The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-06
"A Miserable Position. .
The Attitude of the United
States Toward Cuba-Let
Cleveland Act
Greenville News.
Greenville News.

Greenville News.
There is wisdom in Maceo's sugges-
too that If we wish to see the war in
Cuba ended we should allow 10000
improved rifles and 100000 car
tridges to be sent over to the Cubans.
It is on the line of General Grants
theory of war which was that the most
merciful aod humane course was to
end it as soon as possible regardless of
the coast in life or mouey. He belived
it was better to kill hundred thousand
men 10 two months, and have an end
than to protract contest over three or
four years with the same loss of life
aud vastly more suffering ard loss. Ii
there must be butcheriog, the quicker
aud more complete it is. and the sooner
it is over the better. We doubt il
Grants geoeralship or craftsmanship
were admirable. but he deserves uclim-
tied admiration because be had the
oerve to apply remedy demanded by
the situation but naturally abhorrene to
human feeling, as any desperate surgi-
cal operation IS. no matter how neces-
sary. The bulldog tenacity with which be
continued his "powsr of attrition"
method, swapping three lives of his
own men for one of ours. brought the
inevitable end with merciful rapidity
aud saved the south and north years Of
waste aud horror.
The present position of this county
toward Cuba is as mean, cowardly, con-
temptible aud unsatisfactory as it could
possibly be. We have officially re-
corded 10 words our sympathy with the
people who are struggling Cor home
rule and liberty, and have officially an-
nounced By our actions that we are
afraid to help them We have put our
selves before the world 10 the shameful
attitude of meddling in the affairs of
foreigners as far as We dared We are
in the position of nea finding
woman threatened and endangered by
a rufian and couteotiog himself with
smooth rcmonstrance to the assaileut
and declarations Of sympathy to the
victim. We have challenged the ha-
tired of Spain aud have done nothing
to deserve the gratitude or respect Of
Cuba It would have been more decent
if ~e had pretended to ignore the war.
We have gone just so far that self re-
spect demands that we 60 further.
Reports from both sides tell US that
the conditions 10 Cuba are horrible
All Industry is paralyzed, all property
is destroyed. The country mas been
laid waste With starving, helpless and
hopeless people. Non -combasants are
being murdered on every side
By our empty declarations Of sympa-
thy and holding out hope ots recogpi-
tion We are encouraging the Cubaus to
hope and continue the war, while we
are preventing them from obtaining the
means With which they could force an
issue and result We should do one
thing or the otber-epforce our peu-
srality laws rigidly, declare that DO
sympathy or help is to be expected
from Us AID ALLOW the rebellion to col
lapse, or give such aid as will make it
quickly and completely successful We
are urging on the war and helping each
side to destroy the other
Ibe Greenville News has profound
respect for President Cleveland's judg-
ment. We have seen it vindicated SO
many times, have seen the propricty of
his motives and the wisdom of his meth
DDS illustrated SO clearly when appear
ances indicated otherwise that we have
learned to hesitate 10 criticism OF bis
courses. In this case, however, as 10
the Armenian matter, it seems that he
owes his owu eouotry and the cause Of
humanity clear, prompt and explicit
declaration of his purposes. The emer-
gency is pressing. People are starry
ing and suffering. lives are being taken
by scores nearly every day, misery is
being accumulated for years aud gen.
erations to come. Our government is
being held iu disgraceful position
Our own honor, humanity, the blood of
brave men being constantly shed, the
shferings Of women and children,
combine to appeal to him for decisive
action. His delay is staining his re-
cord, destroying Cuba and making the