The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-02
STOP THE CUBAN BClCHERY.
From the Philadelphia Times.


The rebellion in Cuba began just one
year ago. when Gomez and Maceo landed
on the eastern extremity Of the islam
within week Of each other with q total
following Of twenty-eight men. Since then
they have increased their army to not
less than 5000 effective troops already
armed, with nearly as many more ready
TO JOIN the insurgent forces II they cou.d
be armed for battle. This army has trav-
ersed and planted Its flag In every prov
ince Of Cuba. and to-day holds possession
OF two.thirds OF the provinces wherein tho
Spanish government does not pretend 10
exercise authority, and the latest tile
Fought between the Spanish and the pat.
riot armies was fought within a few miles
OF the Spanish capital. The world hss
authority true information as to the pro-
sress OF the rebellion. Every insurgent
leader or note has been reported as killed
time and again. and repeated and circum-
stantial accounts of victories by the Span
ish troops have been given to the word
when. In point Of fact, there has not been
anything approaching q decisive defeat OF
the insurgents from the beginning Of the
war until to-day. Notwithstanding the
facts that the Spanish government has
sent to Cuba over 10000 troops, and thar T
the island Il in places less than 40 miles
wide, the Spanish have not been able at
any time to hinder the march Of Gomez
ana Macoo to any part OF the island they
choose to invade. While there have beer.
continued skirmishes between fragment
OF the two armies, there have been two
conflicts which may be justly described as
pitched battles. In both Of which the In
svrgents were victorious. In the last
fought only few days ago by the flower
ing party was thoroughly routed, and was
saved from annih!latiOn only by taking re-
fuge under the guns of the Spanish fleet
i i ,
IL Is Idle to talk about adjustment of the
difficulties between the Spanish govern
ment and the Cubans, for that is impossi-
BILE. The promised reforms embraced III
the peace that ended the last ten years
war, were refused to the Cuban people.
For more than a century the wrongs Of
by the hapless residents Of the island, and
every material pledge Of reform made by
Spain has been violated. There can be
no suppression of the rebellion In Cuba
the Cuban people. They are subs stantially
united In their cause. They understand
well that they must either triumph by
the overthrow Of tho Spanish domination
In Cuba or they must suffer death or
transportation. To reconcile such oppos-
sibil;ty. and the world must accept the
fact that the Cuban rebellion cannot be
suppressed by force Of arms. 1t Is claimed
that the international laws regulating the
the existence OF a de facto government
that Is thoroughly established and eXer-
cising all the functions Of power. This
The Cubans do not possess, and yet they
govern Cuba to-day outside of the Span
ish capital Of Havana, and they have gov
erned it for fully six months past. They
have nominal administration without
means to establish courts, postal routes,
ETC., and actual exercise Of power Is i'm
possible. The government of Cuba Is to-
ln., NJ
premacy Is absolute. as Spanish authority
Is guarded by Spanish bayonets In little
corner Of the island. Every substance Of
the laws Of belligerent rights is on the side
OF the Cubans, while the technical shad-
Ows are against them. There Is much
more law to-day for the recognition Of the
beiligerent rights Of the Cubans than
there was for President Lincoln Issuing
his emancipation proclamation. That act,
that now stands out as the most illustri-
GUS human achievement of the century,
was forbidden by every law Of the land.
and yet the name OF Lincoln Is immortal
because he met the supreme necessities Of
the time by looking solely to the safety Of
the Republic.
1t must be accepted by every dispas-
sionate observer of the situation In Cuba
that Spain cannot suppress the rebellion.
and one Of two things should be speedily
done by the civilized nations Of the world.
Ihey SnOulu eitheI unite u matt Spatn
and demand AN adjustment acceptable to
the Cuban people in the interest of hui
manity and in the material interests Of
all the great nations. or they should give
the Cuban insurgents beliigcrent rights
their Il own Independence. The American
citizens have over $3o.o9o.oo0 invested In
the mines and sugar estates OF Cuba, and
England and France have doubtless quite
as many millions invested by their citi-
tn n In IN tSrvvn md nVal
France are large holders Of Spanish Sc
curitles based upon the revenues Of Cuba
which are certain to be utterly destroyed
II the war should continue: 1t can hardly
be disputed at this late day that II the
year, the entire island Of Cuba will be
desolated by the extreme necessities OF q
heroic people struggling for their indepen
dence. These material interests alone
should inspire every civilized government
Is now simply savage butchery.
But there are higher considerations
which enter Into the Cuban question. The
civilized nations Of the world confess obe-
or all the wars Of the century that in
Cuba ia the most barbarous and murder
Gus, and 1t must grow In ferocity as 1t
continues. II the material interests Of the
civilized world shall not call for interven.
the Cubans shall have something ap.
equal rights by their recogni-
tion as belligerents. That done by the
single government Of the United States
would terminate the conflict within three
months, and whatever the other civilized
Of the world shall do. the
duty of the United States to intervene BY
the insurgents as belligerents
should be accepted as paramount. This
has not been In any way ie-
sponsible for the Cuban rebellion, but 1t
must henceforth be justly responsible for
continued butchery and devastation II II
- Ill rafnaa "a recoypi1a TIM a DIM ally