Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-06

voluntary concession the cordial sup
port of the United States. The near
proximity of Cuba to the frontier of
the United States and the fact that it
is universally regarded as a part of the
continental system of America identi-
f1es that island so closely with the
political and commercial welfare of our
people that congress can not be in
different to the fact that civil war is
is fragrant among the people of Cuba.
The report sets forth that it is i'm
possible longer to overlook the fact
that the destructive character Of the
war is doing serious harm to the rights
and interests of our people on the ISL
and and to our lawful commerce, the
protection and freedom of which is
safeguarded by treaty obligations. It
is recalled that in former wars of the
same character as the present the
United States has always observed all
of its duties toward the belligerents.
The report adds:
This was difficult task, but it was
performed with vigor, impartiality and
justice in the hope that Spain would
so ameliorate the condition of the Gu
ban people as to give them peace, con-
tentment and prosperity. This desir-
able result has not been accomplished
Its failure has not resulted from any
interference on the part of our people
or the government with the people or
the government of Cuba. The hospi-
tality which our treaties, laws of ma
lions and the laws of Christianity have
extended to Cuban refugees in the
United States has caused distrust on
the part Of the Spanish government to
its obligations of neutrality in the fire.
quent instructions of the people of Gu
ba against Spanish authority. This
distrust has often become a source of
serious annoyance to our people and
has led to a spirit of retaliation toward
Spanish authority in Cuba, thus giving
rise to frequent controversies.
Reference is made to the absence of
responsible government in Cuba as a
cause of delay, of protracted imprison-
ment and property confiscations; also
to the fact that these Cuban insurrec-
tions have ever proved a temptation to
trouble and expense. 1t is asserted
that the devastation of Cuba in the
present war that is being waged with
fire and sword" is a cause of unrest
among the people of the United States,
creating strong ground for protest
against continuance.
This struggle, the report says, is
rapidly changing the issue to one of
existence on the part of great num-
Der of the native population. The re-
port continues:
cit is neither just to the relations
that exist between Cuba and the United
States, nor is it in keeping with the
spirit Of the age or the rights of hui
mainly that this struggle should be
prOtracted until one party or the other
men and money, thereby weakening
both until they may fall prey to some
strong power, or until the stress of
human sympathy Or the resentments
engendered by long and bloody conflict
should draw into the strife the unruly
elements of neighboring countries"
Attention is called to the inability OF
Spain to deal with the revolutionists
as a misfortune which it is unfair to
visit upon the United States. It is
due, the report concludes, "to the stu
alton of affairs in Cuba that Spain
should recognize the existence of a
state of war in the island and should
voluntarily accord to the armies OPP
/ posed to hei authority the rights of
belligerents under the law of Ma, -
In the lower house Mr. Ral :
lett On. " Introduce a iCint
resolution authorizing the Con~+ruction
of six new battle-ships tn cost not
more than $3,3OO,OOO each, exclusive of
armament, for which 100000 is ap-
| propriated.