The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-15
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER l5 1897


Manuel R Silva; geueral.in chief,
Maximo Gomez; lieutenant.general,
Calixto Garcia"
The house of representatives is either
to be muzzled or called upon to declare
that this revolutionary government
which has virtually crushed the power
Of Spain in Cuba. has no such de facto
existence as will authorize recogoi-
ton of war between the contending
parties. That absurd contention be-
comes the more grotesque when We re-
member that Spain has expended With.
out eject against such revolutionary
government far more money aud men
than Great Britain employed during
our entire revolutionary war, There
are limits even to the patience of the
American people; aud the time has
nov come whnn the executive power
should be made to feel through public
demonstration that the na'ion will no
longer permit its sovereign will in q
righteous cause to be entirely set aside
10 the interest of q tremulous. selfish,
short-sighted policy The whole con
test COW centres in the passage Of the
belligerenoy resolution pending 10 the
house. If that cannot be carried, then
nothing whatever can be done to end q
strife that has been going on for fifteen
years ont Of the last twenty nine. aud
which after destroying our commerce
with the island has become var cloud
that to-day obscures every business
enterprise. If the present administra-
tiou proposes to indefinitely postpooe
such uncertainty at the COST of every
business interest it must be prepared to
accept the consequences
At this last stage of the struggle
there can hardly be a doubt that if
belligerenoy should be recognized,
withio three moths the insurgents
would be so dominant in the island,that
the war could shortly be ended by the
recognition cf 0aban independence.
Those wbo are best informed firmly be-
lieve that without one word of aid or
sympathy from US that result will be
attained within twelve or eighteen
months. If buugliug diplomacy shall
permit such an event the situation may
assume serious fern that few seem to
contemplate If we scorn and spit
upon the Cubans until victory and in.
dependence are Won without aid or
comfort from us, why should they noa
tnrn to one or the other of the great
maritime powers that will then be only
too, eager to supply all their wants aud
to enter into the closest relations with
them ? We have for loog time de-
clared that no European power other
than Spain shall ever possess Cuba
We may so blunder as to be forced to
maintain that coatention at the point of
the sword
Out Of such possible difficulties the
way is now clear and easy. Let the
pending belilgerency resolution be
promptly passed by the house and
Spain's power in Cuba will collapse
like punc.ured balloon. For tha.
reason she is makiog desperate fight
against it with the aid of the present
administration. Oaiy through the
triumph Of the revolutionary govern
meut can permanent aud lasting peace
be established 10 Cuba ooly through
prompt aud decided expression of
sympathy with that government can we
extricate ourselves from a dilemma
which is fast growing ioto the most
short-sigb.ed and disgraceful episode
in our national history
y HANN1s TAYLOR