Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-28

hS RACs0Alh6 OPAntV1i "a StAS oAAOCS-
ing OF Colonel Ruiz. who defied the
Cuban command to have all who came
bringing overtures of autonomy shot
and sought to take advantage Of the
friendship Of the man to whom he
went-als0 it appears to take advan.
tage Of what the intruder supposed to
be disposition to turn traitor to the
insurgent cause-has been one of criti-
cism, in many cases severe condemna-
ton Of what some have termed a mos.
brutal outrage.
Perhaps according to the usages of
war it is open to severe criticism, but
usage does not always make right
wrong or vice versa. War at best is
hardly excusable, surely not when the
efforts, the sacrifices of wealth ami
life are in the end frittered away.
There have been many sacrifices made
in the cause of Cuba Libre' and this
harsh order to shoot any man who
might come to the insurgents for the
purpose Of leading the latter from their
determination to have independence or
death was, if we look at it in one light.
an effort to prevent the throwing away
of the great sacrifices hitherto made
+, in behalf of thescause.
We may with show of reason argue
ho< inc, in,
perate straits to fear the proffers or
brides one man might bring to them.
Perhaps, and yet had this Ruiz sue
ceeded with the man to whom he came
how long would it have been before
the insurgent ranks would have been
honeycombed by the Vaccinations of
the Spanish?
War is indeed cruel thing all the
more cruel where slaughter and de-
vastation go for naught because Of lack
of utmost effort, or other inadequate
reason.
1t was. of course, cruel deed, it
may be open to condemnation. the re-
suit may be serious reaction against
the insurgents, but of this there has
nothing yet appeared. But whatever
of sympathy we may have to eXpend
in the matter can better be devoted to
those who suffer from doing their duty
than to those who thrust their hands
into the lions mouth in the hope of
winning a little notoriety or distinc-
ton.
We are again reminded of these
things by communication, which ap-
peared in Mondays Boston Herald In
that the writer draws a comparison
between the case of Ruiz and that of
Maj. Andre, who was hung for being
the bearer of dispatches to the traitor
Arnold. Andres mission was to a
subordinate officer whom he knew to be
a traitor: Ruiz's mission was to ,one
whom he hoped to find or
to make traitor and had
he succeeded Aranguren would
have been no better than Benedict
Arnold. Well. there is sometimes Il
difference in the eye of the law be-
tween one who is successful in villainy
and one who merely hopes and tries to
be.
The fact remains that the scheme Of
autonomy, offered under duress, and
which If it had been accepted would
very likely have been violated, has met
with fiat failure thus far and Spain
having acknowledged the failure of her
arms now has little to hope from he.
diplomacy. If it shall be found that
the summary execution of Ruiz con-
tributed to the success of Cuban indie
4 pendence the public may conclude il
no more cruel Or barbarous to execute
the bride bearer who has been warn ID
: to keep away than to kill the spy who
likewise knowing beforehand the fate
1 he courts takes the risk for the sake 81
accomplishing some injury upon those
on whom he plays the part.