The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-25
The sanEniIIv Re.oIution.

Inc RESOLUTION
The debate on the resolution introduced
into the Senate yesterday by Senator Nor
gan demanding the release Of Julie San
gully, an American imprisoned in Cuba"
will lead to a clearer understanding Of
the course which Spain is pursuing in re-
spect to American citizens arrested in
Cuba suspected of aiding the insurgents
The charge is made that our government
is not as jealous as 1t should be in pro-
tecting its citizens in Cuba. If the charge
is true the government should receive
the condemnation Of the people If it is
false the people should be made acquaint-
ed with the truth and the government
given fun credit for doing its duty.
Much appears in the letters and dis
patches from Cuba that is not reliable.
This is not TO be wondered at. The in
surgents and their friends are interested
In arousing a feeling of hostility in this
country against Spain, and therefore all
sorts Of stories of Spanish cruelty and
brutality are set ahoat. Naturally these
stories find their way into the news
papers. on the other hand, the Spaniards
seek to prejudice the people of this cOun-
try against the insurgents, and they do
not hesitate to circulate statements that
are calculated to weaken sympathy for
those unfolding the cause of Cuba. 1t
is a difficult matter to get the facts of
the situation in that unhappy island.
No doubt there are among the American
citizens in Spanish prisons some wiro are
innocent of any wrong-doing, ana who
therefore should be released at once.
There are others, it is safe to say, who
have violated the laws. and who are try
ing to shield themselves from punish
ment behind their American citizenship.
The government of the United States
should peremptorily demand that all
American citizens in Spanish jails be tried
promptly on the charges standing against
them. If necessary this demand should
be enforced by the presence of warships
at Havana. No man entitled to the pro-
lection of the United States, and who has
committed no offense against the laws of
Spain, should be permitted to remain in
Spanish prison one hour longer than is
absolutely necessary to secure his release.
The people of this country will not sub
NIT to having American citizens tortured
on suspicion or made the victims of Span
ish cruelty and hate.
we do not believe that the administra-
ton has neglected its duty to American
citizens in Cuba in any respect; neither
do we believe that it sympathizes with
the Spaniards. 1t has tried and still tries
TO maintain a strictly impartial attitude
towards the parties to the conflict In
Cuba, and at the same time see that
Americans and American interests are
given the protection to which they are
entitled. This policy does not satisfy
those who sympathize strongly with the
insurgents, or whose interests would be
served by the interference of the United
States in the conflict which Spain is hav-
ing with the Cubans. Therefore they en-
deavor to make it appear that the admin
istration favors Spain and that American
citizens are beaten to death in Spanish
prisons without any protest from Mr..
Cleveland or his Secretary of State.
The debate on the Sangully resolution
will show whether or not the adminlstra-
ton is doing its whole duty. The admin
istration's side viii be presented, as well
as that of those who are endeavoring to
get the United States to intervene in the
Cuban conflict.