Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-03-26
Where the People Stand.

1t Is clear that the United States
Senate. II not the House also, is far
behind the American people on the
Cuban question.
The House passed its resolutions and
did its work promptly enough, such as
it was. But the only tangible results
that could follow the House resolutions,
in the event of their final adoption,
would be to confer on the Cuban in
surgents the shadowy privilege of
purchasing arms and supplies in the
United States, provided they could sue
cessfully evade the Spanish cruisers,
and at the same time to grant the
Spaniards the substantially dangerous
right to search our vessels for all such
contraband articles. and thereby. in
all human probability. to endanger the
peace which exists between Spain and
the United States without advancing
the cause of human freedom or aiding
the Cuban patriots in any essential re-
spect.
The Senate also passed some resolu-
tions-resolutions are the fashion now
a-days-but they were less effectual
even than those of the House. and since
then their native hue has been 80
''sicklled DER by the palo cast of
thought" or, rather, debate, that the
hearts of the Cubans must have long
since grown weary and sick with hope
deferred.
As the Times has said, the country
is away ahead Of Congress on this
question. The people, who are rarely
ever mistaken on the general average
in their conclusions, have patiently
listened to. and read, the evidence and
sized up the situation; their verdict
has been voiced many times during
the past winter in public meetings
held throughout the country. They
want not technical, diplomatic. or
even moral. support extended to these
struggling islanders, but real, effec-
tive, practical helping hand, which in
a broad-minded American way will se-
cure for them the blessings Of the same
sort OF liberty that they themselves
enjoy.
= SO 1,ot~ IL 1,n<
taking the long and the short of 1t,
would sustain a rupture with Spain.
even to the point OF war. in order to
the work o: rescue Of a
people and the triumph of
American ideas of liberty in Cuba; but
of that kind should be neces-
sary to effect our purposes.
It, abandoning the offensiveness OF
public resolutions. and the jingoism Of
q too garrulous Senate this country
should give Spain privately. through
our Ambassador at Madrid. but unmis-
takably to understand that the war
must be carried on in accordance with
humane and civilized usages, that It
must be finished one way or the other
within a reasonable time, say six
or else some sort of local SELF
be offered by Spain to Gu
ba, and that subsequent proceedings
be by arbitration. even as to the right
to complete independence Of the Gu
bans, some practical end would be
reached in short order, for there can
be no reasonable doubt that the Span
ish government would never refuse or
disregard our ultimatum, If communi-
Gated in such a manner as to save Its
pride and avoid arousing the Spanish
populace.
Americans care little for information
al law when they think they see case
that demands justice or appeals to
their sense of humanity. And, besides,
no stretch of international law can be
SO used as to prevent our intervening,
even by force Of arms. to protect our
eighty millions of annual trade with
Cuba, the vested rights Of hundreds Of
over there in large proper
ties, aud to prevent the wholesale
murder and determination
Of brave and struggling people.
Law does not require nation, any
more than an individual. to stand idle
when felony is being committed.-l
X. G. Times.
Simon S. Hartman, Of Idnnelton.
w.. ". hos hoan sufiect to attacks |