Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-01
nn1Y II nrR nLr1g

There is Il growing interest in the
| Cuban question ana the promise is that
within the next week or two it will com
mand the attention of the American
| people 10 greater degree than, almost
any other subject. Perhaps no portion
of the presidents message will b. read
more intpntly, both at home and abroad.
than that which will deal with the pol
icy and duty of the United State;
toward Cuba. The general feeling NJ
pears 10 be that the situation is grave
and that an important change is i'm
pending.
1t is unQuestiunahle that there is n
very strong popular sentiment in favor
of recognizing the Cubans as bplliger-
onts, while there are some who urge
that our government should go further
and recognize their independence
What is our duty? is a question for the
most serious consideration. Theodore
S. Woolsey, professor of international
law in Yale college. contributes an
answer to this question to which in
trlligent and conservative men will give
respectful attention. After stating
what our interest is in Cuba. he SAYS
that we owe no assistance to Spain in
crushing its insurgents, nor is it a case
for intervention, on the ground of hui
manity, in behalf of the insurgents.
Our only duty, then" says Prof. Wool
scy, "is to abstain from taking part in
the contest. that is. to observe our own
laws" He points out that we cannot
recognize Cuban independence for that
would be in violation of fact. 1t would
be II war measure on our part, a wrong
us great as recognition of southern in
dependence by any European power
would have been nj any time during
orr civil war. In regard To II recogni-
ton of Cuban belligeroncy, Prof Wool
Sey observes that while there is much
more to he said in favor of it he thinks
il inadviSablc. 1t would add conSid-
crably to our international Obligations
as neuuals, would relieve Spain from
responsibility for our further property
losses on the island. and by putting
Spain as we'll as the insurgents into
the position of beligercncy, would b.
likely to curtail sti!l more our Cuban
operations. lie urges that Intervention
on the ground Of humanity would be
out of place ana that the only course
left would seem To be in the line of
remonstrance, beginning with
n courteous offer of our friendly offices
toward comprising the Cuban differ
enceS. He would wait reasonable time
for Spain TO demonstrate whether she
can suppress the insurrGctiOn ana if at
the expiration Of such time it appeared |
thnt the success of the Spanish arms
appeared no more probable than now, |
and Spain was stIl diSinclined to com. |
pose her differences, he would take |
steps 10 safeguard American interests /
in Cuba. "In last resort" says Prof |
Woolsey, defense of our own interests |
must be paramount to the international |
duty of abSteuton."
This is judicious and conservative !
counsel ana while il will not be ap- |
proved 10y the iingors, who profess to
Ihink that ii war with Spain would be
4 mere holiday event, there can he no
loubt that ii voices the thoughtful iudg-
ncnt Of the country. 1t Is true that
'orbearance in This matter may cease
o be II virtue. but rs yet there is nothing
n the Cuban situation to Justify any
departure from the policy our govern
nent has pursued.