The times., 1897-05-31
Another Cause of Action.

Another Cause of Action.
As the American people SHOW unmis-
takable signs of revolt against the hitherto
Spanish policy OF the United States Gov
ernment against the Cuban Republic, 1T is
very natural that Spain should seek new
means for ayerting the threatened storm.
Tue passage of the Morgan beiligerency
resolution in the Senate marked turning
point in the march of events. 1t then
ofthe administration W ould not muchlonger
serve either eo support Spain in the war
against hospitals, women and children, or
to sustain the views and interests of the
Spanish hondhoIders and the Sugar Trust.
At once there was suspicious lull in
the activity with which the Spanish con-
tingent in New York and Washington
Heretofore had championed the cause OF
WeyIer and the foreign Spa nish debt
holders, and we have been waiting with
some impatience to see what il might
mean We know now! Spain has urged
upon the coalition OF powers known as the
Concert of Europe" the advisability Of
a joint remonstrance against any inter
ference by the United States in Cuba.
Whatever may be said in doubt or de
rision Of the prospect that any or all OF
the powers Of Europe would consider such
a proposition, much less act upon it, it
may be taken for granted that the matter
involves very serious possibilities. in view
OF the attitude which our Government
has assumed III the premises during the
past two years.
IN the first place, Great Britain knows
that a European movement to check the
evident determination OF the people of this
country to assist the Cuban patriots would
not bc disapproved by the forces and in
fluences that controlled the Cleveland
Administration and purchased the acces-
sion to power of the present one. 1t need
not be doubted that such movement. or
any other tending to repress the American
demand for a recognition of Cuban indie
pcndeDce, or, at least, a recognition of
beIIgerency, would be welcomed by the
Atkins-Olney-Hav avemeyer Spanish cabal
Secondly, foreign estimates of oiir will
ingness or ability 10 resent Insult OF out
rage have been much reduced by the record
of our dastardIy submission TO the imprison-
ment, torture, and murder, or the wholesale
starvation, of American citizens in Cuba
by the Spanish authorities. In the past
Europe has seen US submit gracefully to
the recognition Of Confederate belligerency
by Spain, while in the present instance an
American Executive and pro- Spanish SEN
ators in the Congress have begged that
Cuban beiligerency be not recognized, lest
that should plunge us into the horrors OF
war with a fifth-rate beggarly nation of
towards and cutthroats, who with two
hundred thousand troops in the field have
been thoroughly whipped by one-fifth their
number Of revoiutionists.
Considering these things, and perhaps
suspecting that any plan that would save
the Administration of President Mckinley
from acting would be agreeable 10 it, it
would not be strange If the powers of
Europe, especially Great Britain. whose
citizens hold large part of the Spanish
Cuban debt, should accede to the wish of
Premier Canovas del Castillo, and notify
us that, since we have kept out of the
mess so long, it would be well for US TO
continue in that flowery path of peace
There is just one thing to- do, under the
conditions disclosed. We should promptly,
and without wasting g. moment, respond to
this latest move Of Spain, by recognizing ths
belligerency of the Cuban republic. That
declaration should be followed within
week by further declaration of the in
dependence of the island, under the pro-
lection OF the United States