Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-24

struggle than any other country say,
Cuba and Spain; that there never can b,
honorable peace in Cuba so long as thai
country is ruled by Spain; that the up
rising is because of oppression far beyont
that which induced tho American colonie.
to rebel against the mother country; tina,
the United States cannot allow Cuba tc
pass under the domination of any Other
foreign country; that protection of oul
scacoast and other interests demand thai
Cuba, commanding as she does the chan
mel to the gulf and the approach to a
Nicaraguan canal. shall either be free OIL
| a possession of the United States; that
the campaign of cruelty inaugurated by
| the new governor general calls for our in
tsrvention in the interests of humanity.
The speaker had no notes but upon this
phase of the question he was eloquent
and forceful to degree. He analysed the
proclamations of Gen Weyler and said:
No more bloody code was ever put
forth. The life of every inhabitant of
that island, peaceful or warlike is placed
at the disposition of the commander of
the Spanish forces. Everyone who falls
into his hands is absolutely at his mercy
He can condemn them to Imprisonment
or to death. They must all have passes,
and they must get new ones, and if they
| fail to get them in eight days they arc
liable to go to prison or to the scaffold.
| The people in the country are to be driven
| into towns where the Spanish troops are,
under penalty. il they refuse, of being
seized and conducted TO prison, and pei
haps to death. All judicial authority is
vested in the commanding general and
his associates. The plan is a plan of DESC
laton and determination Spain may
have it in her power to prolong the agony
until the island is solitude, and she
then may be able to call it peace. But,
Mr.. President, that Is the only result
| Continuing he said no useful end could
be served by this bloody struggle and in
the name of humanity it should be
stopped. He then referred to the afro
cities being perpetrated in Armenia and
what We had said about it, holding Eng
land responsible for without her Turkey
would not exist to lay. We could do moth
ing in Armenia but we have an Armenia
at our very doors, within six hours travel
of our own country. Should our civilizs
ton break down as European civilization
has broken down over Armenia. We
should not only recognize the belligerents
but should exercise every effort to stop
that useless and atrocious war.
1t is quite evident that President Cleye
land although he may resent any action
on the part of Congress looking to recog-
milton OF the Cubans, is not willing to
titUde toward Hawaii would seem to indi-
cate a disposition to sympathize with
Spain rather than with the insurgents.
Be that As it may, it is evident that Con
gress must take the initiative, and we be-
lieve it should. The question looked al
from selfish standpoint, wholly, affords
much greater reason Tor not only accord
ing recognition but for interfering, than
was afforded for our war with Mexico.
; Again, it seems to Us, that our interfer
cnce in the cause Of humanity would not
only be justified, but is demanded in the
interests of civilization There is nothiuo
in the laws of nations which permits the
governor general Of Cuba to assume such
brutal. despotic authority as he has, such
as does not exist in any other civilized
part of the globe, we have right to com
pei observance of the rules of civilized
warfare in Cuba; more we cannot neglect
to enforce such provisions without shar
ing in the awful crime. We cannot be
true to the destiny of this country and per
nit any foreign country other than Spain
to rule over Cuba, and 1t is apparent that
the time is coming, if the present revolu
ton is suppressed, when Spain will be
compelled in order to liquidate some OF
over to a debtor country, for already the
Pearl Of the Antilles has been squeezed
dry. Then there would be very grave
problem confronting us. There may moi
be need of crossing bridges before w,
come to them but foresight was never al
greater premium than now. Every die
tate of humanity and of common sense
urges the United States to act in this
matter.
Augusta Needs a Hospital.