS as belligerents, or to grant to them
local autonomy. That is none Of our
business. There are two things which
it is right and proper for us to do if
we wish. The first step is the acknow1-
edgment by the United States Of the
Cuban insurgents as q belligerent par
ty. Whether OF net this would be
.serviceable to them is very NUN open
to doubt. The other thing that we
can do and will do, if Weyler marks
ibis course across the island with a
trail of blood, is to declare peremp-
toriiy that this kind OF work must
cease.
We are not after grants of terri
tory, or the extension of our bound
aries. We have right to say, as
great, progressive and humane people.
Nominating the life Of the Western