Evening journal., 1896-12-14
THE MESSAGE ANENT CUBA.

THE MESSAGE ANENT CUBA.
AS the people of this country now
feel regarding the war in Cuba, Presi-
dent Cleveland has not added TO his
popularity by the position he has taken
in his late message regarding this mat
ter. He does not seem to have changed
his views, as heretofore expressed and
though admitting the possibility that
future events will make it necessary
for this government to interfere he fa-
vors the policy which his administra-
tion has heretofore pursued, and which
has proved so satisfactory to Spain.
His reason for this seems to be that
both Spain and the Cubans are wrong,
and while. as a people, we might SYM
pathize with the latter, we are bound
as a nation TO carry out our treaty obli-
cation with the former.
This is the same old story over again,
and will result, so far as this country
is concerned, in perpetuating the war
in Cuba so long as Spain can support
an army there and the insurgents can
continue TO find hiding places. The
trouble with the president seems to be
that the Cubans have no civil govern
mSnt. Their real head is the com
mander-in-chief of their armies in the
field. Mr.. Cleveland is a great sticlxler
for civil authority, and he seems to
think It impossible to lower his dignity
sufficiently to treat with a man who
holds apparently three quarters OF the
island of Cuba under his authority,
and has cooped up over 100000
Spanish troops in the fortified towns Of
the island.
Anyone would think from his ac-
tions, that President Cleveland favored
Spain, although he takes particular
pains TO assert that he sympathizes
with the Cuban patriots. The policy
which he has pursued from the begin
ming has been so favorable to the for
mer country-that of letting them
alone TO put down the rebellion IL they
are able to do so-that he has made
himself all along unpopular with ma
jority of the people OF this country, who
do not feel that Spain deserves. or ever
did deserve, any such consideration
from our hands.
The people Of the United States
doubtless remember Spain's connection
with the discovery of the western
hemisphere, but do they, to use the
presidents words, appreciate "the
great qualities OF the Spanish people,
or fail 10 fully recognize their splendid
patriotism and their chivalrous devo-
tion to the national honor. They view
with wonder and admiration the cheer
ful resolution with which vast bodies
of men are sent across thousands of
miles of ocean, and an enormous debt
accumulated, that the costly possession
of the Gem of the Antilles may still
hold its place in the Spanish crown.
And yet, neither the government nor
the people of the United States have
shut their eyes to the course of events
in Cuba, or have failed to realize the
conceded grievances which have led to
the present revolt from the authority
of Spain"
This kind of talk leads the president
kldItlulil bn W cuOW his own pans III
the matter. He is a man of peace, and
he evidently wishes to retire from Of
fee honored for having maintained the
peace of the country during a some
what trying period of our existence as
a nation. With this view he proposes
to mediate between Spain and Cuba
He would like Spain to be generous
and Cuba obedient But we would re
mind him that the time for all this ha.
gone by. The Cuban war must be stop
ped by making Cuba free, and if W,
understand the temper OF the Ameri
can people they propose to do it, ever
at the cost of war with Spain. Pos
sibly things may remain as they ar
until Mr.. Cleveland retires from tn
White House, but in his present cours
the latter is only smothering a volcan,
that is sure to break loose on the ad
vent of his successor.