The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-12-19
If 1t Bring War, Let 1t Come.

II 1t BRING w ar, Let IL toIllS.
There are only two OutCOmes to the
+ bitter and bloody struggle in Cuba. One
/ is through the crushing of the Cubans
/ by the Spanish armies and the subject
+ ing of the people to the heartless and
/ brutal policy pursued by Spain for fifty
years. Suppose that Spain conquers
/ that her superior armies overwhelm
/ the Cubans, and that those who partici-
pated in the struggle for independence
are driven into exile, or thrown into
prison, or are shot as outlaws, what fol-
lows Every one COnceues that the
greatest possible bitterness has been
engendered by the present and prey
ious conflicts; that the Spaniards and
the Cubans hate each other with ven
ON that is without parallel in modern
history; that the war is descending to a
species Of sayagery that is disgrace to
civilization; that the island, one of the
most fertile in the world, is being
turned into desert.
Does any one suppose that the
triumph of one race hated by the other
will be enduring? Is it not reasonable
to suppose that Spain will pursue the
same policy that she always has pur-
sued; that the result will be another re-
belIiun, another bloody war, another
era Of devastation, and another period
given to disturbances in this country
and in Europe with all the entangle-
ments that come with the menace cf
war? Is it reasonable to suppose that
Spain, having gone 10 such extremes of
sayagery in making war on a people
claiming the privilege of self-gOvern-
ment, will be so Just and merciful as TO
make such proper concessions on the
line Of conciiation as to restore per
manentiy friendly feeling between the
two peoples? If she does not, Will not
the era of agitation and struggle and
rebellion continue, to the disadvantage
of this country, of Cuba, and of Spain?
Is there any political or moral reason
why such an outcome should be encour-
aged by the American people? Is there
any reason based on a proper regard
for humankind why the$nited States
or any other civilized nation should
contemplate such a result with favor or
Indifference?
On the other hand, it is probable that
if the United States interferes directly
in the interest of the Cubans there will
be war with Spain. 1 is against the
spirit OF peaceful, religious, and high
minded people to provoke war. The
people of this country have so strongly
approved the policy of arbitration that
they look forward to war with horror
and on the first impulse the majority of
the people would condemn any action
likely TO precipitate war between the
United States and Spain, but the second
sober thought is likely to accept the in
cyitable, because everyone will argue
that It is better to settle the Cuban
question on the basis Of fairness and
justice, even if the insistence of such
settlement leads to war.
\ war with Spain would inevitably
result in the independence of Cuba,
and with independence would be re-
moved all the horrors and dangers Of
the present situation. The island would
be no longer a menace to this country
and no longer a disgrace to civilization.
Such a result might be secured without
war, but it should be secured even if
war comes. The threat of war 70 ma
ton pledged to the right and sympath-
izing with a struggling people should
have little influence. The United States
should DO the right thing regardless Of
The object to be attained
is the ending of the present savage and
bloody warfare in Cuba. Compared
with the evils Of the present conflict,
war with Spain is as nothing. In insist
ing that the Cubans be treated faisly
and in accordance with the laws Of CIV
ilized warfare, the United States is not
inviting war with Spain or any other
nation, but IL simply standing by the
right and protesting against the wrong.
If standing by the right, if protest
against butchery and cruelty, if inter
ference in behalf Of a prosecuted, dis
tresseI, and suffering people, bring
war, let it come.-Cnicago Inter-Ocean.