Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-15


the beiligerents would not be a cause
for war with Spain. Today the circum-
stances are somewhat different. in that
Spain is at her wits end for money, ana
recognition might be deemed by her.
after this long waiting. as having been
taken at this particular time for the
purpose of embarrassing her and aid
ling the insurgents. and net in des re TO
be neutral and TO accord the Insurgents
the same rights we now accord 10
Spain. Still. we do not believe there
would be any war in such event. Ger
tainly il is incumbent on us to avoid
war if ii can honorably be done. Those
who object to such recognition. or some
of them, have a strong argument that
this government owes itself duty be-
fore it does any one else, that we are
suffering because of tariff uncertainty,
and that charity should first begin at
home.
1t is idle, however, to assume
that rothing has been gained
| for the insurgents by the change
CT administration. An altogether
different spirit is felt and has
hean manifested in various ways. The
administration has been willing at al.
times to lay before Congress the very
latest information at its disposal. 1t
was not so under Mr. Cleveland. The
Spanish themselves realized the differ
ence. and were quick to release the
American prisoners held unjustly. We
all remember how hard it was to force
the previous administration to exert
| itself in behalf of any American held
unjustly and unwarrantably in Span
| ish dungeon. How many really believe
Dr. Ruiz would have met the fate he
did had Mr. Mckinley been President
| and Mr.. Sherman Secretary of State?
President Cleveland sent General Lee
| to Havana and then discredited the re-
ports he returned and kept them from
the Senate as long as he could. Presi-
dent Mckinley has sent a commissioner
there in whom he has confidence, and
the attitude of the administration will
probably not be more pronounced than
it is until that commissioner reports.
This is emnently proper.
While our relations with Spain re-
main in their present condition, there Is
a way in which aid can be rendered to
those who are enduring the effects of
war at cur doors. The Americans now
suffering from hunger because of the
outrageous order of Weyler driving
paciticcs into the cities and leaving
them to starve. as starve they must
without outside relief should be re-
leased, and if not given their liberty to
go and come, as they seem to be en-
titled to by our agreement with Spain,
should be removed and cared for either
by private or public effort. Those peo
pl now shut up in the Spanish towns
DN'i
charity before it is given to any other
oppressed people. Neither Greece nor
Armenia are so much entitled to it.
This country has a very live interest in
the welfare of Cuba and of the Cubans.
Why more of relief has not been sup
piled by philanthropy We do not under
stand, except it was because many of
the reports of suffering We're not be-
lieved. Efforts to afford some allevia
ton of these awful conditions need not
wait on the Presidents decision nor on
the return of his special commissioner.
Now that these conditions are so well
authenticated that none can longer
doubt, some more effectual effort at
relief than has heretofore been made
may be expected.