Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-21
Ex1ERMINArloN IN CUBA.

The latest phase of the Cuban ques-
ton, which is believed to be occupying
. the serious attention of the Washington
government, is attributable directly to
the extraordinary plan OF campaign
adopted by General Weyler. All inhabi-
tants of the island we're ordered to aban-
don their homes, to turn over their cat
tie to the Spanish army, and to repair at
once to the fortified towns held by Span
ish garrisons. If they did not do so,
they were to be regarded as rebels.
That meant that about 100000 people
were TO be crowded into some two dozen
towns, where there was no support for
them; more than 100000 of them aban-
doning all their property and means of
sustenance and becoming paupers.
The majority declined to obey. They
remained on their farms, all over the
island, pursuing their usual callings, and
peacefully and laboriously trying to get
living from their half-ruined fields.
Such, in fulflment of his savage threat,
Weyler is now treating as rebels. His
soldiers are free to rob, outrage and kill
them wherever they find them. That is
why so much is heard of the killing of
''pacificos." A 'pacifico" anywhere
outside of Spanish garrison town is, by
Weyler's proclamation, to be regarded as
a rebel in arms. Nor is the lot of the
minority, some 250.000, who obeyed the
order, much, if any, better. They are
crowded into the unsanitary towns,
without means of sustenance. They are
dependent upon the military commits
sariat for their daily bread, and as the
commissariat is unable to provide even
for the wants of the army they are left
to beg or to starve, or both. 1t is a
choice between fever and famine In the
towns and the raYages of war in the
fields that is offered to the Cuban
people.
In any case such a state of affairs
would demand attention. 1t was little
worse in Armenia a year or two ago,
and the whole civilized world was pro-
foundly stirred with pity and rage; even
countries which had no citizens among
the stricken. But the case of Cuba ap-
peals with special force to the United
States, partly because of its proximity
to this country and partly because hun
dreds of American citizens, engaged In
peaceful and lawful industries In Cuba,
are credibly reported to be among the
objects of Weyler's persecution. II
would not be pleasant thing, nor a
thing to be done lightly and hastily, for
this country to interfere in Spain's
domestic troubles. But it Is not a pleas
ant thing, for this nation to see its own
citizens, guiltless of wrong, extermi-
mated at its very doors.
The above editorial is from the New
York Tribune, which has published sev
eral editorials lately in favor of genuine
American policies. 1t opposes, as doe
also the New York Sun and BostoI
Herald, the withdrawal of the green
backs, and, as we understand, hold
the correct principle-that it is tn
proper function of government to issu
all money used by the nation, pape
equally with coin, and that this function
should not in any respect be surrendere,
to the banks. This is one of the most im
portant questions now before the people
and must soon come up for ultimate dec
sion. The question divides itself int
two parts; Whether the profits of bank