The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-11-17
The Cuban Crisis.

! result nut DumlllatlOn. Ine WnOle
world IS fast getting to the conclu-
sion that freedom is the destiny OF
Cuba. Spain is making what ap-
pears TO he n last desperate effort
Captain General Weylcr has taken
the field in person, in command OF
the Spanish forces on the island
and it seems to have been expect
ed that this act would strike terror
to the hearts of the insurgents. 1t
has been accompanied by good
deal of melodramatic display
There have been already cooked
up stories about personal bravery
on the part of Weyler, and solici.
tude upon the part of his friends on
account of his exposure to danger.
Weyler is said to have replied that
the bullet was not cast that would
Kill him. 1t is only story-took
soldiers who talk that way. Cuban
bullets are no respccters Of persons
among their enemies, but Weyler
will probably avoid being shot by
keeping out of harms way.
The Cubans have gallantly held
their own, and Spain has been los
ing ground constantly. There is
but little prospect that the present
pretenti0us movement against the
patriots will bear richer fruit than
previous similar efforts have. With
her failing finances and the dis.
tress at home over the loss of life
Spain can do no better than she is
doing now. Ifthe current military
movement under Weyler fails, the
Government at Madrid will be
looking for an easy way TO let go
of the island. 1t will not care to
acknowledge that it has been
whipped by the "insurgents." The
impression seems TO prevail in
nearly all countries that Spain, as
a last resort, will court Intervention
by the United States, so that she
may claim that she was overcome
by superior power. She has al.
ready committed acts that would
have been justification for the ap-
pParance of the American eagle on
the scene. There can hardly be
a doubt in the mind of any thought
full, humane man that the author
tiles at Washington should have
long since sent force to Cuba
strong enough. at least, to guaran-
tee accurate Information as to
what was going on there. We have
been asked to keep our hands off
on the strength of false Information.
There have been hints of British
action in connection with this mat
lter, Secretary Olnpy has notified
the Ma rid Government that un-
dust discrimination against Ameri-
can ships at Havana will no longer
be tolerated. 1t is said there are
British interests in Spain that may
ne involved. England should have
no hand in shaping the destinies OF
the island. Having consented to
arbitration (after capturing the
30; ri of Arbilration) in the Ven
'zuelnn case, she may want to
force arbitration on the United
States in the Cuban case. She
wants to throw every possible OBJ
stacle in the way of the spread OF
the institutions Of the Republic in
the Western hemisphere. The
freedom Of Cuba, under the protec-
tion Of the United States, would be
a tremendous triumph Of the Mon
roe doctrine. The British brethren
DO not want this. They have over
matched our ADglomaniac diplo-
mates in the Venezuelan business,
and they would enjoy another
chance at us on Cuba.
= The liberation of Cuba is not to
be work Of diplomacy. If any
people besides the pc ople of Cuba
themselves have anything to do
with achieving that freedom it
must be the people of the United
States. Our government should
not tweaken in the least in its nat.
urai position. If Cuba cannot free
herSelfdhe United States must help
her: Ifany other country interiors
to embarrass the patriots in their
release from Spain the United
Stptes must tell that country TO
keep her hands off, and must en-
force the order.
There has been 10 long dallying
on tbs subject. Long since we had
the cue for action. The people of
Cuba have repeatedly shown their
desire to be released from the pre-
sent thralldom, and to have form
of government more in consonance
with that prevailing in North and
South America. This beautiful