Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-23
CUBA CONSIDERED,


Again IN the attention Of the people |
of the United States drawn to what |
was once the gem of the Antilles"
but Is now a battle-scarred, barren, |
forbidding nook in the vast expanse of |
nature. More nearly united to this
country than to any other, making |
life-and-death struggle for independ-
encc upon largely the same lines and |
against almost as great odds as OBJ
toined in the elght-year conflict which |
eventuated the freedom OF the col |
onles, they naturally once in while |
turn n longing gaze across the mar
row expanse OF water which separates |
us from them. When they do SO they |
must occasionally wonder n the spirit |
Of freedom from kinSly rule which is |
supposed to be a heritage to us and |
an incentive 10 the oppressed every |
where has died. or withered, or been |
put aside and neglected in the giddy |
quest of material and sensuous things; |
meantime they falter not, but half |
starved and ragged continue n fight |
which means I'm its outcome to them |
the same as the Revolutionary strug |
gle meant to our forefathers and us
liberty or death. II is grand and |
yet gloomy spectacle.
The subject receives fresh impetus |
at the present time from the warlike |
aspect of things in the diplomatic air. |
But the matter Is never overlooked |
and at times the pelting which occurs
becomes so voluminous and wide
reaching that 1t looks as If we We're
on the eve OF arising in our might and
saying to the unworthy descendants
of Ferdinand and Isabella. THE war
in Cuba ceases at once" Some of the
utterances In their behalf are quite
aggressive and all more or less Wig
orous.
The Chicago Records pulpit edl-
toraTs" recently presented a strong
exhibit of this side of the case. show
ing among other things that the time
is coming when even the most circum-
spect administration cannot refrain
from interfering. Spain has been given
the fullest opportunity to show its
ability to govern the island colony,
and has signally failed. The next ses-
sion of our national Legislature. now
not far off, will probably take serious
steps. The question arises, what viii
| 10 the duty of the Christian in the
| event of an armed conflict of America
with Spain? DO the principles of nom
resistance taught by the Savior forbid
his bearing arms at all? Or would
| this be such a war as could be called
| "holy' In any sense, so much as to
make his encouragement of 1t justih-
able2 The editorial sermonizer answers
by saying that these questions depend
upon the attitude our President and
| Senate may take. 1 consider there is
position they may assume which will
make our Intervention righteous and
worthy the aid of every Christian.
| The FIRST thing to note Is that Jesus
| command of peace has n deeper and
more far-reachug meaning than
merely personal non-retaliation. In
a republic like ours it means that
while that republic is to manifest due
forbearance and patience under indig-
mites aimed against itself, at the
same time 1t is to secure and maintain
peace and law In every way in which
its power may extend: and to do this
a recourse to force may be necessary.
| The immense resources of our nation
constitute talent lent OF God for
which we are nationally responsible"
The argument isiclinched by the con-
cluslon that III it lie in us to stop the
horrid reign of terror in the little isle
that nestles at our feet, it is our plain
duty to do it, whatever may be the
International complications. To wage
battle in order to annex Cuba for our
own selfish ends, or to NEEDLE with an
other nations affairs from sheer pride
when they concern us not, would be on
a level with the innumcrable wicked
wars of history. But to step into the
lection to distracted people, and then
TO turn the government of the paci-
fed country over to whomsoever shows
the best right and title to it-this
would be but exhibiting on national
scale the theories of Jesus. which are
for Justice and mercy"
| Well-chosen, evcn-tempered Ian
guago this, Undoubtedly, as stated,
if the United States shah thus enter
the lists in behalf Of common hu-
manity, acting upon SO dignIfied and
dlsinterested q motive, while in all
cases purging herself of every charge
of seif-seeking, such course viii COM
mand the loyal support of every good
citizen Of this country and the sym
pathetic support OF Christian peoples
everywhere. The principle enunoiated
by Dr. Wheaton, which received the
commentator OF President Woolsey
of yale College, is quoted approvingly:
Whatever nation may lawfully de-
fend for itself it may defend for an
other ii called on to interfere"
Altogether, it looks very much as II
the beginning Of the end We're at hand,
and that the end Itself viii nos lang
tardily behind. So mote It be.
"LIBERAL RELIGION" IN CONGRESS
The fourth annual meeting of the