The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29
HOW LONG MUST CUBA WAIT ?
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
If the resolutions adopted by congress
had been joint instead of concurrent in
form, they would ere this have been ap-
proved by Mr.. Cleveland. or have been
passed over his veto. In either case, our
recognition of the Cubans as belligerents
would have become fact. For every
additional day that such recognition Is de-
layed there IS grlevous addition to the
crimes against humanity. perpetrated by
the Spaniards, nor can the responsibility
for the liberation of their savagey be
permanently placed upon the president.
the Responsibility viii be shered by both h
long continued disregard by the executive
of the convictions and wishNs OF the Amer
lean people. When 1t shSll seem certain
trate the intentions OF the federal legs-
lature. no senator and no representative
who voted for the resolution can with any
show of consistency refuse to reaftirm
them In peremptory FORM
1t is already evident that Mr.. Cleveland
does not mean to heed the gist of the reso-
lutions. Their primary aim was not the
of the president, that IL Spain would offer
the Cubans home rule, he would urge them
to accept it. That was merely Il supple
resus could f
the overture by any one familiar with the
history OF SPANS relations with her Amer
lean dependencies. Their capital object
was the Immediate recognition Of the revo-
lutionists as belligerents, so that, when
made prisoners. they might no longer be
deprived Of the merciful treatment pre-
scribed by the usages OF civilized warfare
Such recognition Is for the moment all
that Cubans themselves request, and 1t Is
the least that they have right to ask Of
humane and enlightened people. 1t is
prevent the prosecution OF programme
of determination in Cuba, as 1t Is the
duty of Russia to avert renewal of the
Armenian atrocities. Our duty Is much
more easily discharged. To rescue the
Christians in Armenia the czar might have
to interpose by force. But u mere declar-
alton on our part would give the Cuban
combatants for liberty the status, which
they desire and deserve under the law
Of nations. To postpone or evade, on the
pretext Of doing something else, the con-
cession Of q status which would enable the
Cubans to liberste themselves is a re-
istration, which had disastrous enect
upon the outcome of the ten years war
for independence.
-:l:-
Those who voted for the concurrent res
olutions never supposed that they were
weakening the force Of their demand for
the acknowledgment of Cuba's belliger-
Of opinion that the president should en-
deavor to bring about a termination Of
the war. Had the friends Of Cuba. who
constitute nine-tenths Of both houses,
imagined for moment that Mr.. Cleveland
would make his acceptance of their advice
in matter Of secondary concern an ex-
cuse for rejecting 1t in matter Of para
mount Importance. they would have con-
fined themselves to a short but sufficient
declaration that the Cubans are in point
Of fact belligerents, like that set forth
in the joint resolution introduced by Sem
ator Morgan. We have no doubt, In spite
Of the dilatory tactics to which the few
enemies Of Cuba In the senate might recur.
that the Morgan resolution could be speed
lily passed. We believe that the senator from
Alabama will call up and press his res
olution, now that the president has given
unmistakable proofs of his intention to dis
regard a wish expressed by the peoples
representatives with an impressive ap-
proach to unanimity