Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-08
Mr.. MORGAN ON CUBA
The Insurgents, He Says, Have Won
the Fight.
PRESIDENTS POSITION CRITICISED
Conditions FavorabIe, He Claims,
for Recognizing BeIIigefency.
SPANS LOST OPPORTUNITY

agree Will HTeSlOenC Mckinney regard
Ing Hawaii and differ from him about
Cuba, said Senator Morgan to a Star re-
porter today. when asked If he would give
his views on those portions of the Presi-
dents message which treat of these ques-
tions.
Cuba has evidently won the fight" con-
tinued Senator Morgan, land if she main
tains the same tactics and strategy that
have brought her into this commanding
and successful position, for even a few
months. she will realize the fruits of her
patriotic struggle. President Mckinley S
message Is very much more likely to pro-
ouce change of government in Spain than
II Is to dishearten the Cubans and to
strengthen the hands of Gen. Blanco in the
island. The message has basis of false
logic and misconceived facts and mistaken
views OF the law, as to belligerent rights,
that deprives it of value the foundation
OF our national attitude toward Spain and
Cuba.
In one part of the message the President
admits that government de facto in Cuba
Is entitled to have belligerent rights, being
engaged in open public war. In another
part he quotes from Gen. Grant In support
of his attitude toward Cuba, a statement
which Mr.. Cleveland seems to have in
dorsed-that it requires a fully equipped
civil government and full possession of all
leTTltOTy Ccntellueu IOT 10 entltle SuCn an
organization to actual beiligerent rights
the rights that belong to a state of war
Cuba, however, has a fully equipped civil
government for all the purposes that can
be necessary, in time of war, to any civil
government. In time of civil war no coun-
try ever had a civil government that could
possibly enforce, or protect all the civil
rights of the people. Government, In time
OF lnternecine war, must be, to a great
degree. military government. If Spain has
a civil government in Cuba. in authority
over the island, it is one that does not de-
serve the recognition of any Christian
power, but, rather, the reprobation Of man
kind. A civil government that undertakes
to aid the war against the people of Cuba
by the starvation Of five or six hundred
thousand of the natives of the country is
not entitled to be recognized as legiti-
mate government. 1t is only titulary and
tyranical oppressor of the people. In every
possible sense the Cubans administer more
Of the laws and Institutions of civil govern
ment in Cuba than the Spaniards do. This
is true, both as to the extent of territory
and as to the number of Inhabitants within
the jurisdiction, and loyal to the republic.
No courts are held in Cuba by the Span
iards outside OF the fortified towns. No
executive office of the Spanish government
dares to attempt to go outside of the forti-
fcations to arrest a criminal or to execute
a process, or in any respect to administer
the laws of Spain in that island. So when
we come to consider the actual existence Of
civil government over the people in Cuba,
we find that 1t alone is administered there
by the Cuban republic. No body of Span
iards without arms, or even with arms, in
numbers less than hundreds or thousands,
venture to set their feet upon the soil OF
Cuba outside the range of their guns in
their Notifications, or without heavy mil
itary escort.
Spanish Army I'm IA State of Siege.
''When I say that Cuba has won the
fight 1 mean that the republic has taken
I,o i,,fo ccin 70 a 4Yfc
of it which are not urder the immediate
military command of the Spanish army.
That army is in state of siege in its forti-
fications. I mean, further, that the repub-
lie has driven Spain from the arrogant at
titude which even Martinez Campos as
sumed in the beginning, in obedience to
the orders of the former Sagasta govern
ment, that no reformation in Cuba which
included autonomy or any other relief to
the people would be attempted so long as
there was Cuban under arms opposed to
the government. Canovas said that the
last man would die in the last ditch for
the dominion of Spain before any conces-
sion or overture would be made to the
Cubans.
How have the mighty fallen!
1.-The Cubans have forced Spain to come
forward now with pretentious offers of au-
tonomy which includes a wide concession
of liberties on paper. The Cubans under
stand too well. from all the history OF the
Spanish dominion of that island during
the present century, that these overtures
and promises are entirely deceptive to be
persuaded or cajoled into laying down their
arms on account of the renewal of the same
promises that Spain has heretofore made
by the treaty of ZanjOw and has croken.
The promises now made to the Cubans Of
autonomy and representation in govern
ment are made by decree OF the queen
regent with the concurrence OF the Sagas-
ia cabinet These are not acts of the
been considered
in Spain. They are merely temporary ex-
pedients. A change IN the government
based upon the fact that those promises
ought not to be complied with would re-
suit in such action of the cortez as would
wipe out and render utterly nugatory such
a decree. -
"It is idle, and under the circumstances
1t is cruel, that the government OF the
forming any duty it owes to Its own peo-
pie and to humanity in Cuba because OF
these deceptive overtures. But what are
we to say as to the strength OF the cuban
power that has brought Spain to the point
of even making an offer of this kind? What
less than Cuban determination to free
themselves from the yoke OF Spain has
resulted in this great victory in their favor,
and why should they despair Of ultimate
success within even a few months, when
the Spanish army In Cuba, outside OF the
volunteers and guerrillas, has been reduced
to 6O,OOO men out of 225.OOO sent there, and
Spanish resources are not equal to the task
of recruiting and supporting it? The hardest
task that Spain now has Is to feed and
clcthe Its army.
But Cubans are not asking for bread
nor for Spanish autonomy. All they ask
for is ammunition. They yet have men
without guns. They hold the country in the
central and eastern departments of Cuba
that furnish the people and the army all
necessary supplies. and in all General
Blanco's expeditions and in the recent
movements of Weyler when he was in
command they have not dared to attempt
the occupation of the eastern provinces of
Cuba. Thousands of the reconcentrados
hsve escaped from Weyler's horrible pens
ard have gone out for food and also for
guns and ammunition in the mountainous
regions Of eastern Cuba That is why the
reporters who send messages from that
country, and the consuls who write to the
government, inform us that the very much
greater proportion Of starving reconcen-
trados are women and children. do not
believe that General Blanco expects to SUBJ
jugate Cuba either by the force of arms or
by the temptations of bribery.
spain's Opportunity.
"If he and the Spanish authorities could
persuade themselves. even at this late day
(as I hope they may), to do what Great
T2vitafu did f0Ward in he ravolu<for