The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-26
sTATE on AFFA1Rs m CuBA.

Affairs in Cuba seem to be in a bad
plight. From the dispatches yesterday
it would appear that the insurgents are
not making the Roadway they were
two weeks ago. Horses which have
given them such an advantage over the
Spanish army, made up chiefly of in
fantry corps, are worn out, and the
men themselves are short Of provisions
and ammunition. To add to the gloom
that just now hangs over the insur-
gent cause, 1t is reported that General
Gomez is rapidly failing in health. It
is true that before now run1ors have
been rife that he was suffering from
wounds and seriously Ill of fever. This
report is now displaced by one more
tangible to the effect that the compli-
cation from which the commander-ir-
chief of the Cubans suffers is an adj
uanced stage Of consumption. aggra-
waited by fever, and the constant toll
and anxiety which his position forces
upon him
On the other side the situation seems
equally serious. The people from the
outlying districts are still aocking into
Havana. AS the refugees are chiefly
those who have lost all they possessed
they are dependent upon charity for
the means of support. The support of
the Spanish army has been a serious
drain upon the resources of Havana,
and vicinity; means of subsistence are
growing less daily; provisions are con
stanltly raising in prices, and under
these circumstances the Unlocking ref
ugees from the surrounding country
but add to the distress of the city, and
increase the perplexities Of the Span
ish authorities.
It IS said that the increase of crime
is enormous. Business is at a stand
still. the cane crops are destroyed and
commerce looked upon as thing Of
the past. Not even the coming of Cen
eral Weyler to take the place of the
more conservative Campos, gives en-
enlargement to those who favor the
cause. of Spain and look to the force
of her armies to restore order. In
stead of good coming through this
change in Spanish commanders, the
very great probability is that it viii
bring evil Weylers reputation for
cruelty will be more likely to madden
the Cubans than terrify them, and pro-
woke retaliation. If the future career
of the newly appointed commander is
at all to be judged by his course in
former instructions in Cuba, we shall
soon hear of atrocities in that unhappy
island that will be out of all keeping
with the civilization of the age.
If the government of the United
States intends at all to extend a sym
pathetic hand to struggling free men in
Cuba by recognizing them as belliger-
ents, it could not choose a more op-
perfume time than the present Re-
membrance Of the dark days of TIT for
the fathers of our own republic and
the well earned rights of the Cubans
to such recognition should combine to
induce the president and congress to
act Immediately. Besides, such recog-
milton would doubtless curb the natu-
raj ferocity of the new Spanish com
mander, and tend to mitigate the cruel
ties of war. Every consideration-our
natural sympathy with republics as
! against the provincial systems of mon
archical government; our natural SYM
pathy with men struggling for the
right of government; the neamess
of Cuba to our shores, actually a part
of America; the desire to lessen the
horrors of war, the very tender mer-
| cies of which are unavoidably cruel-all
this, to say nothing of the fact that
men who have struggled bravely for
enlarged freedom until success is al
most attained, turn their eyes beseech-
ingly to us-should prompt our gov
eminent to give the recognition prayed
for. The fathers of our own republic
having over the same pathway of blood
and suffering, but not without the help
and recognition of other nations,
marched to independence, greatness
and prosperity, it is not becoming in
their posterfty to give a deaf ear to the
/ cries of struggling free men; or turn
away from their outstretched hands.
Such conduct is not like America
1t is not creditable to the United States
II Cuban patriots go down without
such encouragement as our recognition
/ of them as belligerents would give, it
will be something Of which future gem
! eratfons of Americans will be ashamed.