Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-06-10
1t May Want These Islands.

not heretofore troubled nor allowed to
trouble US, is growing more and more
interesting. The jingoes and spoilers
for blood, will not let it alone and it
has now come, in our opinion, to be a
question which must be handled. We
thought and hoped indeed that Spain
was nation enough to put down the
rebellion there, but rebellions are hard
things to put down even on ones own
soil at home, as we are informed and
believe, but when they take place
across an ocean several thousand miles
away with powerful nation close by,
giving succor and aid all the time to
the rebels, the problem becomes one OF
great difficulty. These are some facts
in Cuba's case and some facts for
Spain to contemplate.
The conservative people of this ma
ton want to keep out of an imbroglio
with Spain. Nobody here has any
cause to dislike Spain, on the other
hand we owe our existence at this mo-
ment possibly to her. But sometimes
the best of friends, two strong and
sensible men, who have no malice pre-
pense toward each other are suddenly
drawn into deadly encounter by g
couple of irresponsible ours, SO Spain
and the United States may be plunged
into war without any previous inten
tion and by persons as irresponsible az
the ours. We do not want Cuba now
| We have 10 use for it now. We have
lived for over 100 years as nation anc
have had no possible use for it. We
have moro territory than We can han
die, and we have recently acquired
some that even Russia grew tired of
We are overgrown in territory, and
| dwarfed in brains and craftsmanship
the country we have, has no rulers
large enough for its present eXpanse
and wo betide US, if we acquire much
more, but we might need it some day
If we were only English, with the in
herited tendencies of our English an
cestors, we would take Cuba at once
and sustain the allegation of some
Canadian who has lately proven to hi
Town satisfaction that the settlers Of
1.-The American colonies we're all thieve
and highwaymen who left home fe,
cause, and settled here by order O
court. If we were only English or thu
sons OF true Englishmen, we woult
seize Cuba and hold her to guard thu
entrance to the Panama Canal which
must and will be built in few years
If we were only Englishmen or thi
sons of true Englishmen, we woult
seize the Sandwich Islands and holt
them to guard our western ooas
against invasion from the now fas
growing powers Of the East. 1t doe
not take much of prophet to see tina
Japan will be a nation of great power
in few years, if indeed she is not O
that character now. It does not re
qu1re much precedence to see tina
China when she begins to build rail
roads and incorporate into her bod!
polite g few Of the ideas which are Sc
prevalent in nations Of the first order
(no reference is intended here to the
United States) that she might become
a menace to us, and that either JapaI
or China might materially strengthen
themselves by the addition of Hawaii
when they would thereby have crept
very close to our borders. The expe
diency of acquiring these two pieces
Of territory is now grave question
and whilst we should avoid war fol
conquest We should not forget that g
ljudicious purchase would or could not
be regarded as either immoral or i'm
proper, So long as Spain holds Cuba
the power of Spain would not give lie
| thought, but so weak a power as Spain
cannot govern that island, and ii Cuba
is to be freed from Spain then the
| United States should have an interest
in her, for her own safety as a nation.
She has that opportunity now, she
can acquire that interest with less cost
and trouble now than ever before,
and she will be blind under tbs cir
cumstances and conditions that have
been thrust on her, If she does not set
tie the Cuban question by becoming
the owner or controller Of this island.
The opportunity may not occur again
soon, or If it ever occurs it may cost
too vast q sum.
Another s,Gaihern Outrage.
the State which gave the country
President Mckinley and is the incar-
nation of ali that has tended to elevate
morals and good government, has
suffered & Southern outrage in the
shape Of a negro lynching, and citizen
killing by soldiery. Coming as this
does in the midst of reduced wages of