The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-05-27

wrong, for just such acts. Then, too, under the
neutrality laws, Spain would have the right to
blockade the coast of Cuba, and to search an
American merchant vessel on the high seas and
If anything were found aboard alleged to be con.
traband Of war. the vessel could be taken across
the ocean and tied up for trial and condemna-
ton, and her owner ruined. All these in.
convenienees must follow, and nothing to be
gained to the cause of Cuba i'll the opinion of
the Administration.
The State Department did not contain
single scrap Of evidence as to the existence of
de-facto insurgent Government They had no
courts, no fixed territory. and neither exercised
nor attempted any civil administration nor
performed any governmental function. In fact
as things stood to-day. there was nothing to
recognize. So far as the information in the
State Department goes, the state of things is one
of marshal law. There is passive resistance
by the Cubans. The Spaniards have called all
the people out OF the country into four or i've
fortified towns in each province and have aban-
doned all the interior to the rebels. 1t has
been made q wilderness. There is no fighting
in progress. The island is paciied, but it is
the pacifcation of the graveyard.
If Gomez were able to fight battle, to capture
Havana, even for a day. the Independence of
the Cuban Government might be recognized,
and that would give moral support that would
probably lead to q speedy conclusion. But
such is not the condition of things. In the
meantime. with a hostile demonstration on our
part all hope Of settlement for damages would
cease from that date. Now We have claims
stacked up in the State Department amounting
to many millions of dollars for property of
American citizens destroyed. 1t is proposed
to demand of Spain an International Board
of Arbitration to fix the amount aud then
to settle the judgments just as England did
for the losses caused by depredations of the
so-caled Confederate cruisers She will be
obliged to settle, too, and if she has not the
money she will be called upon to give some
satisfactory guarantee. These claims m uss be
paid
The country may trust this Cuban matter
with the President. aud the people should know
lie does not need lessons in patriotism. 1t must
not be expected that in 90 days he can work
wonders. His friends only ask for him fair
chance to show results.
but. above ALL" remarked our informant,
understand that the first thing to do is to
ELL the United States Treasury. and tell the
veterans who read your paper that the Pres
dent is comrade they may rely upon his
patriotism"
WHAT THE CUBAN REPRESENTATIVES, SAYS.
Senior Gonzalo de Quesada, Charge d'Afflires
of the Republic of Cuba. Legation in WASH
ington, when asked for his views of the situ-
alton yesterday, said, with great emphasis:
Cuba will never accept autonomy with tho
sovereignty of Spain. She will accept nothing
short of absolute Independence. There is no
good to be accomplished by simply demanding
that the methods of civilized warfare be OBJ
served. That is form Of intervention, and
should have been done two years ago. Spain
could no refuse, in justice, such demand.
There is precedent for that. Sixty years ago.
when England demanded, in the Carlist
crueties, that these things should be stopped,
she yielded and made the so called Elliott
Treaty granting the rights of war to the Carl
lists.
ave are stronger to-day than we ever were.
Calixto Garcia has more armed men than we
ever had before in Santiago de Cuba. He has
not only the men, but they are we'll armed.
He has artillery, with which he has attacked
eunboats in the Canto River and held the port
OF Banes for 45 days
"It is true we do not fight battles now. Co.
mez is fox. He is in Santa Clara, and has
5000 men distributed in small commands. He
can keep 10000 Spaniards marching and har-
assed, and every day send 400 or 500 to the