The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-08
|Cuban Question Lucidly and Fairly Pre-
Sented-No Intervention

country always and instinctively fee
for every struggle for better and freei
government. and which in the case Of
the more adventurous and restless ele
ments Of our population. leads in only
too many instances 20 active persona
participation in the contest. The result
is that the government Is constantly
called upon TO protect American citI-
zens, to claim damages for injuries tc
person and property now estimated al
many millions OF dollars and to ask ex.
plantations and apologies for the acts
OF Spanish officials whose zeal for the
repression OF the rebellion sometimes
blinds them TO the immunities belong
ing 10 the unoffending citizens OF a
friendly power. II follows from the
same causes that the United States is
compelled TO actively police along the
line OF sea coast against unlawful ex-
petitions, the escape Of which the ut
most vigilance will not always sufice
to prevent. These inevitable entangle-
ments Of the United States with the re-
belllon in Cuba, the large American
property interests affected and consid-
erations Of philanthropy and humanity
In general have led TO a vehement
demand in various quarters for some
sort Of positive Intervention on the part
Of the United States. II was at first
proposed that belligerent rights should
be accorded the insurgents, proposi-
tion no longer weighed because untime-
ly and impractioable. and its operation
clearly perilous and injurious to our
interests. II has since been and is now
sometimes contended that the indie
pendence OF the insurgents should be
recognized. But imperfect and restrict
ed as the Spanish government OF the
island may be. no other exists there
unless, the will of the military officer in
temporary command Of a particular dis
trIct can be dlgnified as species OF
government II Is now also suggested
that the United States should buy the
island-a suggestion possibly worthy
OF consideration II there were any evil
dences Of a desire or willingness on the
part OF Spain to entertain such a pro
posal. 1t is urged, finally, that all Other
methods falling, the existing internecint
strife in Cuba should be terminated by
our Intervention even at the cost of &
war between the United States ant
Spain-a war which its advocates con
fidently prophecy could neither be large
in its proportions or doubtful in it.
issue.
The correctness OF this forecast need
be neither affirmed nor denied. The
United States has, nevertheless, a char
acter to maintain as a nation. which
plainly dictates that right, and moi
might. should be the rule of its con-
duct
Further, though the United States
Is not a nation to which peace is a
necessity. it is in truth the most pacific
of powers and desires nothing so much
as to live in amity with all the world.
Its own ample and diversified domains
satisfy all possible longings for terrific
ry, precludes all claims OF conquest
and prevents any casting Of cOvetous
.,,s, ,,ror ,alohhov-iDn raoinpS bOu-
ever attractive. That our conduct tow
ard Spain and her dominions has con-
stituted no exception to this national
disposition is made manifest by the
course of our government, not only thus
far during the present insurrection.
but during the ten years that followed
the rising at Yara in 1868.
No other great power. it may safely be
said, under circumstances OF similar per
plexity. would have manifested the
same restraint and the same patient
endurance, 1t may also be said that
this persistent attitude Of the United
States towards Spain in connection
with Cuba, unquestionably evinces no
slight respect and regard for Spain
on the part of the American people.
They, in truth, do not forget her con-
nection with the discovery of the west
ern hemisphere, nor do they under-es-
innate the great qualities of the Span
ish people, nor fail to fully recognize
their splendid patriotism and their chiv-
alrous devotion to the national honor.
They view with wonder and admiration
the cheerful resolution with which vast
bodies of men are sent across thous-
ands Of miles of ocean and an enormous
debt accumulated that the costly pos
session of the gem of the Antilles may
still hold its place in the Spanish
crown. And yet neither the government
nor the people in the United States
have shut their eyes to the course Of
events in Cuba or have failed to realize
the extent of conceded grievances
which have led to the present revolt
from the authority Of Spain, grievances
by the Queen Regent and
by the Cortes. and voiced by the most
patriotic and enlightened Of Spanish
statesmen without regard to party, and
by reforms proposed by
the executive and approved by the leg
lslative branch of the Spanish govern
ment. 1t is in the assumed temper and
of the Spanish govern
ment to remedy these grievances,
fortified by indications Of influen-
tial public opinion in Spain, that