The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-12

The speech Of Senator cuIlom on the
Cuban question viii not fail 20 appeal 20
the sympathIes Of the American peopis-
His statement OF the case as poiitiea4
exigeney without precedent, and TIE aa-
vansagea ne depicts as result OF tne
cessation OF hostlnfies, snllsts the juds-
ment Of many who, however. realize as ne
does that "tns question 70 be Determines
Is not very clear" although all feel that
war should cease.
IL tho question is not clear TO q member
OF that body which has so important
part 70 play Ia determination of the mat
ter. IL is too early for him 10 ning hap
hazard condemnation at others. The
facts are as he states them: but he states
nothing new A speech deplorsng the hor-
rors Of war IS out or place in the United
States senate at this late date. unless IL
Is followed by practical suggestion with
a fun sense OF ths national responsibility
Il involves.
President Cleveland Is wise not to put
this country in such an attitude that II
might have 20 retreat Congress Is the
only power which can declare war; and II
has been made very manifest that any
further representations on the part OF this
government must be followed up by de-
terminad action IL the country il not TO
be made look ridiculous. The question
is whether the nation Is prepared 10 en-
gage In q war and whether the conse-
qusnees to Cuba are likely 70 be such as
we would care 10 assume responsibility
for.
The sympathy OF Americans Is for the
cause of a people seeking TO escape from
thu domination of an allen monarchy.
Senator cullon rays that We must not
look for precedent as q justification for
interference: and adds with rhetorical ef
feet but imperfect logic that we waited
for no precedent IN 1876. We had success.
and that makes all the difference. We
were only rebels TIL we turned the tids
OF wars fortunes and became masters OF
the situation. IL Il Is true that wa had
no president then. II IS no less true thai
we fought our way 10 liberty unaided.
| That Is not humane reason for failing
TO 40 TO the aid OF any other struggling
people. bu. u is aneanswer TO Senator
cuilom's ADMIRATION.
II wa apply much Of Mr.. Cullom's srgu-
msnt IA general way we may extend ID
to all other possessions OF foreign powers
| lying adjacent 20 this continent. and them
We shall have general war on our hands.
| There are Canadians who bitterly resent
| British domination; In Jamaica the ma
tivss may be DESTROYS Of change Of gov
eminent We know that many Cubans de-
/ sire freedom from spanish rule. but II that
feeling were unanimous Spain could not
| hold the island. IL that feeling IL az all
| general. spain cannot prevail. and Cuba
will he free through the very means which
sAnctifes revolt and makes IT patriotism.
/ II sympathy Is 10 spur us 10 intercesslon.
| let us begin among the starving poor Of
our own land; II II Is sympathy merely.
then the Armenians deserve Il at least as
much as the Cuhans. because those Chris
| slans are not making fgh, for material
/ advantage. but Aro the inoTenslve suffer-
ers for religions sake, But It Is not sym
| pathys Il Is sen,iment--the sentiment
| which Inspired the declaration OF inde-
| pendence, whea the war with England
| was entered upon the population of this
country. white aud colored. was under
seeo. 90 scattered over much wider area
| than Cuba. whose population now Is es.i-
mated 80 hs about 5000 Yet we defed
and ovsrcame the greatest bower on earth.
Cuba Is dealing with one OF the weakest.
We know by experience that independence
| cannot be achieved without effort. and
sentiment stimulates rs 20 lend encour-
| agenent 80 struggling people.
The pies Is made, too. thas sels-interest
demands an sntercassion. II that Re the
casa. all We have 10 do = 20 count The
cost OF interference; calculate WHISTLER g,
viii paw "a. ana sct accoralngly.
But neither sympathy sor Suffering sol
dlers nor sentiment for PATRIOTS people
viii avail much unless Il i expressed IN
the voice Of the cannon. me question Is
whether the United States Is Justified IN
war WITH Spain IN order - help cuba
20 that which. Il the body ~ her people
are determines. she VII attain for hersels.