New-York tribune., 1896-01-30
THE United STATES AND CUBA.

A course of action has at last been entered
upon at Washington in regard to the cuban
war which will we think. be generally ap-
proved by the people of the United States. The
renort Of the Senate Committee on Foreign Ke-
latons sets forth the essential facts of the case
,he MAGNITUDE of the insurrecton, the interests
involved. the official attitude Of this Government
toward it. and the undoubted sympathy of the
American public with the patriot cause IN Il
calm and comprehensive manner. The accom-
panving resolution does not declare for inter-
ycntion. or for recognition of Cuban indepen-
deuce. or even of Cuban belligcrency any OF
which courses might prove mischievous. 1t
simply calls upon the President to use the goou
offices Of the Government in friendly spirit
toward inducing Spain to treat the Insurgents
as bellgerents in cvIl war 1t does thls III
firm vet eminently courteous language, WhIch
cannot give offence to the Spanish Government,
but which should certainly command It's prompt
and serious attention. 1t is to be presumed That
hoth houses OF Congress will speedily adopt this
resolution and that the President will approve
and execute il. If so. we may reaSonaDl! nope
10 see avertcd from the island OF Cuba the nor
rors of barbaric warfare which now threaten II.
The need of such action by this Government Is
made plain by two facts. The one is that Spain
has never yet admitted that state OF war eX-
lists in Cuba although she has sent thiher 10
restore peace her greatest general and l13,oOO
Of her best troops Surely. military operations
of such magnitude deserve the name OF war.
The other is that Marshal Campos having failed
Snain Is now sending another commander 10
take his place who will act far more harshly
Wa pnpI rampml lteT DillN the
last former rebellion in Cuba, and the manner
in which it was suppressed to realize what tha'
means. Against renewal Of such barbarticS
this Nation mi ght well protest in the most Wig
orols terms The Senate resolution merely hopes
that Spain will recognize the usages OF clNllz"i
warfare in respect 10 treatment or prlsohers'
cartels, flags of truce. hospitals etc Ihat lem
| pcrate expression ought to serve the purpose
| and obvate the employment OF any stronger
measures.
| The United States can with the best Of grace
| make such a representation 10 Spain, partly De
cause Of the proximity OF Cuba to its shores, ana
partly because Of its scrupulous observance OF
| the obligations Of neutrality and friendship
| II is true that United States sympathy has been
with the insurgcnt patriots 1t is. however
equally true that the United States Government
| has been increasingly vigilant and energetic in
preventing that sympathy from taking the form
OF action hostile to Spain No Spanish agent
has had cause to complain that his warnings OF
belligerent expeditions We're unhecded. They
have been needed. and American citizens have
many times been called to strict account for thci'
alleged attempts to bear force and arms against
a friendly Power. Our Government has done
| its full duty toward Spain, and 1t has a right
to expect that Spain will take its representations
| in good part.
| As for the progress Of the war in Cuba, it must
| be said that the outlook for the insurgents Is
| somewhat less hopeful than II was week or
| two ago. Their armies appear to have met
with some reverses and the loss Of the Hawkins
| expediton Is serious blow. At the same time
| they are vet by no means beaten and they have
| learned not to depend solely upon their Amer
| can friends for the "snews Of war;" but to gel
| their supplies Of arms and ammunition from the
! enemy. That was made clear simultaneously
| with the news Of the sinking Of the Hawkins
| The Spanish commanders, it Is said, are actually
taking arms away from their own troops, fear
| ing that II they do not do SO themselves the in
| surgents will. Moreover, the nOncombatant in
| habitants Of Cuba are daily more and more
| showing active sympathy with the insurgents
! They are coming to realize that they must take
sides with either one party or the other. or else
be crushed and ruined between the two. Natu
rally and sensibly, they side with the Cubans
Every additional measure Of cruelty on the part
Of the Spaniards will drive more Of them to that
side SO that while Campos had merely "A few
bands Of rebels and n more less apathctiC
| populace to deal with. his successors will have
to deal with nearly all the inhabitants OF Cuba
reused to indomitable zeal for independence. In
such circumstances, with the Spanish army al
ready decimated and the Spanish treasury hope
lessly depleted, the task of keeping the lever
faithful isle" will scarcely prove an easy one.
| rUr NEW RRIUGE TO HAVE SLY TRACKS