The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
FREE CUBA.

1t is gratifying TO note the repidity with
which popular sympathy with the Cuban
patriots is crystalliZing into form which
will render it effective and useful in bring
ing to close the prolonged war in the
island. Public sentiment so long as it is
dispersed and scattered is of title value,
but when it results in organization 1t &C.
quires force which gives it a power to
accomplish whatever is aimed at.
The CALL has taken up the cause of
Cuba because it believes the time has now
come when earnest effort should be made
to put an end to the destruction of prop
erty and the useless waste OF blood. 1t is
clear to every BODY that Spain cannot re-
establish her Governm ment over the Cuban
people. nor maintain there that peace
which is essential TO prosperity. She can
not uphold anywhere beyond the limits
of the city of Havana even a pretense of
law, nor secure TO the people either their
property or their lives. Her pride will
not permit her to make peace, and so she
prolongs useless struggle which is zap
idly degenerating into mere crime.
The people OF the United States had
prompt sym pathy with the Cuban patriots
as soon as they declared themselves for
independence and showed on the battle
field a sufficient courage to maintain ii.
They restrained themselves, however. from
any overt act against the Spanish Govern
ment, and for a long time upheld the con-
servative policy OF the Cleveland admin
istration in refusing to recognize the bel
ligerent rights OF the patriots.
1t is everywhere recognized, however,
that the time has now come when q more
resolute and decided policy should be
adopted. There is no longer any question
of the ultimate triumph of the Cuban.
people, The only issues involved in the
contest are the length of time through
which the struggle may be prolonged and
the amount of property and mum ber of
human lives which may be sacrificed dur
ing its continuance. This being so it is not
only the right but the duty OF the United
States Government TO intervene ana put
an end 10 the pillage, plunder aDd MUIR
der which under the name Of war are
| being perpetrated in the island.
In appointing a committee to organize
popular sentiment in this City and direct
it to the object of putting an end to the
contest we shall be following a course
which has been taken in over 700 other
cities of the Union. Our committee,
therefore, will not stand alone. 1t will
not have 10 resort TO action which will be
weak because it is isolated. 1t will have
the advantage of cooperating with COM
mittees in other cities, and will be part
and parcel of movement embracing the
whole Union and having back of it the
force of nearly the whole people.
The men who through THE CALL have
signified their Willingness to serve on the
committee are citizens of such eminence
and influence that the general mass OF the
population will cordially follow and sup
port Them in all that they undertake. The
outlook for the movement, therefore, is
| most promising. We may count on it
that San Francisco will soon take her
place alongside her sister cities of the
Union, and through organized and we'll
directed effort will give encouragement,
aid and help toward the establishment OF
the independence of Cuba and the freein s
of another American people from Euro
pean domination.