New-York tribune., 1896-05-13
OUR DUTY TOWARD CUBA
NEW-JERSEY CONGREsSMEN FAVOR IN.
PREVENTION IN THE CON-
PETITOR CASE
"WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF REPUBILCS." SAYS MR.. arEwAN
MIR. GARDNER IS MORE PEACEFUL.
But WANTS THE GOVERNMENT
TO ASSERT ITSELF.

TO AssERT ITSELF
Washington. May l2 (SpeciaD-A Tribune cor
respondent had interviews to-day with some OF the
NewJerSey Representatives on the duty OF the
Government in the matter of the American citizens
who were captured by the Spanards in Cuba and
sentenced 20 death.
Mr. Gardner said: IL have not given the subject
much consideration. These men violated the laws
Of Spain. The United States Government should in
woke all treaty powers and general international
law to ameliorato TIE condition OF those citizens
Our abstract rish;s in the matter much the
the rights Of England thirty years ago
in the case of the arrest OF EnglishmcD who should
have come here TO bear the same relations to
rebellion that those citizens bear toward the Cuban
rebellion"
Mr.. McEwan said: at is said republics un-
grateful The truth of this appears by the atti-
tude our country has taken with regard TO Cuba.
When minds turn back to the time when our
Republic was trying to establish itself and when
1t had opposed TO il the strongest military and
maritime nation in the world at that time. the
country looked around for aid 10 ether notions no
had among their people men who were Gssrous of
aiding in the growth OF liberty in all its phases
and whr were willing to sacrifice anything that
hold dear In order that they might aid IN their
day and generation toward the formation OF a
country in which there would be liberty and consti-
tutional and representative government The best
and brayest, without regard to birth or fortune.
in France, Germany. Poland and ether European
nations came promptly to our shores and zeaiouSy
worked and fought TO establish this country on
these lines. They not actuated by any nope
of Detcring their fortunes. but had that more Sod-
like desire of lettering their feowmen by giving
them participation in the government. ana nlaKihs
of them not hewers of wood ANA drawers or waIer.
but instead thinkers as well workers me
many advantages that have accrued to the p%eop,e %
OF this country as compared with those OF mon
archcal countries are TO be considered. Inc! are
more nearly men. -,
Now II we are under so great obligations 10 me
people OF other lands for aiding us 10 estsplisi
our Government. ought to extend our alu am
sympathy TO the people OF any land VINO are
moved by the feelings as our foTefatheTs' anu
who seek to accomplish the same purposes as the!
did. l. we are rlbued with the belief tnat our
form OF government Is the best on earth, then We
must to be cons stent, do what we are able 10 40
10 increase the number Of similar governments
This may be held 10 be purely a sentimental view,
but to those who the different movements
throughout the entire world this is practical ana
statesmanl.ke view. 1t is increasing the numner
of our natural allies-thosc who Will. when the
inevitable conflict comes between representative
governments and monarchiCa ones. for their own
self preservation. have TO join with us. Ana II We
as a country do duty now we shall be bringing
near the tine when there snail be a iederatlon 81
the world a true brotherhood of man. The real
difficulty in the case OF failure TO aid cuba, as IL
also applies to Armenia, Is that in this sordid age
everything is subordnated to the advantages OF the
owners of large fortunes, to trade and commerce
in short 10 property, instead OF 10 the ehlarBns
OF the advantages the person.