Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-06

political and commercial welfare of
our people that congress can not be
Indifferent to the fact that civil war
is fragrant among the people of Cuba
The report sets forth that it is i'm
possible longer to overlook the fact that
the destructive character of the war is
doing serious harm to the rights and
interests of our people on the island
and to our lawful commerce, the pro-
lection and freedom OF which is safe
guarded by treaty obligations 1t is
recalled that in former wars of the
same character as the present the
United States has always observed all
of its duties toward the belligerents.
The report adds:
This was a difficult task, but it was
performed with vigor, impartiaity and
justice in the hope that Spain would
so ameliorate the condition of the Gu
ban people as to give them peace, con-
tentment and prosperity. This de-
sirablc result has not been accom-
plshcd. It's failure has not resulted
from any interference on the part OF
our people or the government with the
people or the government Of Cuba.
The hospitality which our treaties
laws Of nations and the laws of Chris
tianity have extended to Cuban refu-
gees in the United States has caused
distrust or the part of the Spanish
government as to the fidelity of our
government to its obligations OF
neutrality in the frequent instructions
of the people of Cuba against Spanish
authority. This distrust has often be-
come a source of serious annoyance
to our people and has led to a spirit
of retaliation toward Spanish author
ity in Cuba thus giving rise to fire.
quent controversies.
Reference is made to the absence of
responsible government in Cuba as a
cause of delay, Of protracted imprison-
mcnt and property contisCations; also
10 the fact that these Cuban insurrec-
tons lave ever proved a temptation TO
tilibusterers from this country, caus-
ing trouble and expense. 1t is assert
ed that the devastation of Cuba in the
present war that is being waged with
fire and sword, is cause of unrest
among the people Of the United States,
creating strong ground for protest
against continuance.
This struggle, the report says, is
rapidly changing the issue TO one of
existence on the part of a great num-
Der of the native population. The re-
port continues:
1T is neither just to the relations
that exist between Cuba and the
United States, nor is it in keeping
with the spirit OF the age or the rights
Of humanity that this struggle should
be protracted until one party or the
other becomes exhausted in the re-
sources of men and money, thereby
weakening both until they may fall
prey to some strong power, or until
the stress Of human sympathy or the
resentmcnts engondered by long and
bloody conflict should draw into the
strife the unruly elements of neigh
boring countries"
Attention is called to Che inability of
Spain to deal with the revolutionis,s
as Il misfortune which 1t is unfair to
visit upon the United States. 1t is
due, the report concludes, Ito the sit
uation of affairs ii Cuba that Spain
should recognize the existence of
state OF war in the island and should
voluntarily accord to the armies OPP
posed to her authority the rights OF
belligercnts under the laws of nations.
In the lower house Mr.. Bart
lett IN. " introduced a joint
resolution authorizing the construction
of six new battle-ships to cost not more
than $3,300,000 each, exclusive of arm
ament, for which $4,000, 900 is appro-
propriated.