The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-28
THE THANKS WE GET.

The tone of the Spanish press and
the comments generally made upon the
position Of the United States in the
Cuban affair indicate the amount of
gratitude that follows our endeavor to
maintain position Of strict neutrality.
If there has been anything that has
chafed the American people, particular
ly during the progress Of the Cuban
the United States have been used prac-
tically to help the Spanish cause. This
arose from the fact that the insur-
rection was in one sense a domestic
affair Of Spain, and that 1t commanded
a very wide and general sympathy
among our people. 1t was understood
that there would be continuous series
Of expeditions fitted out in our ports to
carry men and munitions of war to
not prevent. Therefore, each succeed
ing administration has left nothing
undone to prevent a violation Of the
neutrality laws. Vessels of the United
States have been constantly on the
alert to intercept any such parties or
vessels bent upon this errand, and so
thoroughly has the work been done
| that the Spanish government cannot
| point to a single instance in which men
! or stores sent from q port in the Unit
ed States have landed on Cuban shores
and contributed to the relief Of the in
surgents.
1t has been an utterly distasteful
work to U.s. While the bloody policy
! Of Spain was being carried forward in
Cuba, our own course, although neces-
sary for the preservation Of our honor,
has put us practically in the position
Of an auxiliary to Spain. We have
had to repress the generous impulses
of our own people, to sacrifice the silent
| desire Of our own authorities to help
Cuba to freedom and to actually REIN
force the Spanish forces in Cuban wa
! tiers by the work Of our own ships.
What is the return we get for this
It is the more determined hostility
Of Spain, a renewed censure Of the con-
duct of the United States government
and the suggestion that the forthcom-
| ing reply to Gen. Woodfords note will
be sharp arraignment Of the attitude
Of this country. 1t is perhaps no more
than we deserve for our folly and in
sincerity in pressing impertinent and
improper resolutions on the Cuban mat
ter in congress. The feeling in which
Spain INDUCES is due, not to any overt
acts on our part nor even to our SYM
J pathy with Cuba, but to the wild
| speeches in congress that were intend
ed merely to make capital with the
jingoes.
| Our Cuban policy has been neither
fish, flesh nor good red herring. With
one arm Of the government we have
suppressed filibustering, while with the
| OIoSA We AIe1fO ClSOul cSSQ IL. we nave
not dared to interfere openly and Ar.
lively as we ought to have done In the
beginning. but we have INDUCED, as
| even Mr.. Mckinley did in his last mes
| sage, in unseemly talk about what we
| might be compelled to do In the future:
which has all the effect Of active in
| tervention as far as engaging Spain r.
| concerned, while 1t advantages the
Cubans nothing at all. The unpleasant
| situation that now exists is entirely a
consequence of our own folly. In the
| eyes Of the other nations, as well as
| Of Spain, we are guiltless of infringing
| neutrality, but we are plainly guilty of
an Interference that is quite as often
sive in their eyes. We have the blame
| but not the game. 1t is much to be
/ desired, although 1t is almost too much
to hope that positive Pc Icy that shall
reflect due credit upon US where credit
belongs to us, and that shall save us
! from the odium of empty clustering.