The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-01-28

which was complete in its executive,
Legislative and judicial departments.
After due examination by the special
agent of this government, the Presi-
dent of the United States is not able
to find any government of the insur-
gents on the Island of Cuba, save one
that exists on paper. Its armies are
desperate bands, who disdain legiti-
mate warfare, and, in a half-civilized,
rude and barbaric manner, war not
only against the Spanish Government
but against any and all forms of gov
eminent whatsoever. 1t is impossi-
BILE, furthermore, to form any idea of
the real condition of its affairs, or of
the result of the bushwhacking eXpe-
ditions and ambuscades which are
demominated battles, for the reports
of those fights are of such a character
as to remind one of the enterprising
reporter of Cumberland newspaper
who spent day looking after an item
of news, and returned in the evening
to inform the management that moth
ing worthy of record had occurred.
He was told that something must be
| forthcoming as q result of his labors,
and he sat down and wrote an account
which may be stated in this manner:
we saw to-day what might have
been one Of the most. h56'ri5le and
heartrending scenes that ever occur
red in our city. At two O'Clock this
| afternoon cabman drove down the
main street at a terrible rate of speed,
and as he approached a crossing
nearly ran over a nurse and two
children. Had it not been for the
extraordinary care of the nurse, who
was so fortunate as to have left the
children at home, and herself had
gone into neighboring drug store to
procure some necessary medicine,
and the driver, bethinking himself
before he reached the crossing that
he ought to drive down d by-street
UHcIc lnlSIu nave bccH III JluU iOCttlluy
one of the most terrible and melan-
choly catastrophes eyer recorded by
the pen of man
THE sanguinary conflicts described
each day in the newspapers would
lead one to believe that the pOpula-
ton of Cuba must be more than that
of the United States, or it would long
ago have been destroyed, and yet the
dread warfare goes on. Why should
the United States interfere in this
struggle? Has any right or privilege
or prerogative of the government been
disturbed? We cannot point to one.
We are asked to recognize the indie
pendence of Cuba. What right have
we to engage in such a measure?
There is not, either in ethics or inter
national law, anything that would
justify such action. If we would
justify it upon any condition it must
be that of maudlin sentiment.
what would be the result of the
recognition of the independence of
Cuba by the United States? Prima-
rily it would mean war with Spain.
l understand very we'll that with a
certain portion of our population war
upon any pretext and with any nation
would be welcome, but do not be-
lieve that the people who are respon-
sible for government, who guide and
direct the policy of our land, would
tolerate any such system.
War under any circumstances is a
calamity, but when it is sought with
out Just cause it is crime. War
with Spain would bring us in conflict
with power which we perhaps deem
weaker than it really is. Spain has a
navy that to-day could attack and
destroy many of our unprotected
ports along the great stretch of coast
from the forests of Maine to the head
lands of Florida, about the Gulf and
on the Pacific Coast, and we, who are
unprepared for war, would stand idly
by without being able to strike a
blow in defense. But would Spain
stand alone? What assurance have
we that there would not be a Euro
pean alliance between such powers as
Great Britain, France and Germany
to uphold Spain in protecting her
colony? For the principal which
would lead US in this matter would
endanger the dependencies of all
those nations, and where interest is
one the European powers will stand
together. Thus we see the grave
consequences which might follow,
and most probably would follow a
war with Spain involving us i'll a
maze of dangers and difficulties which
would only end in our humiliation
and undoing.
at is not well that the United
States gain the reputation of Bonn
bastos Furiosa or Don QuiXote among
the nations of the earth. If we would
assist the cause of liberty in general
| ,nolyo or 81 OF