The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-03
The Outlook For Cuba.

IGe OutlOCE z OE NuOd.
The specia! correspouden, Of the
Loodoo Tines at Habaoa, whose judy
ment has heretofore been accorded
high respect ia Eoslsnd and out of it.
has an article in Harper's Weekly
which should be very encouraging 10
those friends Of Cuban ioerty who,
uolike The State. need encourage
men:
It makes close analysis of the site
alton, points our Weyler's 5|uoders Of
policy, shows that he is helping be
CUBAN cause instead of icjuriug it,
ootes the skill with which toe iosrr
gco.s are conducting their campaign so
as 10 exhaust SPANS resources at the
least cost of meu aud means to them.
selves, and predicts with confidence
their 6aaI triumph. Within l8
months. he says. Spain will be at the
end Of her means and will abandon
Cuba, and the government of the re-
public will be administered from Haba-
pa. TIE loss Of property meanwhile
will be enormous. AID the produc'lse
capacity of the island reduced to
uiuimum, uu'ess the United States
government intefveues, in the interest
of it's citizens and its trade, 10 secure
the peaceful acknowledgement of Gu
ban Independence Nothing short OF
this will be accepted BY the Cubaos,
who know that their policy assures
them success
The special correspondent, of the New
York Herald, a paper pro Spanish in
its tendencies and supporting the
Cleveland Oney delusion of compro-
mise on "reforns." admits that Spais's
rule is doomed if the insurgents per
severe. The ouly effect Of doubling
the Spanish forces 10 the island, he
says, is 70 double the mortality among
Them. Spain is bleeding TO death "
These conclusions are not new to The
readers of The State, for We have
pressed them from the first mouths Of
the struggle, uearly two years ago. but
they may serve to satisfy the people Of
South Carolina. who have shown such
Interest 10 the cause of Cuba, how
worse tbao idle is the ,iukeriog Of the
Cleveland administration with i's
autonomy" theory. The couAic, has
never had possible ending in compro-
mise. and it long ago passed into the
stage when. according to President
Cievelapd's own declaration last Decem-
Der, the Intervention of the United
States in behalf of the independence
Of the island became duty. The
negotiation now in progress between
Washington and Madrid are fer the re-
lief of Spain. not the aid of Cuba
The administration proposes to use its
"moral force" 10 induce the Cubans to
abandon acertaiosy of ultimate indepeud.
eoce for such grudgiog reforms as Spain
il her extremity may feel compelled TO
grant. OF course the Cubaus will not
do tbs. but Mr. Cleveland is vaio
enough TO think that be can make them
scoept conditions which satisfy blu'
with his prejudgment Of prejudice
against them.
The money coat to Spain and to
Cuba from this obslioacy will be enor-
nous, for the former will hope op to
the loss of $40 900 coo month, aod
the latter will be >ravaged more aud
more; but all that FIRE ard sword can
Do will not equal to Cuba the penalty
she would pay fo' autonomy in the
assumption Of the $500. 100000 debt
whch Spain has incurred 10 her pane.
The right sort Of Intervention would
save huudreds Of uilions Of waste and
pro,ec: American interests as we'll. bet
Of course that is out Of the question in
this administration. And probably 10
the nexl.-The State.