The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-26

The Senate debate. which eomm-ncei
last Thursday. upon tho resolution re-
ported from the Committee on foreien
Affairs. declaring that ia the opinion of
congress q state OF public VAT exists Ia
Cuba between the inslrrectionists and the
Spanish Government. in respect 10 which
N is the duty of the United States TO
maintain a strict neutrality etween the
contending parties--in other words, ac-
knowledeing the insurrecuonists as bel
ligoreuts-brought out some highly ihtor-
esting matter as the debate now appears
IL the Congressional Record.
.senator can. representing Florida, was,
OF course. an ardent advocate Of the
adoption of the resolution. and II must
be confessed that The material he con-
trsbutcd 10 the discussion has "A powerful
tendency TO excite out sympathies to-
wards the side of the Cubans. however
much their course seems 90 partake OF
ser,ile insurrectiou. and however much
they have plotted it By their foul pro-
cedure in its conduct.
In 1854 Richard Henry Dana visited
cuba and published an account Of his
visit in which he described the Spanish
Government OF The island as IAN armed
monarchy enoamped IN the midst OF
disarmed and disqualified people-an UNI
mixed dospotism OF one nation over an
other"
In 1885 our Consul-General at Havana
made the following report 10 our State
Department.
'There is a system Of oppression and
torture which enters into every phase OF
life eats into the soul of every Cuban.
honr "iSmS'pAershes HIM ana his family
from day 10 day. threatens the rich man
with bankruptcy ana the poor man VIVA
beggary. The eXactions Of the Spanish
Government and the Illegal outrases or
It's officers are. in fact intolerabie. They
have reduced the island 10 des9ondency
and ruin. the Government at
Madrid is directly answerable for the
misery OF Cuba and for the rapaclty and
Ncnalify of its subordinates.
No well-inIOrmed Spaniard imaglnes that
Cuba VIII long continue TO submit 10 ms
tyranny or, at least, that she VIII long
be able 10 yield this harvest to her up-
pressofs. Spain cares nothing Whatever
for the interests. the prosperity, or the
sufferings OF her COLONY. The Government
does almost nothing 10 amcllorate any
OF the evils OF the country. The police
are everywhere insufficient and ineihcieut
The roads are no roads AT all Every Inc
terest which might enrich ana improve
the island Is looked upon by the officials
az one more mine 10 exploit
Cuba Is he'll solely Tor tnt utItUt OF SPAN
and Spanish interests, Tor the sake or
Spanish aIVeuturers. AGAINST this all
rebel IN thought and feeling, lf not YET
In fact and deed. Iney WISH
protection from the grasping rapaciiy of
Spain, and see no way 10 attain u except
by our aid
These are specimens of what the debate
brought out in respect 10 the Spanish
ydle OF cuba.
There Is, OF course. strict Spanish
censorship o. the press on the island. and
we get very nttlc news that has not had
Spanish coloriug given TO IL. ana that may
explain how tho Instruction seems TO
have taken possession OF almost all tho
island except the fortified cities. although
the newspaper accounts invariably repre-
sent the insurgents as receiving a total
overthrow when an engagement fakes
place senator Call produced tho recent
reports OF our Consul TO the State Depart
meni. which put very different aspect
upon this view Of the case. In May, 1895.
soon after the instruction broke out. he
tells us in a battle on April 18th tie Coy
eminent troops were badly defeated; on
MAY lst a drawn battle was fought. and
during he first week OF May 100 young
men many belonging 20 the best families
OF the place. left Santiago TO Join The
insufgCnls.
His neNt dispatch May iltm states that
friends OF tnc Instruction claim that IL
was already a. far advanced at the END
OF three months as they were al the end
Of three years ia the former one. They
:hen claimed 20 have 1000 men under
arms IN the nroyincc Of Santiago. aid 60
have 400 more doing effective work.
On May 18th he writes that iCc men were
SAID TO have LETT holquin IN body 10
take W arms against the Government.
TAls dispatch continues thus.
"ferhays the most sanguinary battle
that has taken place W 10 the present
time occurred Oh the 18th and 18th instant
hear Guantanamo. The spanish egthOrl-
ties claim that with 800 men they put to
sout the enemy. 300 strong, innictng
severe loss on The rebels.
Tho rebels claim that there "cre over
200 Sp&riards engaged ia the first DAYS
hattie, and that they punished them SEE
aereiy. driving Them into IRE town an~
iaficflng > IOss of over 90 IN Killed ard
xounded. including among ,Ae killed ;he
s commander. Colonel BCscs. ana several
other officers, while tho., own loss WAS
tfnxienihcant: but finding thu. on the sec
ono day the Government forces had been
strengthened. they thought II prudent 10
retire.
All Of this Is produced. Of course. 10