The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-08

now in possession of the greater part OF
the country number about $1,000.
who have the right TO say that the
heroic men who have maintained in the
meniguas of Cuba such a conflict against
such odds are not capable of seif-govern-
ment? Who will say that all the fruits
that they have won through death by
sword and famine should in the hour. of
victory be surrendered for an empty sham
which means only new bondage under
their old and pitiless oppressors?
And yet this heartless, selfish message
has not one word of encourag cement or
sympathy for this suffering people, now
dying and starving by thousands at our
very doors. In it they are contemptuously
denied as no better than their prosecutors.
Fortunately for the honor of the generous
Christian nation, this message with cool
and serene cXnicsm admits that it does
not represent the sentiments of the Ameri-
can p@oD,e as expressed by congress a
year ago in the joint resolution in which
both houses declared that a state Of war
did exist in Cuba, and that it should be so
recognized by this government. Congress
is politely told TO attend to its own busi-
ness that If the recognition of bellgeren-
cy shall become necessary in the future
the executive power viii act without con-
gressaonal interference.
1t is generally understood that this de-
AiOGAhte conspiracy 10 lnWdFC the Wall OF
the nation is to be carried out through an
appeal TO the speaker of the House of
Representatives, who is expected to so ma
nipulate its rules as to prevent the pas
sage of the pending belligerency resolu-
ton which the Senate has already ap-
proved. In oeher words, the tryanny Of
the speaeership in the House is to be
so used in behalf of Spanish tyranny in
Cuba as to prevent any expression what
ever of sympathy with or recognition of 4
government, whose status has within the
last few days been described as follows:
Z" Washington, Dec. 3.-Consul General
Lee has informed the state department
that the insurgents in Cuba elected and
installed at Yaza, Porto Principe on Oct.
20, the following officers:
e" President-Bartolo Masso.
Vice President-Domingo Mendez Ca
pote.
D." Secretary of War-Jose b. Aleman.
" Secretary of the Treasury-Earpisto
Font Stearlng
-" Secretary of Foreign Affairs-Andres
Moreno de la Tore.
Z" Secretary of the Interlor-Manuel r.
Silva.
" 'GeneraI-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 a recognition of war be-
tween the contending parties. That abb
surd contention becomes the more gro
tesque when we remember that Spain has
extended without effect against such rev.
olutio Ay government far more money
and men than Great Britain employed dur
ing our entire revolutionary war.
There are limits, ey9n to the patience
of the American people, and the time has
now come when the executive power
should be made to feel the public deter
mination that the nation will no longer
permit its sovereign will in a righteo is
cause to be entirely set aside in the inter-
est of a tremulous, selfish, short-sighted
policy. The whole contest now centers in
the passage of the belligerency resolution
pending in the House. 1t that cannot be
carried, then nothing whatever can oe
done to end a strife that has been going
on for fifteen years out of the last twenty
nine, and which, after destroying our
commerce with the island, has become a
war cloud that to-day obscures every bus
mess enterprise. If the present admins
tration proposes TO indefinitely postpone
such uncertainty at the cost of every busi-
ness interest, fl must be prepared to ac-
cept the consequences.
"At this stage of the struggle there can
hardly be a doubt that if belligerency
should be recognized within three months
the insurgents would be so dominant in
the island that the war could shortly be
ended by the recognition of Cuban inde-
pendence. Those who are best informed
firmly believe that without one word of
aid or sympathy from us that result will
be retained within twelve or eighteen
months.
'If bungling diplomacy shall permit such
an event, the situation may assume a Sc
rious form that few seem to contemplate.
If we scorn and spit upon the Cubaus un-
til victory and independence are won
without aid or comfort from u.s. why
should they not turn to one or the other
Of the great maritime powers that will
then be only too eager to supply all their
wants and to enter into the closest rea-
tions with them. We have for long
time declared that no European power
other than Spain shall ever possess Cuba.
We may so blunder as to be forced TO
maintain that contention at the point of the
sword.
"Out of such possible difficulties the
way is now clear and easy. Let the pend
ing belligerency resolution be promptly
passed by the House and Spain's power in
Cuba will collapse like a punctuated bal
loon. For that reason she is making a
desperate fight against il with the aid of
the present administration. Only through
the triumph of the revolutionary govern
ment can permanent and lasting peace be
established in Cuba; only through a
prompt and decided expression of sympa-
cate ourselves from a dilemma which is
fast growing into the most short-sighted
and disgra ceful episode in our national his
tory (GioshpdO \ Hannis TaylOr"