The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-30
this difference between the two cases
Mowry is either too insane, or not insane,
enough to admit his guilt, IL guilty he be.
TEE CUBAN COMMISSIONER.


The appointment of w. j. Calhoun as a
special commissioner to Cuba immediately
after the appointment to the department
of state of Judge Day, who had previously
been chosen for the Cuban mission, de-
monstrates that the administration is in
earnest to get at the bottom of the facts in
the alleged maltreatment OF American
citizens in Cuban prisons. Evidently
President Mckinley feels that there is
strong ground for distrusting the alleged
pacific feelings OF Spanish officers toward
cessity requires prompt and serious action.
What are the facts? The specific case
with which the presidents commissioner is
to deal is that of DR.. Ruiz, the Cuban
American who was murdered, 1t is charged
in Spanish prison. DIR. Ruiz was accused
OF no particular crime except that OF SYM
pathizing with the Cuban rebellion. He
violated no law of civilized warfare. Born
a Cuban he naturally sympathized with the
islanders in their struggle for freedom
from Spanish thralldom. For this base
crime he was seized, thrown into prison
and tortured to death. The evidence Of
the Spaniards' guilt is contained in a few
words, scrawled on a chair in the agony of
an intermission Of torture, the chair being
obtained by Mrs. Ruiz and sent to the
State department at Washington before
Spain became aware of the dangerous mes
sage inscribed upon it. Spain contradict
ed fatty this mute witness of her barbarity
and declares that the dentist died natural
death In the prison, surrounded by such
comforts as the exigencies Of military i'm
prisonment permit. This story of Spain's
is fiat lie, towards prevarication, and
she does not dare face an investigation of
the facts of the case. President McKin-
ley's suspicious were early aroused, as were
those of his predecessor, Mr.. Cleveland, and
the appointment of Judge Day and subse-
quently of Mr.. Calhoun as special COM
missioner to investigate the affair is the
result.
On the report made by the commissioner
a good deal will depend. II Commissioner
Calhoun proves that the story of Mrs.
Ruix is true, some reparation will have to
be made by Spain. The ruthless slaughter
OF an American citizen cannot be allowed
to pass by this government. SO long as
DR.. Ruiz was not engaged ip warfare
against the government of Spain he was
entitled to and should have had the pro-
lection of the United States. The con-
tempt which Spain has shown toward the
American stars and stripes has been as
as it is humiliating The policy
Of luke-warm toleration of the faults and
abuses of Spain has put this nation in
bad light before the world, arguing for US
either indifferences to our citizens inter-
ests or inability to command respect.
For our part we hope Judge Day will
bring back enough damaging facts to
enable America to make an example of |
this case. For all the indignities this gov
has suffered at the hands of
young Alfonso's subjects there should be |
some reparation. The widow and five |
children of Ruiz are in actual want. The
least that the Spanish government should |
be made to Go is to provide handsomely
for them. And all this is not saying a
word about what Spain ought to rightfully
do in the way of reparation for other
offences