The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-30
Dallying With Cuba.

1t Is a significant fact that no per-
son who has lived or travelled in Cuba
takes stock in the hypothesis that the
rebellion on that island can be termi-
mated by the granting by Spain to the
Cubans who are now in arms of certain
rather high-sounding but practically
meaningless political concessions. Ev-
cry evidence before the American peo-
pie from competent witnesses tends to
prove that Cuba can place no reliance
upon Spanish promises, and that there
fore the insurgents will continue the
present war either until they succeed
in wrestling Cuba wholly from Spanish
control or until they are themselves
hopelessly crushed.
This being true. how absurd becomes
the reported overture Of President
Cleveland to Spain politely suggesting
that the two parties to the Cuban war
submit their grievances to him for
peaceful adjudication. The resolution
recently adopted by congress called, 1t
is true, for the proffering by the Ameri
can executive to Spain of his peaceful
offices in behalf of Cuba, but it said, in
plain If in unwritten words, that the
failure of a peaceful overture would be
the signal for such recognition by this
government of the struggling patriots
of Cuba as would soon bring their bat
tie for freedom to a successful close.
Conventionality in diplomatic inter-
course requires between governments
certain delicate indirectness Of Ian
guage, but in the present case the tenn
per of this republic, underneath the soft
phrases of its diplomacy, Is fef. prompt
and effective assistance Of the Cuban
insurgents.
1t is possible that Mr.. Cleveland
wishes by a show of obedience to the
letter of the Cuban concurrent resolu-
tion to evade obedience to its palpable
spirit. In that case, the only thing
which the country can do Is to await
with such patience as it can summon,
the advent next March Of a president
not superior in his conceits to the plain
mandates of his countrymen But If
the present executive be really solici-
tous to do his full duty. let him desist
from his rainbow chasing in the i'm
possible direction of, arbitration, and
proclaim at once the official recognition
of the fighting Cubans as belligerents.
- -.
In relation to the American, Ham
mond, who went down to the Transvaal,
intrigued against the government, got
caught and Is now sentenced to death
for treason, Senator Hill and a few
other public men are disposed to be-
come excited, but the majority of the
people Of this country, we observe, are
keeping quite calm. They reason it out
that IL Hammond doesn't have sense
enough to behave himself In a foreign
country his American citizenship af-
fords no sufficient excuse why he should
not suffer the consequences.
'~-----N----
That delegate of the International ar
bitration conference who wanted to re-
turn $1,000 contribution from Carne-
gle because Carnegie manufactures ar
NOR plate had nose for logic like the
trunk OF an elephant.
s.
The effort which is being made to
save Murderer Holmes meek will, of
course. fail. 1t is true that Holmes was
not convicted on evidence fpt on preju-
dice; yet the proof Of his oil. hound bad
usss u sufficient to make IL (to fhn In