The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-21
SPANS GREAT MMITARYFAILUR
Great Stroke For the United States.
Cuba Would BE Boon to This Country,
For 1t Is the Richest Land In the


dependence or to that island becoming a
sort of dependency of the United States.
1 was talking about this today with q men,
Der of the presidents cabinet, and this
official said to me:
1t would be great thing for the Unit
ed States II we could acquire Cuba, either
directly as a territory or indirectly as "a
dependency whose existence we were to
guarantee. Leaving out of the question
the humanity Of the matter the demand
which exists for some solution of the prob
lem that will protect life and put stop to
the suffering which exists among peaceful
people in the island Cuba is Of vast i'm
portance to us commercially. ] have seen
the reports of our consuls on file at the
state department., and they tell an amaz-
ing story of SPANS failure to care for the
noncombatants who were driven into the
fortified cities and towns by General Wey-
ler's cdict. They are suffering from lack
of food, smallpox RACES among them to
such an extent that at one place il is re-
ported 2, 500 men, women and children
have the disease, and yellow fever threat
ems to break out. The sanitary condition
Of these refugees is most wretched. II is
high time something were done to relieve
all this suffering, and l think the presi-
dents move TO afford relief will meet with
the approval Of the whole world.
The Truth About Cuba.
"There is another thing" continued
this member of the cabinet 1.-THE truth
about Cuba is likely to come out now
The men who go down there to distribute
the supplies purchased by the government
will see some heartrcnding scenes. They
will see thousands of people huddled to-
gether in little huts, starving, diseased,
hopeless Not many of these are Ameri-
cans, either native or naturalized, hut all
will beg for help. The agents of tho gov
ernment will find it difficult TO refuse such
appeals. 1t will be almost impossible to
refuse to deal out little bread or medi
cine even if the suffering person is not en-
titled to the protection of this government.
Thus all the facts about Cuba's failure to
take care of the refugees, of the victims of
her own edicts, will come to light The
news will be spread all over the world.
And if mistake not the people of all the
world will demand that the United States
intervene for the purpose Of putting a stop
to these horrors
"But, Mr.. Secretary" remarked, call
this has already been made known through
the newspapers.
fair to say, to the credit of the men who
have been in Cuba as the representatives
of our great newspapers, that they have
told the truth. They have accurately de-
scribed what they saw there. They have
been confirmed in every particular by our
consular reports. But now the facts are
to come out in semioffcial way. The
world will no longer be skeptical. it will
have TO believe that Spain has not only
scored military failure in Cuba, but that
she has failed most miserably to meet her
RESPONSIBILITIES as civilized government.
Nothing is better settled than that when
| q government finds it necessary to remove
| noncombatants from their homes, as a
| military measure, 1t must take care OF
| them. 1t is responsible for them before
| the world Spain thought to starve out
| the insurgents by removing the people
from their farms. The insurgents are not
starving but the poor people who We're
ordered into the cities are
| The Presidents Feelings.
"Do you think, Mr.. Secretary, the pres
ident will be forced to Intervene
| 81 do not feel at liberty to talk about
the intentions of the president Much will
depend upon the attitude of Spain. If she
| takes hold of the situation as she should
| do, If she retres the generals and military
| leaders who have disgraced her name and
robbed her of her resources by their corrup-
| ton and worthlessness, and makes a sim
cere effort to relieve the sufferings OF the
| refugees and to restore order in the island,
the president may not interfere. But
| could not answer for the consequences II
Spain pursues her past policy and goes on
scoring failure after failure. l am sure
the president has very earnest, very
Deep feeling OH this question, and that he
is determined to do his duty as he sees 1t.
He believes the American people will up
hold him in anything he undertakes Tor
the betterment of the people of Cuba,
among whom are many American citizens.
"There Is one thing feel very sure OF,
| continued this member of the cabinet. 1T
Is that if events bring about the annexa-
I ton of Cuba to the United States, or tho
placipg of the island under American pro
lection, it will be II fortunate t~.y for this
country. Since came to Washington l
have made u special study OF Cuba AM its
relations to the United States, Gnd } have
been amazed TO discu>tr WATT Il Loon to
this country, conn,Iti..lIy. Luua Would
be. If oder is rCstI..,. Ia Tx islnpd ana
the rcoplc are guaranteed n strong, just
government for all tine To come, you VIII
see i'm Cuba one If the greatest bGon.s OF
modern times. IL is the ricLcst land III
the world. lts Plantations, its mines It's
forests. need American money and enter
prise
A Pre- iictior.
"Within go day aft,r the future OF Cuba
was assured by its being placed under our
protection OF authority you would sec
thousands of Americans going there to be.
Gin business operations. Cnba would
blossom like rose We need some such
outlet for our young men; we need JUST
such field for investment, for enterprise
and for commerce. Make Cuba free OF
give her a settled government, and hen
trade with the United States would quick.
" run up to the hundreds OF millions o.
dollars a year It would be great stroke
for the United States and should not Dc
surprised to see 1t accomplished within a
wear or so. Mark the prediction that sew
eral chapters Of history will be written
during the lifetime of this administra'
tion." WAIiN" AA~AN'
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