The record-union., 1897-06-09
THE OFFICIAL REPORTS FROM
CUBA.


Commissioner Calhoun and Consul
General Lee have reported upon the
matters the one was sent to Cuba to
inquire into for the information of the
President of the United States, and the
other on the same matters as an Off
cial duty. Mr.. Calhoun has made, evil
IDENTIFY, very full report, but only a
portion Of it is given to the world.
Enough of it is made public, however,
to establish three things that have all
along been contended for by Americans
whom the cold blooded press is pleased
to call jingoes, namely: First, that
state of war exists in Cuba, and that
it is not likely to end until the last
Cuban ceases to exist, or Spain is actu-
ally worn out in effort to conquer the
uncOnquerable; second, that the condi-
ton of the island is pitiable, and that
it is largely due to the severe orders
ard harsh methods of Weyler on the one
hand, and the desperation, poverty and
unfagging patriotism of the rebels on
the other; third, that the war is not
a war as we understand by a war of
battles between splendidE equipped
troops, but a conflict between discip-
lined soldiers of Spain on the one hand,
and the ragged determined, scattered
bands of insurgents on the other, who
dash out and do desperate fighting. and
then run away But it is added that
the Cuban insurgents would be fools
to carry on their instruction in any
other way
Mr. Calhoun says he was not sent to
investigate general conditions in Cuba,
but he has eyes and saw, and Will Estate
whatever he knows when asked. What
he went for was to investigate the Ruiz
case As to that he finds the prisoner
was inhumanely treated and his treaty
rights grossly violated by Spanish Off
Gals Whether he was murdered or
battered out his own brains he thinks
will never be known. But a dullard
can read the conviction of the Com
missioner between the lines. Ruiz was
dealt terrible blow on the head while
in his cell, and died from the effects
of it. He may have butted his head
against the iron bars in paroxysm
of insanity induced by cruel treatment,
but as it is stated by another report
that his derby hat was cut, crushed
and battered it is easy to understand
that neither Calhoun nor Lee be-
tad nv
putting on his hat and attempting to
beat out his own brains with his head
thus covered. The story Of the suf-
ferings of poor Ruiz is so pitiful that
1t would melt a heart of stone.
The question is what will be the ac-
ton of President Mckinley upon the
report of his special Commissioner and
of the Consul? If Ruiz had been an
English subject, we would have known
what would have been done about his
imprisonment within twenty-four hours
after his arrest-but Ruiz was a citizen
of the United States. Therein is a diff
ference, one that means much time and
red tape and hesitancy in one case and
80 uAQtn StStO. anu 0S1Noio1l III
the other, that we do not at all wonder
that Americans abroad not infrequently
place themselves under English pYotec-
ton, to be assured of their rights as
human beings.
But General Lee has also reported
deliberately upon the Ruiz case, though
Commissioner Calhoun says that the
evidence General Lee was able to gath
er in the matter possesses no value
whatever General Lee, however, evil
IDENTIFY entertains a different opinion as
to that, else he would not have sub
mitted a report at all. He certainly
would not send to the State Depart
ment an official statement of the case,
on evidence absolutely valueless," as
the Commissioner asserts it is. Not that
there is any inharmony between the
Consul-General and the Commissioner,
only the latter thinks the Consul was
unable to command testimony worthy
Of credit. However that may be, Cen
eral Lees findings are that Ruiz was
made a prisoner on a false charge;