The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-26
The Course OF Events Will Aid Cuba.

A change OF ministry in Spain would
doubtless be opportune for the proposition
which President MCKINLEY is about to
make concerning Cuba. And yet our coun-
try cannot afford to wait for such n change,
or to make it's attitude depend upon that Of
the rival parties there.
The war in Cuba has now lasted more
than two years. Who will pretend that the
revolt against Spanish domination is less
strong to-day than at the outsetl Who
will say that the Cuban Government main
tains fewer troops in the field, or has fewer
resources of money and munitionsi In
deed, thanks to the arms captured from the
Spanish and to those received from numer-
Gus blockade runners, the patriot cause Is
now far better equipped for carrying on
war than it was in s 8
We ann see how the forthcoming deal.
ings Of our Government with Spain can
result otherwise than favorably to the
cause Of the patriots. Assuming that the
report of Mr.. CALHOUN will show that the
insurrection cannot be put down, the de-
cisive and peremptory rejection by her of
the Administration proposal Of Cuban in
dependence would be a strong induce
ment for it to recognize either Cubas
belligerency or her independence. Those
friends Of the Administration who OPP
pose the immediate passage by the
House of the Morgan resolution assert
that it would embarrass the President in
his negotiations for a much more important
object, the securing of SPANS assent to
Cuban independence. Whatever the truth
in this assertion, it seems clear that, IL the
Administration should fail in this larger
purpose, it would be all the more ready to
fall back upon the recognition of bellig-
erency, at the very least.
1t has been urged that this recognition of
Cuban belligerency would lead to war;
that the Spaniards nave already shown
their proneness to impose upon urmerchant
ships, and would certainly abuse the right
Of search which a proclamation of public
war will give them. As to that. IL they
should annoy our merchant ships, they
would certainly have to make reparation.
We would not submit to abuse of the right
of search in the case OF Spain any more
han we did in the case of England in 1912.
A war arising from such a cause would be
a war forced on us by Spain, and its result
would be the destruction of the Spanish
feet and the immediate freeing of Cuba.
We repeat, therefore, that, although the
Administrations policy is unquestionably
cautious and tentative just now, the prog
ress OF events seems very likely to favor
the Cuban cause. The President had I'M.
doubtedly set his heart on the restoration
Of the revenues and the finances of the coun-
try through the passage of the tariff bill,
and had hoped to move slowly in all ques-
tions Of foreign policy until that great home
problem should he settled and business con-
fdence restored. But the delay in tariff
legislation has necessarily brought up the
Cuban question for simultaneous settle
ment. And we see no reason yet for doubt
ing that, when such a settlement becomes
urgent, the President will be found doing
his duty in regard to the struggle of the
patriots for independence. If current
events in Spain aid this purpose it will be
all the better for hat country and ours.