The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-28

tablishing In Porto Rico the municipal
laws OF Spain. In conformity with which
free town councils and officers Will be
chosen
Third. The law establishing a pro-
vinciai assembly shall be put IN fuil and
exact execution.
Fourth. slavery shall be abolished
in Porto Rico.
I'm these reforms proof is given OF
what win be done In Cuba as soon as its
paciiication can be obtained
The examples I have given to you are
instances Of friendly intervention. to
which no Just exception was taken or
could be taken by Spain The truth Is,
TO go "a step further. that orr attitude.
maintained for more than half a century.
deprecating. as we have done, any inter
ventiOn by European powers I'm the az
fairs Of Cuba. compels ~ to intervene
whenever a sufficient occasion arises.
That is TO say. tt Is our duty to intervene
II a majority Of the people OF Cuba wish
to throw of the Spanish yoke
'rhe present aspects Of the conflict
present this question: Shall Cuba be de-
stroyed or shall IL be free and indepcnd-
antg Shall her people De extcrminatcd
because they ask for self-government2
Shall her towns and cities be burned2
Shall her fruitful fields Dee dosolatcd and
her Industries ruined2 or shall this is
land, the faircst and richest Of the West
ern Indies he allowed. like other Amefi-
can States. 10 govern herself and develop.
with the aid and enterprise OF our citi-
zens and our capital the almost bound
less resources OF a tropical empire?
Spain has eXercisei dominion over
Cuba for 80 years. Surely she has had
time enough to develop the results Of her
colonial policy. These results are shown
10 be, IN cuba. the same a. have Illus
trated Spain's rule elsewhere in Spanish
America-to-wit. the impovorishment anu
discomfort Of the people. sedtion and re-
beiiion, ending tn independence. We see
the examples IN Mexico. Central America.
Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, and
Chill.
SPANS folly and misgOyernment have
cost Spain all her vast possessions in the
western world. except cuba and Porto
Rico, and her hold upon these IS too frai
10 last much longer. She must accept
the inevitable. She would have lost Cuba
long ago had it not been an island. iso-
lated ana dominated by her maritime
power. Above all. she is indebted 10 the
United States for her continued hold upon
Cuba. First, because we would not SUI
fer the cupidity OF other powers % pr0ht
by Spanish weakness and seize the Is
land for themselves. Second because Of
our fotbearancc in avaiiing ourselves Of
an indisputable right To- put an end TO the
long-continued struggle Of the Cubans
for seif-gOycrnmcnt. We have taught
the Cubans its blessings by our example
constantly before their eyes.
Their sons and daughters are edt-
GATED I'm our schools. their money is in
vested here. We have developed their
greater part of their products. They have
no commerce worth mentioning. except
with the United states. They are Amerl-
cans They recognize no other name.
They reject, with sc0rn. the designation
Spaniards. There f. no reasonable doubt !
that nine-tcnths OF the native Cubans are
In favor Of a separation from Spain H..
as Spain pretcnds. q majority Of the
cubaus are loyal, why do they not put
down the instruction by arms in the |
hands OF loyal Cubans2 Why is IL neces- |
sary for Spanish fleets and great armies |
OF Spanish soldiers 20 be sent from Spain |
IN the vain effort 10 subdue an insurrec- |
ton upheld. as is alleged. by a small ma |
jority Of the people Of the island?
IF majority Of the Cubans are loyal |
20 Spain. let her Withdraw her armies |
ana put down the Instruction by loyal /
hands. and we WIN fold our arms and |
wait another year 20 See her DO u. In /
the presence OF such contest we might |
well abstain from Intervention: hut the ]
spectacle Of more than 10000 Spanish |
troops trying 10 compel the unwilling allie J
glance OF 10000 people. white and black. |
involving, as 10 does. The destruction Of /
all that is valuable on Tho island. at |
tended by atrocities unknown 10 civilized |
warfare. is one that the Government OF |
4g4 ]. =
look upon any lonea with Indifference" |
New York Sun