The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-22
Probably a False Report.
But, if True, it Ought to be
Answered IN This Fashion.
New York Mail and Express.


1t is ap Utterly false proposition that
''she recognition of Cuban belligereucy
is not desired by the property owners of
the island, who are even more strongly
opposed 70 independence.
The President, if be has said that,
as reported 10 the dispatches from
Washington. has deliberately shut bis
eyes to the most easily obtaiuaole facts.
More than one-half of the area Of Cuba
is owned by native Cubaos More than
so per cent Of her sugar and tobacco
estates. which are her chief sources OF
wealth: are owned by native Cneans.
So active have they been that Weyler
has in proclamation. ordered the
con6scation cf their properties unless
they can clear their skirts Of infe euces
naturally drawn from the presence of
their -ous. relatives. employees and ten
acts in the patriot ranks. Scores of
these men with properties worth from
800 900 70 81 100000. selling every
dollars worth sney produce to the
United States. YET com PEELED to buy
every dollars worth they consume from
Spa n, because of an outra geously
arbitrary and discriminating tariff, have
barely managed to make both ends
meet. year after year, knowing that
with independence or atszation to
the United States they sou'd reap
profits and sell their sugar at cent
less per pound We have heard from
American and French planters. as we'll
as from these native Cubans Give
US anything. eveo negro domination,
for nothing can te 50 bad as the pres
ept Spanish rule "
10 the opinion of Mr. Cleveland and
Mr. Olney. says the report. ''tbe
presence of the Spanish army is all that
keeps the island from state Of anar
chy."
This is as insulting to the intelli-
gence of Americans as ii is TO the brave
patriots who have declaration Of ipde-
pendence aud constitution modelled
after our own /; who have thoroughly
orgaaized government, with president.
cabioet and congress, of which our
own was taken as model VI no have
al armv of sc, D0U men conducting cam
paigus il so scieoti6c manner that all
tie military skill Of -Spain's generals
at the head Of 100000 men has
resulted 10 series Of defeats termipa-
ting in the complete occupation of al
most the whole Of Cuba. and who
furthermore, have such secure pos
session Of the interior, Of the island
that the aag of the new rebublic floats
peacefully over hundred towns,
where the Spanish never invade, where
taxes are collected. where estates have
bsgun.to griud cane. where business has
been resumed and where women are
safe.
Minister de LONE has represented 20
Secretary Oloey that bis government is
',re: dy to pat into effect the reform i; W
recrony assed as soon as tits cao BE
done
That is Why Cuba is in rcrolu'ion
After rhe Ten Years War, and uear'v
s~euty years ago, Spain used the dentl
cal language of that promise When
she had robbed for twenty years and
she patience of Cuba was exhausted
she passed the reform law to prevent a
war that Campos. Sagas,a, Canovas
aod her whole government saw was
inevitable. Cuba waited The law
was dead letter the day after it was
nade Then Cuba took up arms again.
Not even then was independence de-
clsred, and Spain could have ended the
war even after Campos landed in the
island, but the message he sent to the
patriots was the same daily excuse apo
evasioo-''as soon as it can be done "
Cuba kuows-the world knows-possi-
bly, the President does not kpow-bow
much water Spanish promise can hold.
Secretary Olney is said to 'JustIfy
the action Of the President in suggest
iog couclliatory propositions '-apolo-
gizes for them iu other words-''by the
single plea of the great and growing
commercial and industrial interests Of
United States citizens 10 Cuba.
10 the past eleven months the Amerl'
can people have paid s36.o00,OOO
more for the sugar they have consumed
than they paid the last year before the
war broke out This is only one item
of our expense bill for aiding Spain to
prolopg struggle which inevitably
must end against her There is no
way now of forming an estimate of the
millions Of American property which
has been destroyed. aud for which all
claims against the bankrupt monarchy
will be valuable ouly as souvenirs OF
the new republic.
The President" !" concludes the re-
port. ..beiieves that the Cubaus and