The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1896-06-12
The United States and Spain
From an English Point of View.

Matters in Cuba are fast coming to 6
head, and it is possible that we are on
the eve Of the sudden ending of SPANS
colonial possessions in the New World.
If this comes about, it will be due, as
we have previously pointed out, to the
action of the United States, which holds
the Cuban question in the hollow of its
hand. There is one point in the pres
ent situation upon which we can, we
confess, scarcely look with satisfaction.
While we believe that the great mass of
the American people are genuinely and
earnestly DESTROYS of seeing Cuba freed
from the corrupt and tyranic yoke of
Spain, we confess that in our Judgment
the American politicians are merely
using the question of Cuba to gain
votes at the Forthcoming Presidential
election. In other words, politicians
are exploiting for their own purposes
genuine movement of public sympa-
thy. This it is which leads us to look
with some suspicion on what is going
on at Washington at the present time.
However that may be, it is clear that
the situation is so critical that any
thing may happen. The whole of Spain
including even the most advanced Re
publicans, is unanimous in its attitude
on the Cuban question-that is to say,
it is in favor of the retention of Cuba
as Spanish colony. We do not doubt
that the Spanish Republicans are in
favor of Home Rule for Cuba, and that
Is the solution which might have been
adopted years ago had the Spanish au-
thorities been wiser and less greedy.
But the time for home rule is past, and
it is now plain that nothing short of
complete Cuban independence, on one
hand, or the crushing out of the revo-
lutionary movement by merciless mill
tarism, on the other, can possibly take
place. Either solution is full of gray
ity to Spain.
On the one hand, if Cuba is lost, the
blow to the Spanish monarchy will be
80 great that it is expected the monar-
chy will come to an end, and either |
republican or a dietatorial regime will |
ensue. On the other hand, it is quite
certain that if Spain proceeds to VIC
lent extremities in Cuba, she viii incur |
the hostility of the United States, and |
war will take place. No one can doubt
for moment that the United States |
would crush Spain with comparative |
ease within two or three months. Hav-
ana would be knocked to pieces by a |
bombardment, and the new and SPLEEN
did American battleships and cruisers
would sweep every Spanish vessel from
the sea. OF course, in that event the
Spanish monarchy would also be over
thrown and revolution would take
place in Spain. In any event, therefore,
the outlook for Spain is dark, and un-
less speedy end is made of this wretch
ed guerilla war in Cuba, we fear that
the trade and prosperity of the Pearl of
the Antilles will be absolutely ruined
for decades to come While we do not
approve of filibustering either in Cuba
or the Transvaal, it is evident that so
long as Cuban beligerency is not rec
ognized, such flibustering win take
place. Open warfare would be the best
thing, and therefore it is that we should
the recognition of Cuban bel
igerancy by President Cleveland. This
would make the war short and serious
one, instead of long series of plumber
Ings and butcheries such as has been
going on for twelve months. Then, if
Cuba conquers, we shall either see a
new Republic added to the list of SOW
sreign powers or we shall see new
State added to the American Union. ,
Il, on the other hand, Spain conquers, q
she must at least use her victory mer- c
,ifnlly, or the United States would open /,
Ire at once on Spain, and would be /
we think, by the general t
public opinion of the world. In any
vent terrible problem presents itself c
o the Spanish Government, which is i
low called on to bear the heavy burden :
# the iniquities and cruelties which r
ave attached to Spanish colonial rule i
yer since the Spaniards first set foot
N the soil of America Never were
lines more fully verified
The evil that men do lives after them" n
Reynolds Newspaper, London.