The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-12-24
A Little Talk About Cuba.

WitA exciting reports as to Cuban aft
airs. CUR people are keenly interested
and aully alive to the crisis impending
in the little island which lies just at
our back door, and even our dignifed
senators and legislators generally, are
manifesting quick sympathy with the
struggles of the insurgents.
IN Saturdays paper we read of Don
Cameron's resolution declaring the in
dependence of Cuba Everybody read
it, and it is safe to say that seven out
of every ten Who did read it through
out the states endorsed most heartily
every line of the belicose document;
and much exaggerated and wordy
bravado surged about our ears, even
the aged Joe Black burn, of Kentucky,
Fastening to startle an adniring world
by declaring himself ready at word,
sab, to head an army of 10000 men
and march to Cuba's assistance. In
fact this sort of talk has been very
generally INDUCED in by our liberty
loving people for some time past, but
while we as nation have slight reason
to regard Spain or Spanish interests
with friendly eye because of much
dirty work on the part of that naughty
and arrogant government, still there
are some weighty considerations which
should cool our ardor, and reduce our
anxiety to have some one knock this
chip off our shoulder.
Secretary Olney has very coolly and
very wisely and very boldly stated
some of these considerations, at the
same time throwing very chilly spray
over the aspiring beligerency of our
warlike legislators. There are still
other points, however, that the secre-
eary did not seem called upon to men,
ton.
In the first place, war is at no time
desirable, and say what you will as to
President Cleveland's apparent indif-
ference with the struggling Cubans, he
has, in my opinion, acted most wisely
throughout this affair.
Then again, how many of US have
any idea of what sort of people these
Cubans are or what sort of country
Cuba is? While it is true that any
people struggling for liberty should
have the warm sympathy of this
nation, which, itself, has passed
through the same trying experience, it
is also true that great prudence and
discretion are desirable-nay, obliga-
tory-that the happiness and peace of
20, O00,0 600 of people be not jeopardlzed
by hasty action, especially when the
people to be helped by our interference
are of a class liable at moments
warning to turn upon their deliverers
and make it exceedingly unpleasant
for them More particularly, too,
should this nation go slow in this mat
ter, when it is remembered that an
nexatiou of Cuba to the United States
is by no means the last thought in
many minds, and has been openly
advocated time and again by prom
inent men and newspapers.
Cuba is an island lying scarcely two
hundred miles south Of Florida. 1t is
about $50 miles long and with an
average width of IS miles. It's popu-
lation is composed Of four classes, says
the encyclopaedia, the native Span
iards, who occupy nearly all the offices
of power and trust; the creoles, who
are mostly planters, farmers or lawyers
and who are generally looked upon
with contempt by the Spaniards; the
third class composed of free mulattoes
and free negroes in about equal parts,
who are excluded by law from all civil
offices: those who are vet in bondage
constitute the fourth class and the
largest class. Education is almost
unknown in the island outside of
Havana, Puerto Principe and
Santiago, and even in those cities none
of the schools are accessible to the
masses. The Roman Catholic is the
only religion tolerated by the govern
ment."
Under the circumstances briefly
stated here is the game worth the
powder? Is it wise or would it be
good policy to eudanger the prosperity
of this nation, make widows of hun
dreds, perhaps thousands of good
American wives, bring sorrow and
desolation into. numberless American
homes, injure our commerce and in
crease our national debt for the sake of
a very questionable sentiment of sym
pathy with people whom it is more
than likely could or would never ap-
preciate the sacrifice or even profit
by it? ii. W MARDEN.