The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-17

three years, while the Sultan OF Turkey
has been permitting his subjects to cut
the throats OF the Armenians in his do
minions; and to-day they have neither
the moral courage openly to espouse
the cause Of Greece against the Turk,
nor The brutal hardhood to take the
historic kingdom by the throat and
compel acquiescence with their com.
mands.
France exhibited a bit of national
spirit, the other day, when young
French girl in the town of Santiago de
Cuba was arrested by the Spanish au-
thorities, as political suspect, and con-
fined in Jail. The French counsel's de-
mand for her release was refused, and
then a French war vessel cleared her
decks for action, the demand for the
unconditional release of the girl was
repeated, apologies and royal salute
were required in addition, or within six
hours time France would let slip the
dogs of war. The girl was given up
and compliance with all the ct ceteras
of the demand was speedily vouchsafed.
The United States is too remote to
make effective protest against Turkish
atrocities in Armenia, but in Cuba, al
most within sight of the coast of Flor
ida, American citizens, native born and
by adoption-between whom Uncle
Sam can make no distinction-have
been imprisoned in violation of the
laws both of humanity and of interna-
tional compact, brutally treated and
barbarously murdered, in defiance of
the protests of the American consul,
all UNDECIDED by the government at
Washington. The American flag,
above American guns, nowhere on the
coast of Cuba floats to warn and re-
strain Spanish authority or to uphold
the hands of the representative of the
government it symbolizes. Such has
been the craven record. There are in
dications that change has. come over
the spirit of the Spanish tyrants. A
new executive has taken up the reins
of power at Washington, and there are
visible in Spain signs of an understand
ing and due appreciation of the pur-
port of the change. The republican
party put into its platform certain
resolution respecting the freedom of
Cuba. Major Mckinley signifed his
acceptance of every plank of that plat
form, and on its declaration of principles
and policies, its expressions of senti-
ment and purpose, he was elected
president. In their due and proper
time the precepts of the platform will
all become the subjects of his official
consideration and action-the Cuban
resolution among the others. There
will then be third and a dominating
actor in the now crcumscribed arena
of national manhood and heroism.
And there will be no war. Resolute
action in cause that is eternally right
will bring peaceful and honorable
settlement. The Greek admiral's mag
niHcent answer to the representative of
the navies of European powers at Ca.
nea, in Crete, recently, was that he
should obey the commands of his gov
eminent, and if he was fred upon he
would 60 down saluting the colors of
the allied fleets. King George of
Greece declares that he places his re-
lance on the justice of his cause, and
not on his relatives among the crowned
heads of Europe. Public sentiment in
England, France and Italy, in psrticu-
lar, and in the world at large, where
public opinion is allowed to exist, is a
firmer reliance than princes. Public
sentiment is sustaining Greece, and be-
hind that bulwark the wise, brave and
chivalric kingdom will work out des.
tiny worthy of "the storied brave
she "nurtured in her glory's prime"
Meanwhile she presents a glorious
example for the initiation of the great,
rich and powerful American republic;
and the struggling Cubans remind this
republic of the times when it's fathers
were wrestling with European despot
and timely help came, which, if it did
not change the final issue of the I'M
equal conflict, shortened the years and
burdens and sufferings of the War of
Independence. If not in the same
form, in some other effective way the
people of America may attest the SYM
pathy they have for the Cuban patriots,
and show that the national conviction
is backed by national manhood and the
historic national courage and wisdom.