Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-01

them all we recall none more eloquent
or vigorous than that which he de-
liyered in Chickering hall, New York
city. Friday night, on the occasion of
the memorial meeting to commemorate
the shooting of the eight medical stu
dents in Havana 25 years ago. What
he had to say concerning the duty of
this country in the matter excited the
widest applause. He declared that
the Cubans believed they had the SYM
pathy of our people and that our gov
eminent would at last extend the help
ing hand to them. in their struggle. He
considered it idle to say that this gov
eminent was not responsible for the
hopes of the Cuban, patriots. While
our government has the right to refuse
assistance, has the right to remain in
active, though crimes against civiliza-
ton itself are being perpetrated, he be-
| lieved it had no right to conceal its
purpose but owed it to the world, to
the Cubans and to the Spanish to de-
fine it's attitude so that they may un-
| derStand the conditions with which
they must reckon. IF the Cuban pa
triot is to be exterminated and we are
| to permit that determination then in
| heavens name let us not prolong his
| agony by encouraging him to activity.
| These We're ringing words and an ex-
preston from the audience indicated
| that one individual at least. among
those present thought they could APP
propriately he applied to the attitude
of the present administration. Mr.
| Cochran said he did not want Cuba
| annexed to this country, not until she
had tasted the bitter and sweet of in
| dependence but he did want our gov
eminent to interfere and stop the
struggle, guaranteeing if necessary an
| indemnity to be paid by Cuba. The
venera bic editor of the New York SUM-
| M. Dana, lent to the enthusiasm of
the occasion by declaring it his belief
| that the sun of Cuban liberty was
about rising and that our government
should call upon Spain to stop.
| Only few days ago a newspaper
published opinions gathered from
many of the senators and the con-
census of that opinion was that for the
present at least the matter should be
| left with President Cleveland. Senator
| Lodge who was SO strongly in favor
of recognizing the insurgents last
| spring now voices a growing opinion
| ton afford any benefit IL the Cubans.
but that on the contrary ii would he
direct help to Spain. If this view of
| the matter be found To be the correct one
the responsibility upon the Presidents
| shoulders is not lightened for it is evil
dent that the time of rendering assist
| ance to the insurgents, by means of
what is euphoniously known as our
| good Offices" is past and it would
|
cal is interference. The President has
| never been slow to assume RESPONSE
| bility when he chose to do so and he
showed in his treatment of the Nene-
zuelan affair a disposition to keep
silent tongue until such time as he
| could create a sensation by his utter
| ances 1t is not impossible, indeed
| there is more or less proba ability, that
| he is planning for another such sur
prise in his forthcoming message. OF
course there are strong reasons why he
| shouldn't do this, especially as it
attitude of the next administration so
near at hand must be. Moreover our
| coast defenceS are not in such condi-
ton as they should be in event of hos
tiltes even with Spain. The weight
| of proba bility is that President Cleve-
land will not make a radical departure
| from his previous position on the ques-
ton but will continue the efforts to get
in readiness for trouble that may at
/ any time arise. Moreover the pub
lished interviews with prominent sena-
tors incline to the opinion that there
! will be no concerted attempt on the
part OF Congress to force the admins
tration into taking radical step. But
| in whatever way the matter be
| viewed it will he seen to be fraught
| with possibilities, some of them of
| serious import. The sentiment in
| favor of active interference by our
| government to put an end to the afro
| cious conduct of affairs in Cuba is We
believe. stronger than ever before and
| for the present. at least is increasing
anG although not so demonstrative as
| earlier in the year is assuming the
| form of settled conviction.
The grip containing a large amount