The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
An English Review on Dur Respon'
sibility for Cuba.

II anybody in Washington imagines that
Great Britain would view with any other
feeling but one of cordial approval our
recognition of the Cuban revolutionists as
belligerents, we advise him to read some
remarks upon the subject in the April num-
Der of the London National Rerfew. The
editor Of that periodical, which, as we have
often pointed out, reflects more faithfully
than any other English newspaper or maya
zine the views of the Salisbury Government,
expresses himself freely about Cuba in the
leading article entitled Episodes of the
Month" and suggests that we Americans
would do well to hold our peace about
Armenia and Crete, SO long as we connive
by our passive attitude at acts of barbarism
which are perpetrated continually in the
Queen of the Antilles.
After describing the contest between
Spain and her unconquerable dependency
as a "ghastly struggle" and the Weyler
policy as "~unspeakably inept and brutal"
the editor of the ReuieW opincs that "Tur-
key would have almost as much nance of
c~onciliating the Cretans as Spain has of
pacifying the followers of MAKING GOMEZ
and the late ANTONIO MACEo." Such a
policy is pronounced out of date, and the
only remaining practical question is held
to be this, namely, whether Spain can
make up her mind to relinquish her grip
upon Cuba before she herself Is submerged
in bankruptcy and anarchy; II, indeed, 1t
be not already too late for her to escape her.
self from the terrible fate she has inflicted
upon her dependency. The condition of the
unhappy island is recognized as woful
beyond description. Touching WEYLER's
savage and inhuman method of campaign
Ing, the evidence of the Havana corre-
spondent of the London Times Is cited: ~
have just returned from a journey In Pinar
del Rio. The whole country Is completely
laid waste with the exception Of a few
tobacco centres. Some 10000 country
people, nearly all women and children, have
been driven into the towns by order of Gen.
WEYLER and are literally starving"
In view of the frightful state of things
which has existed for some two years at
our very doors, can the greatest of Ameri.
can republics Justify Its posture of indiffer-
ence by the query, Gam l my brothers
keeperT' The National RevieiO reminds
us that with regard to Cuba the United
States are not hampered by a European
concert, as liberal-minded governments like
those of England, France, and Italy are
with regard to Armenia and Crete; and,
moreover, that our repeated warnings to
European powers not to interfere In a ques-
tion so peculiarly American as the fate of
Cubs have hus far been received without
any remonstrance, and may, therefore, be
deemed to have met with temporary ac-
quiescence. Yet, although we have thus
assumed in the face of the world the whole
moral responsibility for the treatmento of the
Cubans in accordance with the dictates of
civilization and humanity, the RerietO
charges that American policy toward its
Cuban neighbor has been far more impotent
than has that of the European concert
toward Crete; for the latter island has
been, at least, finally detached from direct
Turkish rule. 1t now seems probable that,
when the account Is definitely made up,
there will be as little left of Cuba as there
Is of Armenla-although the emancipation
of Cuba has been at all times a far simpler
task for the American Federation, which Is
under one government, than has been the
rescue of Armenia by the European Fedora
ton, which Is composed of six Jealous and
hostile Governments, to the concord and CO.
operation Of which insuperably difficult OBJ
structions are presented.
It 10 for these reasons that the influential
ERgllshmen represented by the English