New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-29
A CUBAN CRISIS.
securing it!

Mr. Boutelle was right. His objection TO the
Immediate passage of the resolutions on Cuba
was disappointment to the vast majority OF
the members Of the House. Doubtless il made
him, temporarily a most unpopular man. But
his action will to-day be generally regarded as
wise and patriotic. TO say that is not 10 cenSnrc
the other members OF the House. Their eager
ness to do something for Cuba is not only par
donable but Commcndable. and commands the
sympathy of the American people For patience
and forbcarance toward Spain are pretty well
exhausted, and properly SO. She is not TO be
blamed for endeavoring to maintain her author
ity over Cuba. provided she does SO by lawful.
civilized means. She is to be blamed for the
persistent msgovcrnmcnt by which she has pro-
vokcd the insurrcction. and for the savage ana
inhuman methods she Is now rcsorting 10 for lis
suppression. For these things she is condemned
not by the United States alone, hut by other
civilized nations as well. No expression of the
worlds adherence Of Weylcr and his doinss can
be made too strong. Yet, in spite of all that,
Mr. Boutelle was right The ultimate crisis in
Cuban affairs should not be precipitatcd. and the
issue Of peace and war between this country ard
Spain should not be disposed Of offhand. when
members of the House are already putting On
their ovcrcoats to hurry away TO dinner. No
graver responsibility rests upon Government
than the declaring Of war against another Power,
and such responsibility should be assumed only
with the utmost dclbcraIon and decrum.
Either these resolutions mean something. or
they do not; IT. as some argue. they do not mean
anything serious. il they do not actually rcc'g-
niz, the Cubans "a balligcrentS. nor alter the
relations between the United States and Spain.
then they are mockcry ana dcn>ion, and the
delay of day or month in passing them can
make no difference. IT. on the other hand. they
do mean something and if their purpose J. such
that it desirable To adop, them ~ once i't
It be fully understood by the House ana the
country what their meaning really l.. Ihli
meaning. if anything. must be- Il recognition ~
Cuban bclligcl cncy. or at least Il step toward II.
That in itself would do The insurgents little. II
any, good. and would subject this country 10
much vexation 1t would invest the Spanish
with the right Of search over American ships,
ana the right to seize all articles con'rdband OF
war That would cause untold annoyance 10
American shipping. and would render far more
difficult the sending Of arms and ammunition 10
the INSURGENTS Another meaning must be- that
This Government Is to tender its good offices and
friendly influence TO Spain for the granting of
Cuban independence. But that would be merely
to incur a snub and cunt refusal Spain has
already minated that she would regard any
such offer as an impcrtincnce. Why should this
Government formally subject itself TO a rebuff!
Finally, the resolutions must mean that The
United States Is to insist more strcnuOusly, even
to the extent OF Intervention. upon the safe
guarding Of American interests in Cuba. Spain :
answer TO that as every one must know. would
be TO assail American interests. to destroy Amcrl-
can property, and to murder American citizens,
with even greater ferocity than before, and, I'M
less we actually did intervene with arms, with
more impunity, since our recognition Of Cuban
beligerency would practically free the Spanish
Government from all responsibility in such
premises.
The simple fact is, that these resolutions are
worse than worthless unless they are to he in
tnrpreted in the very strongest manner If they
are thus interpreted they will mean intervention
and Intervention will mean war. Perhaps that is
what Congress wants. Perhaps II Is what this
Nation wants If so, let that fact be clearly I'M
derstood, and let action upon 1t be taken calmly
and intelligently. and not as though it were
mere resolution to adjourn for a holiday. War;
even with Spain, would be a serious business
and perhaps even more serious Wouiu DO 'h'
settlement Of the results OF the war, the esfaD-
lishment Of a Cuban republic and the adjustment
Of its relations with the United States. or, not
improbably, the actual annexation OF Cuba to
the United States. The problems connected With
any such procedure are difficult enough TO tax
the best thought Of our best statesmen. 1t was
surely not unreasonable to demand that Congress
should take twenty-four hours for deberatlon
before undertaking to solve them. The passage
Of these resolutions will mark the supreme crisis
of the Cuban cause. Let it not be said that we
were blind and needless before the event, and
gained wisdom afterward, and then only by sore
and troublous experience.