Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-20
Tile cIrnAN PLANR.

IHh tbDdN fltANh-
Senator Mason Of Illinois In his speech
In the senate on Tuesday In support Of
the Morgan resolution, referred to the
plank in the republican national plat
form relating TO Cuba, which lie in
tcrpreted as committing the party In
favor of aggressive action by the gov
ernment to secure Cuban independence.
That plank Is as follows: "From the
hour of achieving their own independ-
ence the people of the United States
have regarded with sympathy the strug-
giles OF other American peoples to free
themselves from European domination.
We watch with deep and abiding in
terest the heroic battle of the Cuban
patriots against cruelty and oppression
and our best hopes go out for
the full success of their determined
contest for liberty. The government of
Spain, having lost control of Cuba, and
being unable to protect the property or
lives OF resident American citizens, or to
comply with its treaty obligations, we
believe that the government of the
United States should actively use its in
fluence and good offices TO restore peace
and give independence to the island"
1t will not be questioned that this Is
in accord with the practically unanimous
sentiment of the American people.
There are very few of them who are
not in sympathy with the Cuban cause
and who do not hope for the independ-
ence of the island. But this declaration
of the republican platform admits of
no such Interpretation as the Illinois
senator gave it. To use the influence and
the good offices of the government is
very different thing from the course
advocated by Senators Morgan, Mason
and others, which would be a provoca-
ton to war. 1t is true that the pending
Morgan resolution simply declares that
public war exists in Cuba and that
beligerent rights should be accorded to
the parties to it, but everybody under
stands that this is intended as the first
step toward q policy which would make
the United States Il party to the con
flict. for recognizing the insurgents as
beligerents could be of little If any bene-
fit to them. Beyond giving them the
rights of civilized warfare it is not ap-
parent that it would be of the slightest
! advantage to them. On the other hand
as was pointed out by Senator Hoar, ac-
cording belligerent rights would give
Spain the right to search our ships at
sea and would take away from Ameri-
can citizens in Cuba all hope of recon-
pense for injury done them.
The Morgan resolution declares "that
Il condition of public war exists between
| the government of Spain and the gov
ernment proclaimed and for some time
maintained by force of arms by the peo-
pie of Cuba" Can the conflict in Cuba
be properly dignifed as war? Has 1t
not been rather from the beginning
merely guerrilla warfare? There has
been no real battle between armies, as
in the Greco-TurkiSh war. but merely
sporadic fighting between small bodies
of Cubans and Spaniards. 1t has been
II repetition of what took place in the
former rebellion and President Grant
whose judgment in such a matter most
people will accept as conclusive did not
regard it as being war. And the ALLEGED
Cuban government, where is 1t Located
and what does it control? There is Nc
known port or place on the shores OF
Cuba, under the control and protection
| of the insurgents, where Il visitor or Al
envoy from Il neutral nation can safely
land and no permanent seat of dt
facto authority. maintaining law ant
carrying on the functions of government
There is no evidence of the eXiStenc,
of an organized Cuban government ant
/ If there was one it would undoubtedly
make itself known.
Fortunately there is good reason t'
believe that President Mckinley doe
not interpret the Cuban plank of the re
publican platform as committing him Il
Il policy that would jeopardiZe the peace
| of the United States.
!