The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-03
SOME PEOPLES OPINIONS.
4 SEA POWER.

-
Ir 1t r- Not Vigorously Asserted for the Pro-
lection or American Citizens. or what uso IL Iti
10 THE EDITOR OF TIE sUH-Sir. As to
orr navy, cWi boao7 OF what use is IT. In the
FIRST place, our navy was supposed to DO con-
ptructcd and maintained as n sen power. not
for display Mt Staplcton, Hampton Roads. or on
the North Atlantic. but for use Mt places whero
the property, safety, or rights OF American citi-
gems are in danger, or liable to DO In danger.
The navy had little employment under Clevo-
land. except for naval paradcs or sea ma
nnuYrcs. Yet during tho last two years our
ships might very we'll have heon employed on
the coast OF Cuba to SEQ that our merchant yes.
se,s we're not intcrfcrcd with by Spanish gun
boats; and q battle ship might have been sta
toned with tho greatest advantage In the
hnrbor o. Havana. Dr. Ruiz, an American citi-
zen. confined in u Spanish prison, would DO alive
to-day II an American cruiser had boon sta
tiorcd at HayanG. He was cruelty murdered in
prison. A display Of sea power Mt Havana
When wcylcr issued his infamous DEGREES re.
quiring people residing upon their estates to
docrces. so far as our own citizens residing in
Cuba were concerned, were a direct violation of
gated our treaty with Spain by his tyrannical
military orders.
with q protest against the wrongs then about to
be inflicted upon American citizens, living In
their country homes in Cuba. II would hnvc pre-
vented all the suffering. misery, loss of life, and
loss OF property to which American citizens have
been so ruthlcssly exposed by the interruptions
land seemed not to comprehend Weyler's de-
crecs, and took no precautions whatever, as no
might easily have done by sending a battle ship
ready to meet the threatening dangers. The
afraid Of woundine Spanish pride. He seems to
have exercised no torcthought or care Of what
%fo thd Ss the , G6IGs' T TpS1 our b oTn Tism ab tn Euf to
be established by weylcr. Our citizens were re-
siding in Cuba, under the protection, as they no
OF sacred treaty rights which Weyler's DEGREES
practically abIogated. But SO far as Cleveland 4
the crisis, he proved to be grossly incompetent
to handle our navy.
personal ducking expeditions on the North Car.
olina coast, using tho " arborcal fleet " for that
purpose. and beyond that his knowledge ex'
Congress has now voted an appropriation Of
70 be eSpSnded to relieve the terrible sufferinrs
OF our people, caused by = lack OF sea power at
Havana At a time when those mistortnnesw n
Under Cleveland. it may well be aske now:
o. what use was orr navy. anyway, Gu bono
tho country. and a big bill OF EXPENSE.
When Martin Kosztn, a citizen Of the United
commodore Insraham, demanding his instant
release, cleared his decks for action; ko ,hN
San Jacinto. There was no Clcyelandism
In our navy in those good old days OF tity years
ago. Our whole people then applauded the gal
liant act of Commodore Ingraham.
But now American citizens hide their shame
suppress their wrath at the want Of Executive
ability in handling our splendid sea power!
No paramount " was sent by the President
Atty years ago TO Austria. to examine and report
in Koszta's case before action was taken. koszta
was an American citizen. That was enough
He had been cas-; into prison. That was an In,
fernGl outrage. Release him at once! or the
guns of the San Jscinto, before the eyes of the
wnrld. will ayenEe the insult immediately. H.,
Alas. poor Ruiz. not set free, like koszta. but
murdered in prison, in spite OF all that our repre-
sentative in Havana, the gallant and dashine
Ger. Fitzhugh Lee. could do to save him!
Clevcland's advocacy OF the restoration o.
Liliuokalani, a dismal failure, might have beer
forgotten and forgiven; but to permit Wey
Ter to mako and execute his plans of rapint
violating our treaty rights with Spain, while he
Cleveland; had ample sea rover under his com
betrayal OF the rights OF American citizens y
Cuba which the people Of the United States will
never condone. AMERICAN CITIZEN.
NEW YORK, May 20.