The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-14
Will Congress Take This RESPONSE
biIity?

It ia believed In Washington that the Sen
ate will agree to I'm adjournment Of Con-
gres, on or about June I, or say three weeks
hence. In the interval OF six months that
must elapse before the reasscmbling OF the
Federal legislature, repeated and energetic
attempts will be made to supply the Cuban
revolutionists with arms and ammunition.
1t is probable tina In the course of those
attempts American citizens will be made
prisoners, and the danger is that, as hap
pened in the case OF the Virginius, such
prisoners may be put to death as pirates
before the news of their capture can reach
this country and elicit a protest from our
State Department. II, however, before the
adjournment Of Congress the Cuban revolu-
tionists shall be recognized as belligerents,
American citizens, captured while endeav-
oring to convey arms to Cuba, cannot be
dealt with as pirates, but must be treated
as blockade runners and prisoners Of wal.
Do any Of the Senator's who voted for the
concurrent resolutions, sent to the other
House OF Congress and adopted by it five
weeks ago, wish to share with Mr.. CLEvE-
LAM the responsibility for the perils to
which citizens Of the United States may be
exposed at the hands of the Spanish military
authorities during the six months to come?
How can they avoid such responsibility
unless they make second and better-dircct-
ed effort to secure the recognition of the
Cuban revolutionists as belligerents'
It is alleged that such efforts would be
futile. because the passage Of joint resolu-
tion could be blocked by dilatory debate on
the part Of the handful of Senators who are
not ashamed to publish their sympathy for
Spain and their approval Of her treatment of
the Cubans. Nevertheless, the attempt
should be made for two reasons: First, 1t be-
hooves the great majority Of Senators who
hold that the revolutionists nave acquired
the status of belligerents to clear their own
skirts of responsibility for a possible repe-
tition of the Virginius outrage. Secondly,
the knot of ~pro-Spanish Senators should be
made to take on their own heads the whole
burden Of blood-guiltiness for the possible
slaughter Of fellow countrymen. II they
had forgotten the massacre of our citizens
committed by the captors Of the Virginius,
they have now had a second warming in the
case of the Competitor. They must have
nhgnrvnH ton fhn rncnnfp,nnf ohDtrp hp
Gen. WEYLER and other Spanish officers in
Cuba at the reprieve granted to the men
sentenced by court martial, and the inference
is unmistakable that the next Americans
made prisoners will be shot with prompti-
tude before an appeal can be addressed by
our State Department to Madrid.
We doubt if there is a single Senator who,
in view of the recent narrow escape Of a
fellow countryman from death, will now
range himself with MI. CLEVELAND in re-
sisting a declaration which would give
Americans, captured in a case like that of
the Competitor, the privileges of prisoners
Of war. and would deliver them from the
risk Of summary execution. Certainly, If
there be such a Senator. few Of his col
leagues can envy him his humanity or his
wisdom, or wish to stand by his side at the
bar of American public opinion.
II Senator SHERMAN will report from the
Committee on Foreign Relations the NOR
GAN joint resolution, he and the great ma
jority Of his colleagues will at least have
the opportunity OF placing themselves right
upon the record. Not on their heads, at all
events, will fall the wrath and scorn of the
American people, II, through delay on the
part OF Congress, the Spaniards in Cuba are
left at liberty to glut their ~ferocity upon
our countrymen.
A Time for Reflection.
Among the most saGacious of Mr.. PLATT's